Give Burgers A Tangy Bite With An Ingredient Already In Your Fridge

When it comes to tips for making the perfect burgers, using the right type of ground beef and applying the right amount of seasoning can make a world of difference in the finished product. There are also less-common ways to boost your burgers' flavor, and one involves using an unexpected yet ubiquitous ingredient: sour cream. By incorporating sour cream into your ground beef mixture before making the patties, you'll create a distinct flavor profile absent in more conventional burgers.

Sour cream is a versatile ingredient to be sure, as it can be used in both sweet and savory recipes. While it's often used to increase moisture and create a luscious texture in recipes, the ingredient is also capable of enhancing flavor. Sour cream has a mild acidity that contributes to its tangy taste, but it also features some milky notes that beautifully offset the richness of ground beef patties. While it's often used as a topping, mixing the sour cream with the burger meat ensures its flavor is evenly distributed, which can make for a more satisfying outcome.

Sour cream burger recipes typically call for some type of seasoning, such as onion-flavored soup mix for further flavor enhancement. However, the versatility of this surprising burger booster means that it pairs wonderfully with lots of other ingredients. In place of soup mix, consider using ranch dressing mix to further increase the patties' tanginess. In this case, adding a bit of bacon to the burger boosts richness while also complementing the tangy flavor profile.

As for toppings, onions are a great choice, especially when they're caramelized. There's no need to be intimidated — remember that there are lots of chef-approved tricks for getting perfect caramelized onions every time, such as using a sizable pan and combining butter and oil when cooking. The mildly sweet yet savory flavor of caramelized onion is an ideal accompaniment to the tanginess of sour cream-infused burgers, as it creates a more nuanced flavor profile. Adding some chopped chives to the finished burger is another great idea. Chives come from the same family as onions, and the herb actually shares a similar flavor with the vegetable, albeit with a bit of grassiness thrown in. With so many ways to tweak sour cream burgers, this recipe is sure to become a mainstay in your home-cooking arsenal.