It's officially burger season, and we're pumped because there are so many variations out there to try. On a recent deep dive into the depths of the internet, we discovered a burger that we've never heard of before: the Michigan olive burger. And if you're not from the Midwest (or "the Mitten State"), chances are you've never heard of this burger, either. To get a little more intel on this tangy twist on a classic burger, we turned to a burger expert to ask her all of our burning Michigan olive burger questions. Read on for everything you need to know—then fire up the grill and get cooking.Related:The One Thing Chefs Are Begging Home Cooks to Stop Doing When They Grill Burgers?? SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter. ??
@mlivenewsWeston's Kewpee in Lansing, Michigan is where the unique olive sauce was first slathered on burger patties. #kewpeehamburgers #oliveburger #burgertok #michigan
In its simplest form, the Michigan burger is a beef patty—usually grilled or pan-fried—topped with Swiss cheese and a generous helping of chopped green olives, either loose or folded into a creamy spread.As pitmaster and Food Network Master of Cue champion Erica Blaire Roby puts it: "It’s juicy, salty, creamy and a little tangy all at once. Imagine a really good burger with Swiss cheese, then throw in chopped green olives or an olive spread—it’s like a burger with attitude. If you love briny, savory things (like a dirty martini), this is your jam." And Roby knows of what she speaks thanks to her mom, who is from Detroit.The magic is in that olive topping. Some purists go straight chopped, but many Michigan locals swear by a creamy spread made with mayonnaise or warm cream cheese, green olives and a splash of olive brine. "That spread is everything," Roby tells Parade. "It’s creamy, salty and smooth, and it melts just enough over the hot patty to make every bite rich and flavorful. The pimentos add a tiny bit of sweetness."Swiss cheese is the traditional choice because it's "mild, melty and it plays nice with the olives," says Roby. But she’s quick to point out that there’s room for creativity—"Honestly, it’s hard to mess up cheese on a burger." We're thinking blue cheese might be a good combo too, because we love a blue-cheese-stuffed olive.Related: How to Make the Best-Ever Smash Burger, According to the Smash Burger King of New Jersey
Where Did the Michigan Olive Burger Come From?
Like most great regional foods, the olive burger’s exact origin is murky. Some point to Flint, Michigan, where the original Kewpee Hotel Hamburg began topping their burgers with chopped green olives as early as 1923. Though the Kewpee name now lives on in Ohio and parts of Michigan under the Halo Burger brand, the Flint outpost remains sacred ground to fans of this salty, savory creation."I’m not going to start a Flint versus Lansing war here, but I believe the Olive Burger originated in Flint, MI at The Kewpee Hotel Hamburg," says Roby.Lansing, MI, is where the olive burger found its true spiritual home. "Lansing definitely owns it," Roby tells Parade. “But you’ll find olive burgers sprinkled all over Michigan and even in places like Detroit (my mom's hometown). Still, Lansing is the heart of it all—kind of like the olive burger capital.”
While outsiders may raise an eyebrow at the thought of olives on a burger, for Michiganders, the olive burger is a taste of home. It’s tied up in memory, tradition and the kinds of family lunches that linger into the afternoon.In Lansing, some locals recall being taken out by their parents or grandparents specifically for an olive burger. Others just love its staying power. And even those with no direct connection to the regional burger find themselves drawn in by its humble charm. As Roby notes, "It basically turns a good burger into something unforgettable.”Related: Where Did Hamburgers Originate?
@haloburgerDid you know we served the world's first Olive Burger back in the 1920s? Today, the Olive Burger remains on the Halo Burger menu as a staple of our brand and symbol of our heritage.✨? #haloburger #burger #michigan #puremichigan #oliveburger
♬ Swear By It - Chris Alan LeeIf you’re planning a burger pilgrimage, Roby has suggestions on where to start:
A must-visit. They’ve been making their olive-mayo topping the same way for nearly a century—and they’re not sharing the recipe.
Halo Burger, Flint
Originally part of the Kewpee lineage, this classic stop still serves the olive burger that made history, alongside other local staples like Vernors and Boston Coolers.
The Whitehouse Restaurant, Clare
This spot is another hidden gem in the olive burger scene. It's been family-owned and operated since 1935.
Related: The Secret to Super Juicy Burgers, According to Ina Garten
How to Make a Michigan Olive Burger at Home
According to Roby, it’s super easy to make a Michigan olive burger at home. For the buns, she says go with a plain white bun or get fancy with brioche. "Toast it lightly, and make sure it’s sturdy enough to handle the olive spread and the juicy beef patty. Crusty buns don’t work as well—they can overpower everything."For the olives, she says it's gotta be green. "They’ve got that salty, tangy vibe that cuts through the richness of the burger." What about black olives? "They’re too mild and sweet. You could use them, but it won’t hit the same—I'd experiment with Kalamata first, then move down the line," she says. Here’s how to pull off the ultimate Michigan burger for the start of grilling season:
1. Mix up some mayo (or warm cream cheese) with chopped green olives and olive juice.
2. Cook your burger as you like it. "I recommend 80% lean ground beef for a savory, juicy patty," says Roby. Don't forget to add a slice of Swiss cheese and let it melt on top.
3. Toast the bun.
4. Stack it: bun, Swiss-topped patty, a big scoop of olive spread, top bun. Done!
Related: The Oklahoma Way to Make a Burger 10x Better
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