The Burger, an American Classic

Featured at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, the humble burger quickly grew from a simple sandwich into one of America’s most iconic meals. Within just a few years, “burger” became shorthand for beef patties on a bun, and soon expanded to include turkey, seafood, and plant-based versions.

By the 1920s, burger joints were popping up across the country, pairing burgers with fries and shakes in classic soda shop fashion. The cheeseburger followed soon after, and by the mid-20th century, the burger had become a cornerstone of American grilling culture.

Today, burgers are endlessly customizable—adaptable to nearly any protein, flavor profile, or dietary preference.

But the difference between a good burger and a great burger often comes down to one thing: how you season it.

The Best Way to Season Burgers for Grilling

When it comes to seasoning burgers, simplicity and balance are key. Whether you’re working with beef, turkey, or plant-based mixes, the goal is to enhance—not overpower—the protein.

The Basic Rule

Start with a simple ratio:

1 Tbsp seasoning per 1 lb. of meat (or veggie patty mix).

This gives you a reliable baseline that you can adjust depending on the strength of your seasoning blend and personal taste.

Choosing the Right Seasoning Base for Burgers

Most great burger seasonings start with a foundation of:

• salt
• black pepper
• garlic
• onion

These (4) ingredients work across nearly all proteins without overpowering them, which means that most of our steak rubs and BBQ blends would be excellent starting points for seasoning your burgers. If you'd like to stick with the basics but still be flavorful, we recommend starting with these two blends:

Should You Season Burgers Inside or Outside?

When seasoning burgers, there are two main approaches: mixing seasoning into the meat, or seasoning the outside of the patty before grilling. Both methods can work well, but they create very different results in flavor, texture, and crust development.

Mixing tends to work best for leaner proteins like turkey, chicken, fish, and veggie-based burgers. Mixing seasoning directly into the ground meat helps distribute flavor evenly throughout the patty.

It’s especially useful when:

• working with lean proteins that need flavor from internal seasoning
• making plant-based or bean-based burgers
• using softer flavor blends that benefit from full incorporation

For beef, this method is fine, but typically less recommended as it can disrupt the texture of the beef. That being said, it can work really well for specialty blends or mixed meat burgers.

Seasoning on the Outside Only (and Why It Matters for Smashburgers)

Seasoning is applied directly to the outside surface of the patty just before it hits the grill or griddle. Instead of flavoring the entire burger internally, this method builds a concentrated crust on the exterior as it cooks over high flame heat.

This technique is the one you want to go with for beef burgers, where you want maximum crust, sear, and texture without overworking the meat. It is also the foundation of smashburger cooking.

When making homemade smashburgers on the grill, use West Coast Burger Blend to press directly onto both sides of the surface of the meat before it hits a hot flat top or cast iron pan. As the patty is smashed thin, the seasoning forms a deeply caramelized crust with crisp edges and intense flavor in every bite.

This approach works especially well for:

• smashburgers cooked on a flat top or cast iron
• thin, fast-cooking patties
• high-heat grilling where crust development is key

West Coast Burger Blend was specifically handcrafted for this surface, outside-only application, creating bold flavor, texture, and crust without ever being mixed into the meat.

Burger Flavor Ideas Beyond Salt & Pepper

One of the easiest ways to change the personality of a burger is through seasoning. A simple change in spice blend can take a burger from steakhouse-style to smoky BBQ to globally inspired.

Here are a few flavor directions worth exploring on the grill this summer.

Classic Steakhouse Flavor

If you want a burger that feels timeless and savory, stick with seasoning blends built around garlic, onion, pepper, and herbs.

Guard and Grace Steak Rub delivers that classic steakhouse flavor profile and works especially well on beef burgers, turkey burgers, and even veggie patties. It also pairs perfectly with crispy fries or grilled potatoes for a full diner-style plate.

Sweet & Smoky BBQ Flavors

For burgers with a stronger backyard BBQ personality, slightly sweet and smoky blends work especially well.

Kansas City Strip Steak Seasoning brings a sweet-and-savory balance that pairs naturally with grilled onions, cheddar cheese, and BBQ-style toppings.

For even deeper smoke flavor, Texas Brisket Rub adds an even richer, smoky BBQ profile that works especially well in blended meat burgers like beef-and-pork combinations.

Smokehouse-Style Burgers

If you love burgers with bold smokehouse flavor, lean into blends with smoked salt, hickory, or pepper-forward character.

Red Rocks Hickory Smoke Seasoning adds instant smoky depth and works especially well with pork burgers, bacon toppings, crispy onions, and sharp cheeses.

Bold Global Flavors

Burgers are also a great canvas for experimenting with globally inspired seasoning blends.

Jamaican Jerk Seasoning brings herbal complexity, warm spice, and heat that pairs especially well with grilled pineapple, slaw, spicy mayo, or citrus-forward toppings.

