We recently celebrated National hamburger month, the weather is great, and we're grilling like mad!
Once you've bought or thawed some ground beef (go for the kind with 20 per cent fat), make up some delicious hamburger patties! Even if you’ve got a super recipe for hamburger patties, it’s nice to go beyond the basic cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, or pattie-lettuce-and-tomato combination. Try some of these variations on the classic burger.

1. Instead of topping your burger with goodies, try stuffing it! This deceptively easy technique will definitely wow your friends and make you look like a gourmet chef. Try a blue cheese burger filled with a seasoned cream cheese/blue cheese mixture (If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, replace it with feta) or whip up a caprese-filled version. If you have forgotten what caprese is, check out number 12 on this list of simple appetizers.
2. Sliders (mini burgers) are everyone's favorite way to indulge in a decadent two bite burger. Chipotle mayonnaise kicks up the heat with Bobby Flay's recipe, Noble Pig does them on a sheet pan, and Macheesmo's Veggie Slider will please all the non-meat eaters in the crowd!
3. If you are feeling a bit adventurous, check out Gourmet's 12 Best Burgers.  Sophisticated palates will not be disappointed!
4. These pepperoni burgers have real pepperoni mixed into the beef! Make it a pizza burger by topping with marinara sauce instead of ketchup, and adding a slice of mozzarella cheese while the patty is still hot. Delicious!
5. Try these Tex-Mex cheeseburgers. The meat is loaded with flavor (and cheese!) and the recipe includes a delicious green chili pepper sauce.
   
   
6. Grill some southwest-style chili burgers and top them with pepper jack cheese, avocado slices, and jalapeño peppers.
7. Look no further when trying to please a finicky 3 year old, Giada de Laurentiis makes a Mini Meatball Sandie that kids absolutely love.  
8. Top a burger with roasted red peppers, feta cheese, and fresh mint for a Greek twist on the classic.
9. Mix teriyaki sauce (and some water chestnuts) into your meat before cooking your hamburgers for a sandwich with Asian flair.
10. At your next barbecue have a tray of toppings for your guest to add to their own burgers.  Caramelized onions, crispy bacon, sliced pineapple, and sauteed mushrooms are always a bit hit!

If there aren’t enough ideas here to whet your appetite, take a look at this alphabetical list of 100 ways to build a burger. And if 100 still isn’t enough for you, this list one-ups the previous list with 101 burger builders. However you top your burgers, enjoy!

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