Best food to go with burgers...need ideas!

[FSUDisneyGirl]

Hey everyone!

We're having friends over for the first time in our new house. Everyone's coming over at 5 for burgers and beer, etc. We're all 20-somethings, and I want to keep stuff not too expensive. So....

Anybody have great recipes to go with burgers??? This is our first time having people over to our first house, so I really want to cook and not just buy bags of chips and call it a day.

P.S. We're in Florida, IT'S HOT!!!

 

[MushyMushy]

It doesn't need to be anything difficult! Just make some corn on the cob, a salad, maybe get some macaroni or potato salad from the store. Baked beans maybe.

But thanks. You made me hungry for grilled burgers now.

 

[luvmy3]

Well I like a nice guacamole bacon burger, so I'd definitely have that stuff on hand.
For sides you coud do simple macaroni salad, pasta salad, potatoe salad, baked beans or even just a green salad. If you want to get more involved you could make sweet potato fries, or a nice corn salad, grilled/rosted veggies.

 

[disykat]

With burgers, I'd keep it simple, but since you want to cook - make a killer dessert.

With burgers, I most serve watermelon and baked beans or a southwestern style bean/corn salad. If you want something slightly different, how about making sweet potato fries?

 

[disykat]

Ha! Great minds think alike!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

Good ideas! Yummm!

Sweet potato fries sound great...do you think they would be good if they sat out and got cold? Would they still taste good? How would you make them?

I was thinking of making a pasta salad...hmm...anyone have a great recipe?

Corn was on sale yesterday at Publix, now that I think of it....I bet that would be good...

Thanks to everyone so far! Keep the ideas coming! Speaking of a great dessert....any ideas?

 

[mrsdon]

I like cole slaw with my burgers
Also a good tomato and cuke salad with feta and black olives is light and yummy

 

[Savsmommy]

I'm in South Florida so I know about the heat. Quick and easy..Cucumber and Tomato salad. Cut up cucumbers, tomatoes, and mozarella cheese then pour Italian dressing over it.

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

Jalapeno peppers stuffed with cheese are my favorites. I also like sweet potato fries, corn, and baked potatoes.
Savsmommy, I love cucumber and tomato salad but I've never had mozzarella in it...I bet that would be good.

 

[Banshee]

I have a twist on potato salad its the red new potatos cut in half I usually use a 5lb bag. Cut them in half and boil till tender approx. 10 minutes. Instead of mayo I use Olive Oil and balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon crushed garlic. I take 1 red onion dice 2 yellow and 2 red peppers diced 1 seedless cucumber cut into bite size pieces. Salt and pepper to taste then mix it all together with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. How much oil and vinegar you use is kinda how much you like I use about a 1/2 cup each. Sometimes I sprinkle with grated parmesan.

 

[Savsmommy]

Jalapeno peppers stuffed with cheese are my favorites. I also like sweet potato fries, corn, and baked potatoes.
Savsmommy, I love cucumber and tomato salad but I've never had mozzarella in it...I bet that would be good.

It's really good with the mozzarella cheese!!

 

[merekc]

Grilled zucchini is easy and fairly cheap. Slice it (I do it on the diagonal to make the pieces longer and not fall through the grates easy) about 1/4 - 1/2 inch thick. Coat each side with Italian dressing or Olive oil. Grill until there are grill marks on each side and slices are softened (looking cooked). If I use Italian dressing, I might sprinkle a little pepper on it. If I use Olive oil, I sprinkle pepper and coarse salt. I will also top with paremesean cheese if I have it. Easy, cheap, semi-fancy looking and tasty.

I was also thinking corn on the cob. In season, cheap, tasty.

I also do tomatoes, cucumbers and onion chopped up with basalmic vinegar, olive oil and Cavender's Greek Seasoning (or salt and pepper).

Bush's Baked Beans are great straight from the can and warmed up if you want super easy and tasty.

 

[patsfan101]

I like this one because I make it with Good Seasons, not mayo, so I don't worry about putting it out under the sun:
Really small pasta - I use Barilla Ditallini
1 chopped yellow/orange pepper
chopped celery
chopped calamata olives
halved grape tomatoes
toss all with Good seasons dressing

Yummy dessert: Ice Cream Sandwich lasagne
Layer ice cream sandwiches
Layer of cool whip
sprinkle with chopped peanuts or heath bars or crushed oreo cookies
drizzle chocolate syrup
repeat
I've never met anyone who didn't absolutely love this!

