Think Outside the Bun: 10 Fun Burger Ideas for Summer Picnics or Barbecues

With locations in California, Chicago, and Bangkok, 25 Degrees stuffs its buns with more than just beef patties. One of its specials is the BBQ Brisket Burger, stuffed with slow cooked brisket, a sirloin patty, Cardona cheese, crispy fried onions, pickles, arugula, and a pineapple-barbecue sauce. Need a pairing idea? The menu also offer spiked milkshakes.

Blue Plate Catering in Chicago tops its turkey sliders with unexpected, summery toppings including peach marmalade, basil salad, pickled watermelon, and banana ketchup.

From Serena Bass for Special Attention Caterers in New York, the updated take on sliders contains grilled sirloin meatball skewered with romaine hearts, tomato, cheddar cheese, bacon crisp, brioche crouton, and chipotle mayo.

In Chicago, LeaderBar adds major spice to its El Diablo burger by topping it with spicy pepper jack cheese, habanero relish, jalapenos, grilled onions, and Sriracha mayo.

From Esprit Events Kosher Caterers in New York, sliders contain chicken burgers infused with ginger and shitake mushrooms, served on challah buns.

Served at Jake Melnick's Corner Tap in Chicago, this is called the Monster Burger for a reason. The gargantuan sandwich packs eight pounds of burger meat, and is meant to feed eight people. Guests would have to divide into teams to conquer one of these burgers, which could make for a fun—if filling—teambuilding activity.

In Chicago, Rockit Bar & Grill is known for burgers with high-end toppings from apricot-raisin chutney to smoked Nordic cheese. As a fun play on a classic steak-house dinner, the venue slings a surf and turf burger with a black Angus beef patty, crispy soft-shell crab, and a citrus aioli sauce; fries on the side are seasoned with Old Bay.

Burgers can also serve as desserts. The Entertaining Company, a Chicago catering firm, makes a brownie burger with sweet items such as strawberry sauce (instead of ketchup) and shortbread fries.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with a classic bacon cheeseburger, but it never hurts to make sure the ingredients are top-notch. Based in Chicago, M Burger is a mini-chain from Lettuce Entertain You that offers catering and high-quality burgers. The signature M Burger serves a quarter-pound of beef on a buttered, toasted bun; it's topped with sauce, lettuce, pickles, raw onions, chopped bacon, and a slice of sharp American cheese.

Though guests sit to eat at Chicago's Bridge Bar, the venue channels a drive-through with creative food presentation. This burger—aptly called the Drive-Through—is served in a small paper bag. It contains four ounces of U.S.D.A. prime beef, pickles, and a special sauce.