Not Ketchup, Not Mustard: Cheeseburgers Are 10X More Flavorful With These Two Cowboy-Style Toppings

Cowboys on the open trail and modern foodies have something in common: An appetite, and a taste for the good stuff. To fuel long days (working on the range, or otherwise) and excite the palate, nothing gets the job done like a hearty cheeseburger — especially with the help of two cowboy-inspired toppings. For a flavor bomb that totally satisfies, top burgers with cowboy bacon and cowboy candy jalapeños. This rootin'-tootin' topping combo levels-up a burger's taste with an instant kick of "swicy" heat. Meanwhile, the toothy chew of the peppers and mouth-watering crisp from the bacon strips deliver major textural dynamism.

Here at Tasting Table, we use "cowboy candy" (aka candied jalapeños) for everything from topping hotdogs to brining hard-boiled eggs. Per the lore, cowboy candy traces back to a ranch in St. Augustine, Texas in 1922, but whatever its origin, this versatile condiment belongs in your burger rotation. These vegetal morsels are the key to a restaurant-worthy burger. Simply arrange a few candied jalapeños on top of your next burger patty and throw on some cowboy bacon strips for a meal fit for the wild west.

To make cowboy candied jalapeños, grab a pair of gloves and slice up some fresh peppers (canned or frozen jalapeños turn out soggy here). Then, simmer 'em in a mixture of apple cider vinegar and sugar, finally transferring the peppers and the cooking liquid to a Mason jar to continue soaking and infusing. The longer you let them sit, the more those peppers will absorb the syrup, creating a pop of flavor in each bite. As for the bacon part of the equation, feel free to take a cue from our sweet and spicy cowboy bacon recipe. Each smoky strip is infused with sweet heat, brushed with jalapeño-infused simple syrup then topped with sugar-soaked jalapeños.

The toppings bonanza doesn't have to end there, either. To lean into the savoriness, you could smear the underside of your toasted burger bun with garlic aioli. Or, pile on some smashed ripe avocado to counterbalance the jalapeño heat. To play up the sweet-heat dynamic, try swiping the bun with some blackberry jam as a luscious moisture component. Bonus points if you add a slice of pepper jack cheese for even more subtle heat and a touch of richness. Sharp white cheddar would work fabulously here, as well.

To complete the meal, serve these cowboy-style burgers with a side of cowboy caviar. This refreshing corn-bean salad would counterbalance the rich smokiness of the bacon and the beef patty, and it makes a colorful scooper on blue corn tortilla chips. Craving even more customization? Look no further than our roundup of toppings to give burgers a cowboy twist (fried onion strings and chile con queso, anyone?).