Have a great time! Enjoy your new home!

 

[Banshee]

Yummy dessert: Ice Cream Sandwich lasagne
Layer ice cream sandwiches
Layer of cool whip
sprinkle with chopped peanuts or heath bars or crushed oreo cookies
drizzle chocolate syrup
repeat
I've never met anyone who didn't absolutely love this!

Have a great time! Enjoy your new home!

Sounds yummy!! I bet another variation of that would be good using the strawberry shortcake ice cream sandwiches and layer it with cool whip fresh strawberries and drizzle of strawberry desert topping.

 

[tinatark]

Here's my pasta salad - the one thing it "has" to have is the Paul Newman dressing - it's the glue - otherwise, change it up however you want!

2 - 16 oz packages pasta of your choice, cooked and cooled (I usually use rotini and something else, bowtie, etc.
2 cans diced tomatoes seasoned with garlic, oregano and olive oil (you can use any variety of these)
1 bottle Newman's Own Family Recipe Italian dressing
1 can chicken breast, drained and shredded
1 cup (or more or less!) shredded cheese (I use asiago and cheddar)
1/4 cup bacon bits
3 tbsp. (or more or less!) pesto
fresh garlic, to taste

Mix all of this together in a HUGE bowl! It's better the second day, after all the flavors have time to mesh!

If you need a smaller amount, just use one package of pasta, one can of tomatoes and the dressing to taste.

If it seems too "dry", add olive oil until you like it! You can also add submarine sandwich dressing.

Variations - add some drained peas to it, diced olives, different cheeses, etc... you can't mess it up!

 

[FSUDisneyGirl]

Oooo....this all sounds sooo good! Keep the ideas coming! : )

 

[phorsenuf]

When you cook your corn, microwave it. Yes, microwave. Throw it in husk, silk and all. 2 minutes per ear (you can do multiples, just times by 2) turn over 1/2 way through. It'll be the best corn you'll ever have! It's cooked perfectly and the husk and silk pull right off.
Think I'll get some corn for dinner. LOL

 

[luvmy3]

Good ideas! Yummm!

Sweet potato fries sound great...do you think they would be good if they sat out and got cold? Would they still taste good? How would you make them?

I was thinking of making a pasta salad...hmm...anyone have a great recipe?

Corn was on sale yesterday at Publix, now that I think of it....I bet that would be good...

Thanks to everyone so far! Keep the ideas coming! Speaking of a great dessert....any ideas?

I use Paula Dean's recipe. Garlic Powder, Black Pepper, Salt and Olive Oil. Coat the potatoes (cut in wedges) with the olive oil and toss in the seasoning. I have no idea the measurments or temp and how long, I just usually pull it up online when I'm doing them.
I can't comment on the taste after they have sat out, but the first time I made them dh didn't make it home for dinner so they did sit out. He loved them, and made me promise to definitely make them again. I can say that the flavor may have been good, but they were probably a bit mushy (soft) than when they first came out of the oven.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/baked-sweet-potato-fries-recipe/index.html


ETA After posting I had a craving so I made this. I realized that when I make these I cut back on the salt alot. I just wanted to mention that since her recipe calls for 1 cup but I use about 1/4 cup.

 

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Heres my summer pasta salad recipe. Its the best - requested at every single summer outing we go to. Its not cheap, but its easy!

1 box Rolotini pasta (the cork screw ones)
3/4 cup pitted katamala olives - chopped
1/3 cup chopped onion
2 roasted red peppers
1 small ball fresh mozzarella
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes
Fresh Basil leaves - at least 1 1/2 cups - I do more!
salt to taste
EVOO - untill its moist


Its best after sitting in the fridge overnight.

 

[paintnolish]

Yes, microwave the corn! I husk it, plastic wrap it, and micro 90 seconds per ear.
For pasta salad, I just toss cooked noodles, diced veg (whatever I have tom, cuke, onion, etc), and a bottle of italian dressing. You can also add shredded cheese or pepperoni.
Fruit dip (one block cream ch and one jar marshmallow fluff blended together) and pinapple and strawberries for dipping.
Baked beans in a crock pot, jazzed up with brown sugar, bbq sauce, onion, and ground beef or crumbled bacon.