Everyone builds a burger a little differently, and almost everyone has a topping they will not budge on. This One Gotta Go card asks you to lose one of four favorites for good: American cheese, lettuce and tomato, pickles or caramelized onions.
It sounds small until you picture your next cookout burger without it. Read the four toppings out loud, give everyone a few seconds, and then go around the grill and hear why each person cut what they cut.
American Cheese vs Lettuce & Tomato vs Pickles vs Caramelized Onions
A. American Cheese
American cheese melts like nothing else and gives a burger that classic diner look. Still, some people find it plain and a little plastic compared with cheddar or pepper jack. If you already build your burger around big flavors like onions and pickles, the cheese might be the easiest piece to leave off.
Keep it if: A burger without a gooey melted slice on top does not feel like a burger to you at all.
B. Lettuce & Tomato
Lettuce and tomato add crunch, color and something fresh to cut through the meat. They are also the toppings that slide out the back of the bun and make it soggy. Plenty of people pick them off anyway, which makes this a fair candidate for the cut.
Keep it if: You like your burger to taste fresh and crisp, not just rich and heavy, and you never pick off the veggies.
C. Pickles
Pickles bring the sour snap that wakes up every bite, but they are also one of the most picked-off toppings around. Some people love them so much they ask for extra, and others cannot stand even the pickle juice left behind. If you are on the no-pickle side, this cut is easy.
Keep it if: That tangy crunch is the reason your burger tastes balanced, and you sometimes order extra pickles on purpose.
D. Caramelized Onions
Caramelized onions are the fancy upgrade, sweet and soft after slow cooking. That is also the problem: they take time, you rarely see them at a basic cookout, and they can overpower everything else. If you mostly eat quick burgers, these might be the topping you would miss least.
Keep it if: You think slow-cooked onions turn a regular burger into a restaurant burger and you are willing to wait for them.
Our take
We would cut caramelized onions. They are delicious, but they are the one topping on this card that needs extra time and effort, while cheese, pickles, lettuce and tomato show up on burgers everywhere. The most fun debate usually comes from pickles, because people either love them or want them nowhere near the bun. Ask each person to describe their perfect burger from the bottom bun up before they vote.
How to play this card with friends
- Read the four choices out loud.
- Everyone picks the one they'd eliminate at the same time.
- Explain your pick. This is where the fun starts.
- Use the follow-up questions below to keep it going.
Follow-up questions to keep the debate going
- Which burger topping is the most divisive at a cookout?
- What topping would you add to this card that is missing?
- Should cheese go on top of the patty or under it?
- Which fast food burger has the best toppings, and why?
Want more debates like this? Get the One Gotta Go card game for game night, family dinners and road trips. Shop the decks.
Burger Toppings: quick answers
What are the most common burger toppings?
Classic burger toppings include cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. Many restaurants also offer bacon, jalapenos, mushrooms and caramelized onions. The right mix is personal, which is why this card works so well with a group.
How do you caramelize onions for burgers?
Slice onions thin and cook them in butter or oil over medium-low heat, stirring now and then, until they turn soft and golden brown. It usually takes a good while, so start them before the burgers. A pinch of salt helps them release moisture and brown evenly.
