
23 Ways to Create Unique Burgers from Your Pantry or Fridge!
Familiar flavors are favorites for a reason, but sometimes, there may be a craving for something a little more unique. Often, the recipes for unique burgers found online or in your cookbooks may require a shopping trip in order to actually make them, which may be a bit more work than you had in mind. At this point, it may be appealing to place an order for the crispy edges and juicy middle of one of the steakburgers on the Freddy’s menu and try out different toppings or a curated burger that you haven’t had before. On the other hand, you might let your fridge, panty items and leftovers inspire your unique burgers. For some inspiration, explore some ideas about how to use ingredients that you may already have on hand to create unique burgers!
Make Patties for Unique Burgers using Leftovers and Pantry Staples
Nuts are not just for snacking. That can of chicken works for more than just the family’s favorite buffalo chicken dip. Many different beans can be the basis for your burger patty mixtures. It’s easy to fall into a habitual routine with certain ingredients that you always have on hand. However, they can also serve as the foundation for unique burgers!

Mushrooms: In addition to their popular use as a burger topping, mushrooms like portobello mushrooms are also used as a burger patty. Why? They have a meaty texture and work well on the grill. To level up this potentially familiar patty practice, stuff your mushrooms with any odds and ends you may have hanging about – a great way to use some leftovers like spinach and artichoke dip or mac ‘n cheese. Mushrooms can also be diced with other grains, beans and nuts to create unique burger patties.
Nuts and Seeds: Typically, ground up nuts and seeds are used in conjunction with some other unique patty ingredients like mushrooms or beans. These ingredients often help bind ingredients together and add texture in addition to their individual flavor notes. For a recipe to help you finish up the last handful of nuts or few lingering mushrooms, this recipe for walnut and mushroom patties at Love and Lemons might give you some direction for this type of unique burger!
Beans: Recipes for unique burgers are often made with black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans and garbanzo beans (or chickpeas). At Freddy’s, our own celebrated Veggie Burger is made of black beans and highlighted as a favorite veggie option by Huff Post. Ordered as is, this burger comes with familiar toppings like onion, lettuce and tomato as well as a toasted bun, but the addition of Thousand Island brings a flavor twist to the overall dish.
Chicken or Fish: Unique burgers can be crafted from both chicken and fish and may start with the raw ingredients or use packaged or otherwise prepared chicken or fish. This recipe from Nastasha’s Kitchen, for example, includes options for chicken to transform into the patties. Not sure how to make that lonely can of tuna shine? This approach from All Recipes might be helpful in creating unique burgers out of ingredients already on hand!
Vegetables: Burgers can be a way to increase daily vegetable consumption, especially for potentially reluctant vegetable eaters. In addition to being used as various toppings or added into a beef or bean burger mixture, leftover vegetables can be easily transformed into unique burgers. For example, the remaining rice from your earlier take-out order and shredded beets that didn’t make it into this week’s salad would serve as key ingredients in this burger recipe from Chef Chloe.
Unique Buns for Unique Burgers
The toasty buns on which Freddy’s steakburgers and other burgers may be served are a classic component of this dish. However, we also offer rotating unique burgers with specialty buns, such as the Pretzel Bacon BBQ Steakburger. At home, you too can incorporate other favorite ingredients in place of the standard burger bun or simply use those that may be available. The following unique bun options may help you switch up your next burger experience.

Texas Toast: While you may typically use this extra thick bread as a side or to mop up the remnants of weekend brunches, it also works well for burgers and is hearty enough to support even an open-faced design. Have some leftover French toast already in the fridge? The sweet notes of that dish may be the perfect contrast to your more savory burger patty and toppings!
Pretzels: In addition to their use on Freddy’s steakburgers, pretzel buns are often available at stores, and other pretzel formats may already be in your freezer. Instead of saving those soft pretzels for snacks, you might prepare two and then layer the bottom one with lettuce before topping it with the patty, so that you can keep burger or sauce drippings from seeping out. Then, enjoy the salty finish and unique pretzel flavor that adds a little something extra to your burger experience. As another option, using soft pretzel bites as mini buns with burger bits in the middle may be a way to make unique burgers, especially for kids.
Hashbrowns: While those frozen hash brown patties may typically appear as a weekend breakfast treat, try them out as the buns for unique burgers! Need to use up some potatoes before they sprout? Kingsford® charcoal might be what you use when grilling your burgers, but they also share this recipe for making your own Hash Brown Buns.
Waffles: Using waffles to create unique burgers is an opportunity for flavor enhancement. The slightly sweet waffles left over from breakfast may help emphasize the savory notes of other burger components. Perhaps, you use that cheese and ground pepper along with some pantry items to create a slightly spicy waffle, as in this recipe from Food Network, to serve as the bun for your burger.
Vegetables: Used as serving vessels for various dishes or burger toppings, lettuce and collard greens also make a healthy swap for burger buns. You might even grill that last wedge of romaine right alongside your burger for some extra flavor. According to Tasting Table, nori wrappers and spiralized vegetables are some other bun replacements that may be used in unique burgers. Customers at Freddy’s can also enjoy this component of unique burgers, since they can have their burgers and other sandwiches lettuce-wrapped instead of with the standard bread offering.
Pita bread: Often lighter than the usual burger bun but sturdy enough to hold the same contents, pita bread may work well for unique burgers. You might grill and season them for additional layers of flavor. Another option is to cut out a burger-sized circle from the middle of the pita and then use the rest of it as bread crumbs from the patty mixture itself, if needed to help your burger mixture hold together.
Twist the Toppings for Unique Burger Creations
As with unique cheese choices ranging from brie to cheese sauce – a topping option at Freddy’s, changing up the toppings is another easy way to create unique burgers when dining in as well as out. From customizing your steakburgers at Freddy’s to being innovative in your own kitchen, topping variations allow you to explore different burger flavors while potentially keeping your same preferred patty or bun.

