When it comes to favorite foods in America, it’s pretty hard to top the burger. With 87% of Americans loving/liking them, burgers are solidly in the top 10 out of nearly 4000 F&B items. And it’s especially true for dining out, with nearly 8 in 10 Americans eating burgers away from home at least once a month. It adds up to about 50 Billion burgers a year! Holy cow.
But keeping that love affair going with burgers isn’t just about the volume – it’s keeping it fresh and interesting with upgrades, toppings and options galore. A recent Datassential report on burgers notes:
“Upscale meat options are one of the most-favored mega trends among consumers, with over 40% expressing interest. It's worth noting that more than any other attribute, consumers say they're willing to pay more for burgers featuring grass-fed beef.” -Datassential Foodbytes – 2021 Burger Trend Report Sneak Peek
Here are a few trending burger ingredients that are worth exploring:
Meats:
- Grass-fed Beef – the one consumers are most willing to pay more for. Readily available from Australia, the #1 source for high-quality, sustainable beef!
- Lamb: burger restaurants have doubled their menuing of lamb over the past 4 years
Cheese:
- Pimento Cheese – combining creamy indulgence with a bit of southern kick, pimento on burgers is definitely having a moment
- Goat Cheese – the salty tang of goat cheese is a great flavor accent on burgers, especially lamb and grassfed beef.
Sauces/Seasonings
- Harissa – We’re seeing North African harissa mixed into patties or used in condiments and spreads to add earthy heat to winning burger builds
- Fig/Savory jams – bacon jams, tomato jams, and fig jams make for an instant upgrade, and they are easy to prep ahead and cross-utilize
- Chimichurri – it makes sense that this darling of the nuevo Latino steak scene would find a home on burgers. The bright herbaceous flavor makes a great complement.
Here’s a collection of a few of our fave burger builds that show out these trends:
Grilled Australian Lamb Burger With Brie, Cranberry Compote and Roasted Jalapeño aïoli
Tunisian Lamb Burger With Harissa Mayonnaise and Orange-Olive-Date Relish
