The hamburger - America's classic food favorite.  Perhaps no other food we consume is so-characteristic of our country, society, and pop culture.  While there are many different stories as to its creation and origin, the recipe is pretty much agreed up:  a sandwich that consists of a ground beef patty that is served between two pieces of bread (most-often a hard roll or bun).  At it's most-basic, that's what a hamburger is.

Of course we've improved upon that recipe over the years.  Again the history is unclear, but somewhere along the way we've all agreed that a good hamburger should include some combination of ketchup, mustard, tomato, lettuce, onion, pickle, and cheese.  The best (total opinion, here) include all of the above!

For a sandwich so simple, we've found ways to elevate it to new forms with different varieties of toppings and combinations.  Without even digging deep into the fold, it's easy to recognize burger combinations like the "mushroom and Swiss", "California burger - with bacon", "pizza burger", and others.  Recently, a trend in some high-end restaurants has seen the addition of a fried egg to their burgers.

So what about the burgers you grill on your deck in the backyard on an average weeknight in the summer; is there a way to elevate them?  Sure there is.  With a little creativity and a little adventurousness, that slab of ground beef can become a true food masterpiece - a work of culinary art.  All you need to do is step outside of your comfort zone - and maybe a quick trip to the grocery store - and a new burger favorite can be born.

If you're ready to ditch the lettuce, tomato, and onion - at least for a little while, read on to get some ideas for burger toppings you might no have thought of before.

Burger Toppings - Other Than Lettuce + Tomato

The hamburger is probably one of America's favorite foods. And while you can eat them plain, most people add toppings to theirs to make them even more delicious. Besides the condiments (i.e. ketchup, mustard, maybe mayonnaise and barbecue sauce), the standard toppings usually include some combination of cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and onion. Those standard toppings represent the majority of burgers that get made and eaten. However, some people look for other toppings to take their burgers "over-the-top". Read on for some ideas you might not have thought of before.

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