A highlight of summer cuisine, a star of the barbecue, a sure sign that warm weather has come: the burger.
Endlessly customizable and always delicious, the burger can be dressed up or dressed down, made vegan, keto, or gluten-free. Your burger can take inspiration from international delights, use unexpected ingredients, or stick with the classics. Whichever way you do it, preparing, grilling, and eating burgers is a delicious way to savour summer.
Discover how to build the ultimate burger of your BBQ dreams using our handy how-to guide below and some of your favourite Farm Boy products found at a store near you!
Step 1: Build on a Bun
The vessel, the vehicle, the base needed to build a good burger begins with a bun. With loads of options no matter what your dietary needs, this summer you can be assured that no burger will travel alone. Toss these buns on the grill to get them lightly toasted for a nice added crunch.
Texas-Style Hamburger Buns
- Supersized with a firm texture.
- Enjoy plain or lightly toasted for added crunch.
- 8 buns per package.
- More info here: Farm Boy™ Texas Style Hamburger Buns
Brioche Buns
- Soft and pillowy with a decadent taste.
- Made with plenty of eggs and Canadian butter.
- Available in Regular and Sesame Seed.
Gluten-Free Buns
- Made from natural ingredients with no preservatives.
- Vegan and gluten-free.
- Free of common allergens.
- More info here: Farm Boy™ Gluten-Free Buns
More Options: Farm Boy™ Hamburger Rolls, Farm Boy™ Thin Square Buns, Farm Boy™ Potato Hamburger Buns, lettuce wraps.
Step 2: Pick a Patty
The core of any burger: the patty is at the centre of it all. The sky is the limit when it comes to burgers in our stores. Choose from beef-based fresh gourmet burgers, turkey burgers, shrimp burgers, salmon burgers, lamb burgers, pork burgers, and plant-based burgers! Visit our Meat, Seafood, and Frozen Departments to discover the burger patty that ties it all together.
Gourmet Burgers
- Handcrafted by our Chefs.
- Available both fresh and frozen.
- Offered in a wide variety of flavours inspired by international cuisine and classic favourites.
- More info here: Farm Boy™ Gourmet Burgers
Black Tiger Shrimp Burger
- Blend of black tiger shrimp, veggies, and aromatics.
- Naturally sweet flavour.
- Try with our new Japanese-Style Mayos!
Plant-Based Burger
- A convenient meat-free alternative.
- Full of protein and flavour.
- Discover different brands available in our Meat and Frozen Departments.
More Options: Farm Boy™ Salmon Signature Burger, Farm Boy™ Porchetta Spiced Pork Burger, Farm Boy™ Feta & Lamb Burger, Farm Boy™ Thai Turkey Signature Burger, chicken burger.
Step 3: Choose Some Cheese
So rich, so satisfying. Cheese to a burger is what peanut butter is to jelly: culinary companions for life. Go classic with a reliable cheddar, get funky with some blue, melt over some Swiss, and more. Feta, provolone, goat, and mozzarella: they all deserve to be sampled atop a juicy, flame-kissed burger. Simply put, if you’re building the ultimate burger, it needs cheese.
Cheddar Cheese
- A classic burger option that’s a crowd-pleaser.
- 10 options available, from Canadian-made to British-imported.
- Tip: A younger cheddar will provide a better melt.
- More info here: Farm Boy™ Cheddar Cheese
Brie
- Creamy and ultra-gooey when melted.
- Best paired with a Brioche Bun.
- Available in Double Cream and Triple Cream.
- More info here: Farm Boy™ Brie
Vegan Cheese Alternatives
- Excellent melting ability like their dairy counterparts.
- Similar texture and flavour.
- Available in 7 burger-friendly varieties.
- More info here: Farm Boy™ Vegan Cheese Alternatives
More Options: Farm Boy™ Mozzarella, Farm Boy™ Feta, Farm Boy™ Original Goat’s Milk Cheese, Farm Boy™ Organic Swiss Cheese.
Step 4: Pile on Some Produce
Cut through the richness of your burger with some fresh seasonal produce. At Farm Boy, our buyers are at the markets bright and early every morning to get you the best quality fruits and veggies available. Taste that quality by piling some freshness on a burger.
Arugula
Wholesome and peppery, arugula is like flavour-boosted lettuce. It adds extra moisture, crunch, and is a source of vitamins A and C.
