American Football Oval Burger

Featured in: Garden Comfort Meals

This platter features oval-shaped mini burgers crafted from seasoned beef, grilled to juicy perfection, and topped with melted cheddar. Served on toasted buns with crisp lettuce, tomato slices, and flavorful condiments, each burger is decorated with cream cheese piping for a football look. Ideal for gatherings, these handheld delights are complemented by fries or chips, making each bite playful and satisfying.

Updated on Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:16:00 GMT
Savory American football oval burger platter ready to eat, with melted cheese and fresh toppings. Save
Savory American football oval burger platter ready to eat, with melted cheese and fresh toppings. | basilhearth.com

A playful and hearty platter featuring mini burgers shaped like American footballs—perfect for game day gatherings or themed parties.

I enjoy preparing these oval burgers because they bring everyone together and add a fun twist to any party.

Ingredients

  • Ground beef: 500 g (80/20 blend for juiciness)
  • Onion: 1 small, finely chopped
  • Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
  • Worcestershire sauce: 1 tbsp
  • Salt: 1 tsp
  • Ground black pepper: ½ tsp
  • Mini burger buns: 12 (oval-shaped if available, or regular buns trimmed to shape)
  • Cheddar cheese: 6 slices, halved
  • Tomato: 1 large, sliced
  • Romaine lettuce: 6 leaves, halved
  • Ketchup: 3 tbsp
  • Mayonnaise: 3 tbsp
  • Egg white: 1 (for football lacing decoration)
  • Cream cheese: 2 tbsp, softened (for piping laces)
  • Red onion: 1 small, sliced into rings
  • Pickle slices: as desired
  • French fries or potato chips: for presentation

Instructions

Mix ingredients:
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
Shape patties:
Divide the mixture into 12 portions. Shape each into an oval football shape, flattening slightly to fit the buns.
Cook patties:
Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for 2–3 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
Add cheese:
In the last minute of cooking, place half a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty. Cover to melt.
Toast buns:
Toast the buns lightly.
Spread sauces:
Spread ketchup and mayonnaise on the bottom half of each bun.
Assemble burgers:
Layer with lettuce, tomato, and a cheese-topped patty. Add onion rings and pickles as desired.
Add laces:
Place the top bun, then, using a piping bag or a small plastic bag with the corner snipped off, pipe football laces with cream cheese onto the top of each bun.
Arrange platter:
Arrange the mini football burgers on a large platter in an oval or football shape. Surround with fries or potato chips for presentation.
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| basilhearth.com

This platter always brings joy on game days, creating fun family moments as everyone digs into the mini football burgers together.

Required Tools

Mixing bowl, grill pan or skillet, spatula, piping bag or small plastic bag, sharp knife

Allergen Information

Contains Gluten (buns), Dairy (cheese, cream cheese), Egg; may contain Soy (Worcestershire sauce), Mustard (mayonnaise). Check all ingredient labels for hidden allergens.

Nutritional Information

Per serving (2 mini burgers): 480 calories, 26 g total fat, 34 g carbohydrates, 28 g protein.

A close-up of delicious American football oval burgers arranged on a platter with crispy fries. Save
A close-up of delicious American football oval burgers arranged on a platter with crispy fries. | basilhearth.com

Serve these oval burgers fresh and warm for the best experience and impress your guests with the unique football shape.

Recipe FAQs

How do I shape the burgers like footballs?

Divide the beef mixture into equal portions and gently form each into an oval shape, slightly flattening them to match bun size.

What cheese works best for melting on these burgers?

Cheddar cheese slices melt well and add a rich flavor that complements the beef perfectly.

Can I prepare the burgers ahead of time?

You can shape the patties in advance and refrigerate them. Cook just before serving to keep them juicy and warm.

How is the football lacing decoration done?

Use cream cheese in a piping bag or plastic bag corner to pipe thin lines resembling football laces on the top bun.

What sides pair well with this platter?

French fries, potato chips, and a variety of dipping sauces complement the mini burger platter nicely.

American Football Oval Burger

Oval-shaped mini burgers with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and sauces served on a party platter.

Prep Time
25 minutes
Time to Cook
15 minutes
Total Duration
40 minutes
Recipe by Laura Bennett

Recipe Type Garden Comfort Meals

Skill Level Easy

Cuisine Type American

Makes 6 Portions

Dietary Details None specified

What You'll Need

Burgers

01 1.1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend for juiciness)
02 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
05 1 tsp salt
06 ½ tsp ground black pepper

Shaping and Assembling

01 12 mini burger buns (oval-shaped if available, or regular buns trimmed to shape)
02 6 slices cheddar cheese, halved
03 1 large tomato, sliced
04 6 leaves romaine lettuce, halved
05 3 tbsp ketchup
06 3 tbsp mayonnaise
07 1 egg white (for lacing decoration)
08 2 tbsp cream cheese, softened (for piping laces)

Garnishes

01 1 small red onion, sliced into rings
02 Pickle slices
03 French fries or potato chips

How To Make It

Step 01

Prepare the meat mixture: Combine ground beef, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, mixing gently until just combined.

Step 02

Shape the patties: Divide the mixture into 12 portions and shape each into an oval football form, flattening slightly to fit the buns.

Step 03

Cook the patties: Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patties for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until fully cooked.

Step 04

Add cheese topping: During the last minute of cooking, place half a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty and cover to melt.

Step 05

Toast the buns: Lightly toast the mini burger buns.

Step 06

Assemble the burgers: Spread ketchup and mayonnaise on the bottom halves of the buns. Layer with lettuce, tomato slices, cheese-topped patties, onion rings, and pickles as desired.

Step 07

Decorate with laces: Place the top buns and pipe cream cheese laces onto each bun using a piping bag or a small plastic bag with a snipped corner.

Step 08

Arrange and serve: Arrange the mini football-shaped burgers on a platter, surrounded by fries or potato chips for an appealing presentation.

Tools Needed

  • Mixing bowl
  • Grill pan or skillet
  • Spatula
  • Piping bag or small plastic bag
  • Sharp knife

Allergy Warnings

Review every ingredient for allergens and reach out to a medical expert if you're uncertain.
  • Contains gluten (buns), dairy (cheese, cream cheese), and egg.
  • May contain soy (Worcestershire sauce) and mustard (mayonnaise).

Nutrition information (serving size)

These nutritional details are for reference. They're not meant as medical guidance.
  • Caloric Value: 480
  • Fat content: 26 grams
  • Carbohydrates: 34 grams
  • Protein Amount: 28 grams