Crispy onions: If onion slices tend to be a must-have on your burgers, why not try grilling them or preparing a crunchy variation? While you may not have any Freddy’s onion rings around from your last order, you could make a batch of your own in the air fryer, as illustrated in this recipe from Plated Cravings.
Jalapeños: At Freddy’s, the Jalapeño Pepper Jack Double Combo is one of the unique burgers on the Freddy’s menu. Sautéed jalapeños are standard on this dish, but you can create a similarly spicy profile at home with these peppers or any others in your fridge. In addition to cooking them on the stove or grill, you could also pickle them or stuff halves with cheese for a popper-esque flavor boost!
Sauerkraut: This ingredient may be present in your fridge because it is a preferred topping for certain types of sandwiches or the grilled bratwursts that you had at last weekend’s barbecue. However, its sour notes and cabbage shreds also help create unique steakburgers and other sandwiches. If you’ve run out of lettuce or the pickles with which you usually top your burger, try out this topping as a crunchy and tangy replacement!
Avocado: In addition to that popular toast or dip preparation, avocado in many forms serves as a delicious creamy component on unique burgers. Have some guacamole leftover from the recent party or your taco night? Enjoy the creamy zing and bit of heat, depending on your guacamole selection or preparation, on your burger!
Olives: While you may typically enjoy just popping them into your mouth for a salty and tangy treat, these flavors also complement a variety of burgers. Have some blue-cheese stuffed olives awaiting a purpose? Slice them in half and you’ve got two delicious toppings for your burgers in a flash!
Egg: Run out of cheese? Have one last egg in the carton to use up? As explained by America’s Test Kitchen, putting a fried egg on a burger is going to be a bit messy, but it will elevate the feel and flavor of your burger. Unique burgers with this addition may be especially appealing to breakfast lovers. Oh, you also have a leftover slice or two of bacon? Add that topping too for a breakfast-inspired burger treat!
Unexpected Condiments for Unique Burgers
A wide range of condiments often appears in refrigerators and pantries across the country including prepared salad dressings, dips and sauces, not to mention burger favorites like mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup and relish. In addition to trying out a recipe for one of the homemade burger sauces curated at Serious Eats, find out how to repurpose condiments that may already be available to create unique burgers.

Fry Sauce: After falling in love with Freddy’s Famous Fry Sauce®, you may have bought a bottle to keep at home to ensure that you always have enough for any carry-out orders or your own homemade french fries. However, this sauce and our other varieties also bring delicious flavors to burgers! Whether you are looking for a creamy element, smokiness, BBQ taste or a bit of kick, our sauces work well with steakburgers and many other types of burgers as well as assorted sides.
Cream Cheese: Instead of letting the last of the cream cheese from your recent frosting recipe or bagel enjoyment languish in the fridge, use it for your burger. Have a full package to use before it expires? Make an herb cheese with pinches of parsley, basil or other seasonings, as in this recipe from The Busy Baker.
Jam: Wondering what to do with that onion or bacon jam you offered on a recent charcuterie board? Create unique burgers with these prepared toppings or make your own savory jam, like this tomato variation from Homemade & Yummy. Familiar fruit-based jams can also serve as the foundation for homemade BBQ sauces, which pair nicely with burgers.
Pesto: Maybe, you already have an open jar from a recent pasta night. Perhaps, you have a variety of greens to use up, like arugula, spinach or even pea tendrils. Serve unique burgers that feature store-bought or homemade pesto instead of the usual ketchup and mustard!
Dip: Spinach and artichoke, spicy ranch and other dips that may be in your fridge help create unique burgers in addition to being delicious with crackers or vegetables. Using these components helps build multiple layers to the dish in terms of flavor and texture.
Hummus: Yes, hummus is often used as a dip, but it is an especially versatile one, as evident in Food&Wine’s list of hummus recipes. Hummus of many different flavor combinations can be put directly on the burger bun. However, those last tablespoons can also become the base for various sauces. For a Caesar Salad-inspired burger, you might try this hummus-based recipe from Minimalist Baker.
From burger patties and buns to toppings and condiments, changing up the components of burgers is an easy way to create unique burgers at home and make use of items you may already have on hand. For dine-in or carry-out, Freddy’s also offers classic and unique steakburgers and sandwiches on our menu, as well as many different customization options. Therefore, guests can create their own innovative flavor combinations for their meals as well as their frozen custard treats. Make sure you are signed up for Freddy’s Rewards, so that you can earn points on your next order of unique steakburgers or any of our other delicious menu items, including sides and frozen custards!