At a glance
- The holiday season is the ideal time to launch festive, limited-time burgers that drive menu engagement and customer excitement.
- Festive proteins and flavours such as turkey, prawns, cranberry, camembert, truffle, and mango tap into seasonal dining trends and increase perceived value.
- Hi-Melt cheese slices deliver the consistent melt, flavour, and presentation needed to bring these festive creations to life.
The Australian holiday season brings a surge in celebration, with diners seeking festive flavours that feel special and memorable. Burgers are a versatile base for holiday menu specials, allowing you to showcase seasonal ingredients while delivering the indulgence expected at this time of year.
At the heart of these builds is Hi-Melt burger cheese, trusted for its superior melting performance, rich flavour, and visual appeal. Whether it’s a classic beef burger or a seasonal build featuring chicken, seafood, or turkey, Hi-Melt cheese enhances every element of a holiday burger, turning it into a signature summer special.
Below are eight holiday burgers designed for the festive season.
Festive Cranberry & Turkey Burger
This burger captures the essence of an Australian Christmas, tapping into familiar festive flavours that customers recognise instantly. Its light, summery format makes it ideal for holiday menus that must balance indulgence with seasonal freshness. The festive flavour profile creates emotional appeal and positions the Cranberry & Turkey Burger as a limited-time menu hero that diners will actively seek.
Ingredients:
- Turkey patty or sliced roast turkey
- Hi-Melt cheese slice
- Cranberry relish
- Crispy bacon
- Cos lettuce
- Milk bun or potato bun
As the cheese melts over the turkey, it adds a creamy layer that helps retain moisture and enhances the burger’s visual profile and flavour. The cranberry and bacon combination delivers a familiar festive contrast, creating a flavour experience that drives seasonal excitement and supports premium pricing.
Aussie Prawn & Hi-Melt Surf ‘n’ Turf Burger
This Surf ‘n’ Turf burger captures the coastal flavour profile of an Australian summer, combining the richness of a beef patty with the fresh, celebratory character of garlic butter prawns. It brings together two familiar favourites in a single premium offering that fits seamlessly into festive and summer-led menus.
Ingredients:
- Beef patty
- Hi-Melt cheese slice
- Garlic butter prawns
- Grilled pineapple (optional for added sweetness and acidity)
- Lime aioli
- Brioche bun
The prawns add a fresh seafood element that elevates the burger, while Hi-Melt cheese creates a smooth, consistent melt that ties the flavours together and enhances visual appeal. The combination of beef, seafood and a clean dairy melt signals a premium burger build and naturally draws attention as a seasonal feature.
Boxing Day Slaw Burger
Channelling the casual, easygoing feel of Boxing Day, this burger offers a fresh, cooling profile that appeals to diners looking for something lighter after traditional Christmas dining. It also speaks to summer-led casual menu trends, making it an accessible seasonal special that fits across lunch, dinner, and late-night dayparts.
Ingredients:
- Beef patty (or turkey patty for a festive variation)
- Hi-Melt cheese slice
- Vinegar-based tangy slaw
- Pickles
- BBQ or mustard glaze
- Milk bun
The slaw component provides crunch and freshness, enhancing the burger’s summer appeal. Hi-Melt cheese melts cleanly beneath the slaw, adding richness and visual cohesion without weighing the build down. This combination makes it ideal for fast-paced service and takeaway, as it holds structure well while still offering a distinct seasonal point of difference.
Read More: How HI-Melt Cheese Helps Speed Up Service in Busy Kitchens
Loaded Christmas Stuffing Burger
This concept brings the flavours of Christmas lunch into a handheld format, appealing to diners who want to enjoy festive nostalgia in a new way. It taps into emotional flavour cues such as sage, roasted herbs, and stuffing-style seasoning, which consistently drive holiday menu engagement.
Ingredients:
- Beef patty (or chicken patty for a lighter variation)
- Hi-Melt cheese slice
- Roast stuffing crumble
- Gravy mayo
- Rocket
- Toasted brioche bun
Hi-Melt cheese adds a smooth, savoury layer that enhances the herby flavours and supports burger cohesion. The stuffing element distinguishes this festive burger from standard menu offerings, making it a standout feature that clearly signals limited-time availability and increases perceived value.
