Tailgate Burger Bar ~ Turn Condiments from Ho-Hum to Touchdown!

My family's fall weekends are filled with football. On Saturdays, we cheer on our alma mater, the Miami Hurricanes, and on Sundays, we yell at the TV for the hometown Carolina Panthers. But bland hamburgers and hot dogs are a bore. Interesting condiments are key to a tasty game day. Plain old ketchup and mayonnaise? Ho-hum. We spice up our football experience with an easy to make tailgate burger bar for more flavor and fun. So should you! Here's how.

(Photo credit: Canva.com)

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, a 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 (Photo credit: Bryan Richards)

Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise

Garlicy foods can be difficult to introduce to tailgating kids. Roasted garlic takes away the bulb's spicy, harsh edge. You're left with 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 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! (Photo credit: Bryan Richards)

Rosemary Bacon

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

• 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

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 completely 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 the mushroom pan. 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.

Tailgate burger bar ingredients all coming together (Photo Credit: Bryan Richards)

Sautéed Mushrooms

Most kids don’t like mushrooms because of their mushy texture. Hide that texture in a cheeseburger by layering them 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.

A kicked-up tailgate burger bar plate (Photo credit: Bryan Richards)

Tailgate burger bar

Arrange all of the condiments above alongside the burgers, buns, and other burger necessities like lettuce, tomato, and pickles. Encourage both children and adults to experiment with flavors.

Many nutritional experts suggest blending familiar foods, like burgers and dogs, with more exotic flavors, like curry and rosemary, as a great way to introduce new foods and to help picky child eaters expand their palates. Challenge your child to try at least one new ingredient. You both may be surprised by what they like.

Kick up your tailgate burger bar even further with these creative hamburgers that appeal to adults and children alike.

What additional toppings would you add to a burger bar? Let us know in the comments below!