Easy Cookout Condiment Recipes for Families

Bland hamburgers and hot dogs are a bore. Kicked-up, semi-homemade condiments are key to a tasty family cookout. Plain old ketchup and mayonnaise? Ho-hum. Spice up mealtime with these easy cookout condiment recipes for burgers and dogs!

Kick up your burgers and dogs with easy cookout condiment recipes!
Kick up your burgers and dogs with easy cookout condiment recipes! (Photo credit: resnick_joshua1, Depositphotos.com)

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1. Curry Ketchup

Curry can scare off both children and adults who fear spicy foods. A mild yellow curry powder, like the one suggested below, adds brightness to the sauce. Ever tried German currywurst? Yeah, like that!

  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1 Tablespoon mild yellow curry powder

Stir ingredients together in a bowl.

Curry ketchup and roasted garlic mayonnaise
Curry ketchup and roasted garlic mayonnaise (Photo credit: Bryan Richards)

2. Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise

Garlicky foods can be difficult to introduce to kids. Roasted garlic removes the bulb’s spicy, harsh edge, leaving a mellow paste that’s sweeter on the tongue.

  • 1 head garlic
  • 2 cups mayonnaise
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper

Cut the top off the garlic head. Drizzle the open top with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Wrap in tinfoil and roast for 45 minutes in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven. Once the garlic cools, squeeze the garlic paste out of the cloves into the mayonnaise. Stir to combine.

Yes, bacon can get better - rosemary bacon! ~ Tailgate Burger Bar
Yes, bacon can get better – rosemary bacon! (Photo credit: Bryan Richards)

3. Rosemary Bacon

Who can resist bacon? It makes great vehicle to introduce a new spice like rosemary to kids.

  • Bacon (1 slice per person)
  • Fresh rosemary (three sprigs per batch)

Heat your frying pan to medium. Once it’s hot, layer the bacon across the pan. Be careful not to overcrowd. Then layer three springs of rosemary across the top. Your house is going to smell delicious. Once the bacon begins to brown (about five minutes), remove the rosemary and set aside. Flip the bacon and layer the rosemary back on top. Cook until brown on the other side (about five minutes more).

Mustardy Caramelized Onions and Sautéed Mushrooms
Mustardy Caramelized Onions and Sautéed Mushrooms (Photo credit: Bryan Richards)

4. Mustardy Caramelized Onions

I refuse to eat raw onions on my hamburger. The flavor is too acidic, and I taste them all day. Sautéed onions are something completely different, though. They’re soft and sweet and taste fantastic on a burger. Or, as my toddler prefers, they’re super tasty all on their own.

  • 2 large onions
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard

To keep from dirtying too many pans, reuse a pan from other condiment recipes for hamburgers. Halve and then slice the onions. Heat the butter and extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the onions. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add a few pitches of salt and pepper. Cook for another five minutes or until caramelized, stirring occasionally. Add in the mustard, stir, and cook for another minute.

Hamburger with cookout condiments
Hamburger with semi homemade condiments (Photo credit: Bryan Richards)

5. Sautéed Mushrooms

Most kids don’t like mushrooms because of their mushy texture. Hide that texture in a cheeseburger by layering the shrooms between the buns! Children just may find they like the flavor. They may even scoop some creminis or porcinis onto their plates the next time mushrooms are served with dinner.

  • 8-ounce package sliced mushrooms
  • 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • Salt and pepper

Wash and dry the mushrooms. Heat butter and extra virgin olive oil over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add mushrooms. Cook for five minutes, stirring occasionally. There will be a lot of water in the pan. Add a few pitches of salt and pepper and stir. Cook for five more minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally.

Condiments for hamburgers
Burgers and easy cookout condiments (Photo credit: Bryan Richards)

Arrange all of the condiments alongside the burgers, hot dogs, and buns. Don’t forget other necessities like lettuce, tomato, and pickles. Encourage party guests to experiment with flavors. Enjoy!

Learn More Tasty Ideas

Many nutritional experts suggest blending familiar foods, like burgers and dogs, with more exotic flavors, like curry and rosemary, as a great way to help picky children try new foods.

Kick up your cookout with creative hamburgers that appeal to all ages.

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Which of these cookout condiment recipes looks best? Let us know in the comments below!

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43 Comments

  1. That sounds like a burger that’s packed with flavor! Definitely perfect for game day! I would love to keeo the recipe! Thanks!0

  2. (Swallow) (Swallow)… so delicious!!! This dish reminds me of Korean kimchi, kimchi served with this dish in cold days, there is nothing better than!!!!

    1. Kimchi and burgers? I would have never thunk… Then again, there is a burger-sushi-fusion restaurant here in Charlotte.