Camembert & Cranberry Burger
This burger offers premium grazing-board flavours in burger form, aligning with the growing demand for elevated cheese builds during the holiday period. Its gourmet profile positions it as a premium menu item that visually stands out in marketing, on menus, and on social media and delivery platforms.
Ingredients:
- Angus beef patty
- Hi-Melt cheese slice
- Fried or baked camembert round or wedge
- Cranberry and rosemary jam
- Baby spinach
- Glazed brioche bun
Hi-Melt cheese lays the foundation for a layered, two-cheese profile, enhancing melt coverage and creating visual abundance. This build delivers both richness and festive familiarity, appealing to diners looking to upgrade from standard cheeseburgers during the holiday season.
New Year’s Eve Truffle Smash Burger
This burger is built for premium positioning during festive celebrations. Truffle-flavoured menu items are associated with occasion dining and consistently drive higher average spend. The smash patty style offers visual drama and strong appeal on social feeds and delivery apps.
Ingredients:
- Double smash beef patties
- Hi-Melt cheese slices
- Truffle aioli
- Crispy prosciutto (or bacon)
- Caramelised onion
- Potato bun
The layering of Hi-Melt cheese between patties ensures full melt coverage and enhances the burger’s visual profile. Truffle adds exclusivity, making this burger ideal for New Year promotions and end-of-year menus where diners are actively willing to trade up to premium builds.
Mango & Chilli Glazed Chicken Burger with Hi-Melt
Bright, tropical and clean on the palate, this burger leans into peak-summer flavour. Ripe mango brings natural sweetness, while a touch of chilli heat lifts the profile. It feels festive and fresh, which is exactly the tone holiday diners look for in warmer weather.
Ingredients:
- Grilled or crispy chicken breast fillet
- Hi-Melt cheese slice
- Mango and chilli glaze
- Iceberg lettuce
- Coriander-lime mayo
- Sesame or brioche bun
As the warm chicken loosens the glaze, Hi-Melt settles over it in a smooth layer that softens the heat and balances the sweetness. The cheese adds creaminess without heft, letting crisp lettuce and citrusy mayo keep the finish fresh. The result is a vivid, summer-forward burger with great visual appeal.
Summer BBQ Native Burger with Hi-Melt
Built around distinctly Australian flavours, this burger features native spices that add depth and character, offering a unique flavour profile that aligns perfectly with summer menus and seasonal dining preferences.
Ingredients:
- Native-spiced beef patty (pepperberry or wattleseed blend)
- Hi-Melt cheese slice
- Beetroot relish
- Caramelised onion
- Fried egg (optional for a classic Aussie twist)
- Damper-style bun or milk bun
The native spice blend adds aromatic depth and earthiness, while the beetroot relish brings a natural sweetness that balances the patty. As it melts, Hi-Melt cheese locks in moisture and creates a clean, glossy layer, finishing the burger with a premium, craveable texture ideal for a summer feature item.
The Australian holiday season presents a prime opportunity to refresh burger menus with flavours that celebrate both the festive spirit and the warmth of summer. From bright tropical profiles to nostalgic Christmas-inspired builds, these combinations demonstrate how the right ingredients can turn a burger into a seasonal menu highlight.
Hi-Melt cheese adds the final touch, delivering the ideal melt, structure and flavour needed to bring each creation together with consistency and visual appeal.
To explore Hi-Melt cheese slices for your seasonal menu, connect with The Burger Cheese team and discover how our products can help you create burgers that stand out this holiday season.
FAQs
Why is Hi-Melt cheese ideal for holiday burgers?
Hi-Melt cheese is engineered for high-heat burger builds. It delivers consistent melt, maintains burger structure during service, and adds a creamy flavour that complements festive ingredients like turkey, prawns, and spiced patties.
What ingredients are popular for summer-inspired holiday burgers?
Australian holiday burgers often include fresh ingredients such as mango, pineapple, prawns, herbs, cranberry sauce, and native spices. These pair well with Hi-Melt cheese to create balanced, flavour-packed builds.
Can I use Hi-Melt cheese in chicken or seafood burgers?
Yes. Hi-Melt cheese melts cleanly over chicken and seafood, enhancing texture and creating a cohesive flavour layer that elevates lighter proteins without overpowering them.
