American Football Oval Burger

Featured in: Seasonal Family Favorites

This dish features mini burgers crafted into an American football shape, combining juicy ground beef with cheddar cheese, fresh tomato, and crisp romaine. Seasoned with garlic, onion, and Worcestershire sauce, the patties are grilled and topped with melted cheese before assembly in oval buns. The top is decorated with cream cheese laces for a playful finishing touch. Served with fries or chips, it’s ideal for casual parties and themed occasions.

Preparation involves mixing ingredients, shaping, quick grilling, and layering with fresh garnishes and sauces. The decorative piping of cream cheese laces adds a festive look while enhancing flavor. This platter serves six and offers a satisfying, fun presentation that's great for sharing.

Updated on Thu, 04 Dec 2025 13:55:00 GMT
A delicious American Football Oval Burger Platter, featuring juicy mini burgers with melted cheese. Pin It
A delicious American Football Oval Burger Platter, featuring juicy mini burgers with melted cheese. | juniperbite.com

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

This recipe quickly became a favorite at our family gatherings, bringing smiles and full bellies every time.

Ingredients

  • For the Burgers: 500 g ground beef (80/20 blend for juiciness), 1 small onion finely chopped, 2 cloves garlic minced, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • For Shaping and Assembling: 12 mini burger buns (oval-shaped if available or regular buns trimmed to shape), 6 slices cheddar cheese halved, 1 large tomato sliced, 6 leaves romaine lettuce halved, 3 tbsp ketchup, 3 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 egg white (for football lacing decoration), 2 tbsp cream cheese softened (for piping laces)
  • Garnishes: 1 small red onion sliced into rings, Pickle slices, French fries or potato chips

Instructions

Step 1:
In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Mix gently until just combined.
Step 2:
Divide the mixture into 12 portions. Shape each into an oval football shape, flattening slightly to fit the buns.
Step 3:
Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the patties for 2&ndash3 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
Step 4:
In the last minute of cooking, place half a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty. Cover to melt.
Step 5:
Toast the buns lightly.
Step 6:
Spread ketchup and mayonnaise on the bottom half of each bun.
Step 7:
Layer with lettuce, tomato, and a cheese-topped patty. Add onion rings and pickles as desired.
Step 8:
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.
Step 9:
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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Our family enjoys gathering around this platter, sharing stories and cheering for the game while biting into these fun shaped mini burgers.

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): Calories 480, Total Fat 26 g, Carbohydrates 34 g, Protein 28 g

Gather your friends around for a game day spread of American Football Oval Burger Platter delight. Pin It
Gather your friends around for a game day spread of American Football Oval Burger Platter delight. | juniperbite.com

These mini football burgers are sure to be the highlight of your next game day feast&mdashenjoy!

Questions About This Recipe

How do I shape the patties into footballs?

Divide the ground beef mixture into portions and shape each into an oval, slightly flattened to fit the bun size, mimicking a football.

What’s the best way to cook these mini burgers evenly?

Use a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat, cooking patties for 2-3 minutes per side until fully cooked and topped with cheese to melt.

How can I create the football laces decoration?

Pipe softened cream cheese using a piping bag or a small plastic bag with a snipped corner onto the top of each bun to mimic laces.

Are there any good vegetarian alternatives for the patties?

Plant-based burger patties can be used to substitute ground beef while maintaining the shape and flavor balance.

What sides complement this platter well?

Serve with classic options like French fries or potato chips to complete the hearty, casual presentation.

How to keep the burgers warm before serving?

Cover the assembled platter loosely with foil to retain heat without steaming the buns.

American Football Oval Burger

Mini burgers shaped like footballs with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and special sauce on oval buns.

Prep Time
25 minutes
Cook Time
15 minutes
Total Duration
40 minutes
Juniper Bite Chloe Fischer


Skill Level Easy

Cuisine American

Serves 6 Number of Servings

Dietary Info None specified

What You’ll Need

Burger Mixture

01 1.1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend)
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 Assembly

01 12 mini burger buns (oval-shaped if available or regular 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
08 2 tbsp cream cheese, softened

Garnishes

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

Directions

Step 01

Prepare Burger Mixture: In a large bowl, combine ground beef, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper. Mix gently until just combined.

Step 02

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

Step 03

Cook Patties: Heat a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook patties 2–3 minutes per side until fully cooked.

Step 04

Melt Cheese: Place half a slice of cheddar cheese on each patty during the last minute of cooking. Cover to melt cheese.

Step 05

Toast Buns: Lightly toast the buns to enhance flavor and texture.

Step 06

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

Step 07

Add Laces Decoration: Place top buns and pipe football laces on each using cream cheese and egg white with a piping or small plastic bag.

Step 08

Present Platter: Arrange mini football burgers on a large platter in an oval formation. Surround with French fries or potato chips for presentation.

Kitchen Gear Needed

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

Allergen Details

Always check what goes in for allergens, and talk to your doctor if you’re unsure.
  • Contains gluten, dairy, and egg. May contain soy and mustard. Verify all ingredient labels for hidden allergens.

Nutrition Information (each serving)

This info’s just a guide, not medical advice.
  • Calories: 480
  • Fats: 26 g
  • Carbohydrates: 34 g
  • Proteins: 28 g