Beef Burger Recipes

Beef burgers are endlessly customizable, whether you prefer a classic backyard cheeseburger, a thin smashburger with crispy edges, or something layered with bold global flavors.

Because beef has plenty of natural richness and fat, it can support everything from simple seasoning blends to smoky BBQ rubs and pepper-forward crusts without losing its signature flavor on the grill.

Similar to beef, bison offers a slightly leaner alternative with a deeper, subtly earthy flavor that pairs especially well with bold seasonings and high-heat cooking methods.

Black Label Burgers

Made with Black Label Reserve Smoked Salt & Pepper, these burgers prove that simple seasoning and proper technique can go a long way. The smoked salt enhances the natural richness of the beef while cracked pepper helps build a bold crust on the grill.

West Coast Burgers with Sauce

These smashburger-style burgers use West Coast Burger Blend as a surface seasoning, creating crispy edges and a deeply caramelized crust when cooked over high heat. Served with a savory burger sauce, this recipe leans classic diner-style with a West Coast/Californian twist.

Outside In Burgers with Sweet & Spicy Ketchup

This stuffed burger recipe, traditionally known as "inside out" or "Juicy Lucy" burgers, flips the traditional cheeseburger concept by placing the toppings inside the patty itself. Paired with Sweet & Spicy Ketchup, these burgers bring layered flavor and a little heat to the grill.

Great Plains “4B” Bison Burger

Seasoned with Great Plains Coffee Rub, this bison burger delivers deep savory flavor with earthy coffee notes and subtle spice.

The slightly leaner nature of bison makes it especially good for high-heat grilling and bold crust development.

Caribbean Jerk Burgers

Made with Caribbean Green Jerk Seasoning, these burgers bring bold heat, herbal complexity, and island-inspired flavor to classic grilled beef. They pair especially well with grilled pineapple, slaw, or spicy aioli.

Turkey Burger Recipes

Turkey burgers are leaner than beef, so seasoning is especially important. For best results, seasoning is typically mixed directly into the meat before forming patties to ensure even flavor throughout.

Peruvian Turkey Burgers

Made with Peruvian Chile Lime Seasoning, these burgers bring bright citrus, mild heat, and South American-inspired flavor to lean turkey. They pair especially well with avocado, slaw, or creamy sauces.

Hudson Bay Turkey Burgers

Hudson Bay Beef Spice is a coarse blend that we like to call our take on a Montreal-style steak seasoning. Salt, pepper, coriander, and rosemary come together for a bold, herb-forward burger that holds up beautifully in ground turkey.

Veggie & Plant-Based Burger Recipes

Vegetable, black bean, and plant-based burgers are highly adaptable and take seasoning exceptionally well, especially when built around hearty ingredients like beans, quinoa, and eggplant.

Mexican Street Corn Black Bean Burgers

Made with Mexican Street Corn Seasoning, these black bean burgers bring smoky, savory, and slightly sweet corn-inspired flavor into a plant-based format. They’re excellent topped with avocado, lime crema, or fresh salsa.

Smoky Quinoa Burgers

Made with Onion & Garlic Everyday Seasoning, these quinoa burgers are simple, savory, and satisfying. The seasoning builds a strong aromatic base that enhances the nuttiness of quinoa.

Eggplant Crunch-Burgers with Dijon Dill Sauce

Seasoned with Santa Maria Butcher's Rub, these veggie burgers remain a standout example of how simple seasoning can transform eggplant into a hearty, flavorful burger alternative.

More Burger Ideas for the Grill

Burgers aren’t limited to beef, turkey, or vegetables—there’s a whole world of flavor to explore by working with alternative protein options for burgers. You can practically make a burger with almost any kind of meat!

• Lamb burgers with warm spice blends and herbs
• Wild boar or elk burgers for deeper, game-forward flavor
• Fish or mahi mahi burgers with citrus seasoning
• Pork-based burgers for extra juiciness and richness like Smoky Pork Burgers

These proteins all benefit from bold seasoning blends like jerk, BBQ rubs, or herb-forward spice mixes depending on your flavor direction.

Final Thoughts on Burger Seasoning

From classic beef burgers to globally inspired plant-based versions, burgers are one of the most flexible formats in grilling.

Whether seasoning is mixed into the meat or applied to the surface, the right blend can completely transform flavor, texture, and overall experience.

Grilling season is about experimentation—try new combinations, layer flavors, and build burgers that reflect your own style.

Tried and true toppings of ketchup, mustard, lettuce, onion, tomato, and pickles now share the stage with bacon, aioli, slaw, caramelized onions, green chile, peanut butter, pineapple, and even truffles. Whether you go for the classics or the more creative burger combinations this summer, here's to great burgers.

For more summer grilling and BBQ ideas, visit the BBQ & Grilling product section of our website.