Hamburger Seasoning Ideas

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Hamburgers, an American staple, can be easily customized. Whatever your taste, there’s a hamburger to suit it. While most people focus on what to put on top of a burger, you can also alter the sandwich’s taste by seasoning the hamburger meat. Ground beef works well with many seasonings, from Asian to Cajun. However you season and cook your hamburger, use a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature reaches a safe 160 degrees Fahrenheit before eating it.

Asian

Give your burger an exotic flair with some Asian seasoning. Mix the beef with a little soy sauce to give it a salty twist or mix it with teriyaki sauce for a sweet touch. Knead soy sauce, lemon juice and ground ginger into the meat for a tangy taste with a bit of bite. Serve the Asian-style burger on a sesame seed bun with mushrooms, green onions and bok choy cabbage.

Cajun

Cajun seasoning is known for being complex and spicy, which are the two things it can add to any hamburger. Sprinkle the burger with salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper for a quick Cajun twist. Mix salt, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, thyme and parsley with the meat for a mildly spicy hamburger. Add white pepper and chili powder to the mix for a spicier hamburger. Layer the hamburger patty on a buttered bun with lettuce, onion, pickles and tomatoes.

Western

Nothing says Western like the old-fashioned taste of barbecue. Mix a little of your favorite barbecue sauce or rub into the meat to give the hamburger a kick of flavor. Combine tomato paste, onion powder, garlic powder, liquid smoke and paprika to create a simple sauce you can mix in with the ground meat or serve over the burger. Blend salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper, cumin, parsley, basil and brown sugar for a sweet and spicy barbecue rub to mix with the meat. Serve the burger on a toasted bun with cheddar cheese and red onions.

Mexican

Take your taste buds south of the border with a Mexican-themed hamburger. Mix the ground beef with salt, pepper and chipotle powder to give your burgers a quick hint of smoky spice. Knead salt, chipotle pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, cilantro and paprika into the meat for a taco-style seasoned burger. Stack the meat on a cornmeal roll with lettuce, onion, tomato, avocado and Monterey jack cheese.

Italian

Nothing says Italian like garlic and leafy green herbs. Dust your hamburger with Italian seasoning to give it a light herb flavor. Combine the meat with a blend of garlic powder, parsley, basil, oregano and rosemary for a heavy herb flavor. Serve the hamburger on a hardy Parmesan roll with tomato and mozzarella cheese.

Tips

Sprinkle light seasonings over the meat to enhance the flavor. Light seasonings get lost in terms of taste if they’re mixed into the meat. Heavy seasonings are too powerful to sprinkle over the meat because they deliver far too strong a flavor when left on the outside of the patty. Mix heavy seasonings into the meat to help disperse the seasoning flavor evenly. Knead the seasonings into the meat just enough to disperse them. Overworking the meat packs it together and leads to tough burgers.