No matter the weather, we fire up the grill over Memorial Day weekend. Many years, that entails thick sweaters and rain gear. We jump at the chance to launch our gather-’round-the-grill style of entertaining.
Since I prefer to spend time with guests, rather than the labor in the kitchen, I work in advance.
A burger buffet proves flexible when guest count fluctuates. Condiments and side dishes can be prepared in advance. Ditto for snacks and desserts. The only cooking to do with guests at the ready is to reheat some bacon-heavy caramelized onions and cook the burgers.
Choose a ground meat that appeals to your audience. I opt for delicious, rich ground wagyu beef or bison for the majority of the burgers. Use ground turkey (not just turkey breast) for more flavorful turkey burgers. Vegetarian burger patties, such as Beyond Meat’s Cookout Classic, are on-hand as well; cook them from the frozen state….