Six Burger Ideas for Your Memorial Day Cookout

Memorial Day is the traditional start to summer - and the summer grilling season. Is there anything that signifies summer in America more than throwing burgers on the grill? As friends and family gather around your backyard barbecue this year, why not offer them a variety of burger choices? Here are some easy ways to mix things up a little over the holiday weekend.

Black and Blue Burgers

The best charbroiled burgers have a seared crust to them, but remain tasty and moist on the inside. Try mixing an ounce of crumbled blue cheese into each pound of ground beef, then making the patties. What a great combination! Top these with a grilled slice of red onion - or red onion that's been reduced in a little oil in a skillet over the side burner and then splashed with some balsamic vinegar. Your guests will thank you.

Thai Chicken Burgers

Not every burger has to be made with beef. Try mixing each pound of ground chicken with a cup of bread crumbs, and adding a teaspoon each of soy sauce and lime juice. If you like, toss in some minced garlic. Once you've grill these burgers, I love to top them with a sauce made by combining chunky peanut butter, a medium-sized peeled and seeded cucumber, some red onion, red wine vinegar and a little sugar in a blender. It may sound strange, but wait until you taste it!

Popeye Burgers

Here's a way to get the kids to eat their spinach - and love it! Combine a thawed package of frozen chopped spinach with a cup of crumbled feta cheese and one package of ground turkey from your supermarket. Sprinkle in a little fresh-ground pepper to taste, then form and flatten the mixture into 4-5 burgers and grill away. The mild flavors of the turkey and spinach are perked up considerably by the bite of the feta.

Bacon & Egg Burgers

OK, these really end up being more like meatloaf burgers, with a more solid consistency than you get with just ground beef, but the kids will love the name almost as much as they'll like helping to make them. Add a cup of soft bread crumbs (torn up bread slices - particularly the end slices) to every pound of ground beef, along with two cooked and diced bacon slices and a raw egg. Put it all in a big bowl with a splash of Worcestershire sauce and mix it well with your hands. That's the part the kids will love. Pop them on the grill and enjoy.

Reuben burgers

It's a twist on the deli favorite - once you've grilled your burgers, place them on a slice of rye bread that's been toasted over low heat, and place them on the top warming rack of your grill. Top them with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese until the cheese melts. Before you add a second slice of toasted rye, slather on some Thousand Island dressing. It's messy to eat - but it's so good.

Pizza burgers

Mix a teaspoon of Italian seasoning with every pound of ground beef, along with a half teaspoon each of garlic and onion powder. Form into burgers and grill. Just before they're ready to serve, add a dollop of your favorite jarred spaghetti sauce that's been warmed in a saucepan on the side, and cover with a slice of mozzarella cheese. Then, your guests can finish them off with their favorite pizza toppings - sliced pepperoni, mushrooms, onions, green peppers - whatever they want!