Avocado
Dreamy and creamy, avocado can add a little indulgence and earthiness to your burger.
Caramelized Onions
Sweet and rich, caramelizing onions may reduce their crunchy texture, but the flavour is unparalleled.
Coleslaw
Coleslaw is all about the crunch. The textural contrast is great for a burger, and the options for coleslaw are endless (although we’re partial to the classic cabbage).
Lettuce
Crunchy and fresh, a good bite of lettuce can add some delicious texture to a burger. Not exciting, but always reliable.
Mushrooms
A veggie option that isn’t used enough, which is a shame because mushrooms are fun-guys! Adding some earthiness to a cheesy, beefy burger, sautéed mushrooms are delicious.
Pickles
Crunchy, sour, and full of flavour, pickles can take a burger to the next level. Cutting through the richer ingredients, pickles do heavy lifting as a burger topping.
Raw Onion
Adding some bite to a burger, raw onion offers a sharpness and crunch that contrasts beautifully with a yummy burger.
Tomatoes
For the best burger tomato, you want a ripe, juicy one that adds a refreshing element to every bite.
Step 5: Slather on a Sauce
Add some extra flavour to your burger with sauce. Condiments always have a spot on the burger lover’s list, because they add moisture and can help bring your burger vision to life. Ketchup, mustard, relish, and mayonnaise are classic options, but there’s also barbecue sauce, guacamole, flavoured mayo, hot sauce, and more!
Farm Boy™ Gourmet Mustard
Tangy, zippy, and your BBQ’s BFF! Our line of gourmet mustards is a cookhouse favourite, with 6 different flavours.
Farm Boy™ Flavoured Mayo
Creamy mayo gets a mouth-watering upgrade with four tasty varieties that you’ll want to put on everything!
Farm Boy™ Hot Sauce
Ready to get spicy? If you’re looking to add some heat to your burger, our hot sauces are here to answer the call.
Farm Boy™ Gourmet BBQ Sauce
Barbecue sauce is a burger must, especially with cheese and bacon. We make ours with premium ingredients and offer four delicious flavours.
Farm Boy™ Relish
Sweet, spicy, and savoury, our line of relishes has it all. Made in small batches with exotic ingredients, choose from 4 delicious flavours.
Optional Step 6: Add Some “Oomph”
If you’ve followed all 5 of our steps, you’re already well on your way to building the ultimate burger! However, if you’re looking to jazz things up even further when you’re savouring the flavours of summer, you can always add a little something extra to kick things up a notch. A few of our tastiest suggestions are below.
Bacon
Salty and smoky, a few strips of crispy bacon show why it’s a classic burger pairing.
Macaroni & Cheese
There’s cheese on a burger and then there’s mac and cheese on a burger. Two comfort foods become one with this decadent topping.
Peaches
Bringing that delicious combo of sweet and savoury, summery peaches are a burger must-try. Grill your peach slices to achieve craveable caramelization.
Kimchi
The bright taste of kimchi can really lift up a heavy burger. With its sour-umami flavour, it can add an Asian flair to your tasty creation.
Onion Rings
More than a side dish, you need to try onion rings ON your burger ASAP! Their crispy texture adds some crunch, and that onion flavour is delicious with BBQ sauce and cheese.
Fried Egg
A burger, but make it brunch. A fried egg on a burger gives it an added richness, especially if you have a runny yolk.
Potato Chips
For extra crunch and added salt, grab some potato chips. Choose whatever flavour you’d like, from classic sea salt to spicy barbecue.
Pineapple
Salty-sweet combos are always a winner for anyone who wants a flavour boost. Grilled pineapple on a burger is delicious, especially paired with teriyaki sauce.
Crispy Fried Onions
Thanks to their small size, crispy fried onions are extra crunchy and loaded with flavour. It’s the topping you didn’t know your burger needed, but it definitely does.
Mango
Mango? On a burger? Sounds crazy, but it’s actually crazy delicious! Thinly sliced, made into a slaw, or as a chutney, sweet mango brings an island vibe to seafood-based burgers.
Peanut Butter
Salty and nutty, a smear or two of peanut butter can take your burger to tasty new heights.
Tzatziki
Creamy and herbaceous, tzatziki can really brighten up a burger. With flavours like cucumber, garlic, and mint, it’s a refreshing burger topping to try.
Learn more about our gourmet burgers on our other blog, Farm Boy’s Guide To: Fresh Burgers and Sausages.
