It’s grilling season, and you know what that means – burgers! A traditional American cheeseburger is great, but there are so many more ways to pair a variety of cheeses with your favorite kind of burger to create the perfect cheesy match. Here are some ideas to get your creative (burger) juices flowing and inspire meals that take your cookout to the next level.
Mushroom and Swiss Burger
Everyone loves a classic Mushroom and Swiss burger! Sauté mushrooms in a skillet on the grill before placing them atop your Swiss-cheese smothered burger. Add additional toppings like arugula, red pepper or even ranch to take your burger up a notch. For an extra edge, use award-winning local Swiss cheese from cheesemakers Guggisberg Cheese or Pearl Valley Cheese.
Italian Chicken Burger with Mozzarella
Topped with sun-dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, garlic and Italian seasoning – cover these chicken burgers with melty mozzarella cheese for a delicious, easy meal! You can find Ohio-made mozzarella, along with other Italian cheeses, made by Miceli’s Dairy at your major retailer.
Queso Fresco Black Bean Burger
A Mexican-inspired black bean burger is sure to be a crowd pleaser – top it with guacamole, tomatoes, cilantro, pickled onions, chipotle crema or even a fried egg! Serve with a side of Mexican street corn or cheesy nachos for your outdoor fiesta.
Barbeque Pepper Jack Burger
Pepper Jack adds a kick, so balance it with your favorite barbeque sauce and add classic toppings like lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion. Middlefield Original Cheese offers a variety of Pepper Jack style cheeses, including traditional and smoked Pepper Jack, Marble Pepper Jack and even Veggie Jack, that you can customize this burger with!
Feta and Tzatziki Lamburger
Substitute ground beef for ground lamb and incorporate some Mediterranean flavors into your meal. Top your lamburger with traditional gyro toppings like tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and red onion, and try your hand at making homemade Tzatziki Sauce! Foodies will love feta from Ohio’s own Bunker Hill Cheese.
Bacon Brie Burger
Elevate your burger by adding melty brie or camembert and crunchy bacon, along with some caramelized onions and mixed greens. Perfect for a more sophisticated palette, enjoy this burger with fig jam for a sweet and savory flavor profile. Kokoborrego’s Whetstone camembert or one of Marchant Manor’s many soft, bloomy rind cheeses would work wonders for this burger.
Hawaiian Roll Ham and Swiss Sliders
If burgers just aren’t your thing, have a couple ham and swiss sliders instead! Topped with a honey mustard glaze, you don’t have to break out the grill for these cheesy little sandwiches. As you serve your family or guests, wow them with this fun fact: Ohio is the #1 producer of Swiss cheese in the United States!
Check out this guide for where to buy locally-made cheese in Ohio or discover more cheesy recipes and tips for how to properly store cheese.
These recipes are amazing!