Dress Up Your Burgers With One Sweet Canned Topping

Burgers are an American staple, favored by fast food restaurants, gourmet chefs, and backyard barbecuers alike for their simplicity and versatility. The burger can be pretty standard fare (meat, cheese, bun, and a condiment or two), or it can get fancy, integrating unique choices of meat and carefully imagined ingredients for a luxury eating experience. Even home chefs can elevate their usual burgers with an ingredient twist, and it turns out the secret ingredient your burgers have been missing might just be hanging out in your pantry.

Canned ingredients can make great additions to your burgers, and canned pineapple in particular can take your average burger from basic to brilliant. It adds a sweet touch that complements the savory umami flavors of a juicy burger patty, while it's also inexpensive and easy to procure at your local grocery store. Pineapple is also well-liked (in 2023, it was the 10th most popular fruit sold in the United States). And if you're not sold quite yet, note that it's also good for you, with one serving of pineapple containing 88% of the average adult's recommended daily value of vitamin C (not to mention loads of antioxidants). And while the addition of pineapple to pizza might be up for debate, it's definitely got a place on your next burger.

With a good burger, the ingredients are the star of the show, and it's important to pick the perfect pineapple for the job. Look for canned pineapple slices. Shy away from pineapple chunks or tidbits, as they'll get messy (unless you want to make a pineapple salsa to use as a burger topping, which we fully support). Think about what other flavors you'd like to incorporate into your burger. If you're going for a classic Hawaiian burger (sometimes called an aloha burger), get yourself some teriyaki sauce and Swiss cheese. These flavors blend beautifully for a rich flavor experience reminiscent of the tropics.

For the best flavors, mix your ground beef with teriyaki sauce and your preferred seasonings before grilling. Grilling your burgers will provide a smoky, savory flavor that you just can't get without a flame. You can grill your pineapple slices as well, or for an even more exciting flavor profile (and added sweetness), caramelize them first by coating the pineapple slices in butter and sprinkling with sugar before you cook them. Once the burger and pineapple have been grilled to perfection, add your Swiss cheese. Serve on toasted, buttered buns, and put it all together with your favorite condiments (try mayo or even a drizzle of honey). Pair with crispy sweet potato fries (sweet potatoes are a tropical crop) for a truly tropical experience.

Depending on how many people you're serving, you might use up all your pineapple on the burgers. But if you have any left over after, put it to good use. There are so many ways to use canned fruit that you'll be able to repurpose it so none goes to waste. Keep in mind that canned pineapple will stay good in the fridge for five to seven days after it's been opened, so if you don't have a chance to use it by then, consider freezing it.

If you want to use it the same day, you can turn it into a salsa, chutney, or even a dessert to serve with your burgers. If you're all pineappled out, consider adding it to a smoothie for the next day's breakfast. You can also cut it into chunks and add to your yogurt or cottage cheese, or use it as a salad topping. If you like to juice, toss the excess pineapple into your juicer for a sweet and nutritious boost. With such a tasty fruit and so many ways to serve it, there's no need to let any go to waste.