All the flavor of Florida beach bread meets a juicy grilled burger in this show-stopping Florida Beach Bread Burger, finished with a homemade rich and chunky blue cheese dressing. It’s ideal for backyard barbecues, beachside cookouts, or any time you want a bold, cheesy burger that tastes like summer.
Florida beach bread is a beloved appetizer from Fort Myers and Tampa: toasted French bread spread with blue cheese dressing, piled high with a blend of melted cheeses, then topped with chopped tomatoes and green onions. Often served with marinara for dipping, it’s a cheesy, savory crowd-pleaser. I adapted that combination into a burger for #BurgerMonth and turned the classic into an indulgent main course.
The wider, heartier french bread I used makes a perfect bun for two half-pound patties, so this version yields two generous burgers—great for sharing with friends. You can also make sliders or one long sandwich sliced into smaller portions for appetizers. The components are simple to prepare ahead, which makes assembling and grilling fast and stress-free when guests arrive.
Prep tips: split the bread and spread the insides with soft garlic butter, then reassemble and keep in a bag until grilling. I like to sprinkle a savory seasoning on the bread right before it hits the grill for extra flavor. Make the blue cheese dressing and shred the cheese blend ahead of time. Chop tomatoes, onions, olives and bacon into small bowls so assembly is quick.
I used a five-cheese blend—mozzarella, provolone, sharp cheddar, Monterey Jack, and a sharp white horseradish cheese—to create a melty, deeply flavored topping. Pile the cheese on generously: shredded cheese compacts as it melts, so don’t be shy. Add coarsely chopped tomatoes, red onion, crisp bacon pieces, green olives, black olives and a shower of chives or sliced green onions for bright contrast.
Grill method: heat one side of the grill hot and leave the other side low or off. Cook seasoned beef patties on the hot side to your preferred doneness, then move them to the cooler side (or the top shelf) while you toast the buttered bread cut-sides over high heat with the lid open. Place the bottom half on a small piece of sprayed foil, set the burger on top, heap on the cheese blend and toppings, then transfer to the low-heat side and close the lid to melt the cheese.
While the cheese melts, spread the top piece of bread with plenty of the homemade blue cheese dressing, or offer other dressings if guests prefer. When the cheese is glossy and fully melted, place the dressed top bun on the burger and serve immediately. Slice carefully if sharing.
This burger is wonderfully flexible: set up a Florida Beach Bread Burger bar with a variety of toppings and dressings so guests can customize their sandwiches. Offer marinara for dipping if you like that extra tang, and include alternatives to blue cheese—ranch, Caesar or Thousand Island are all good options for people who prefer milder flavors.
Why this works: the garlicky, toasted french bread gives a sturdy, flavorful base; the five-cheese blend creates a melty, gooey crown; and the blue cheese dressing ties everything together with tang and richness. The fresh veggies and crisp bacon cut through the richness for a balanced bite that’s indulgent but bright.
Whether you’re celebrating National Burger Month or simply craving a creative, flavor-packed burger, the Florida Beach Bread Burger delivers. Make the components ahead for an easy assembly line, invite friends, and enjoy a relaxed, delicious meal that tastes like a beachside escape.
Florida Beach Bread Burger
Makes 2 burgers (about 1/2 lb each before cooking)
Ingredients
– French bread, sliced into bun-sized hunks; split and spread with garlic butter, grilled to toast insides
– Thick, rich chunky blue cheese dressing (homemade) or your preferred dressing
– 1 lb ground beef, formed into 2 patties, seasoned with salt and pepper
– 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella and provolone blend
– 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar
– 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack
– 1/2 cup shredded sharp white horseradish cheese
– 1 coarsely chopped Roma tomato
– Chopped red onion to taste
– 2 crisp-cooked bacon strips, broken into pieces
– 4 sliced or chopped pimiento-stuffed green olives
– 4 sliced or chopped black olives
– Green onions or chives, snipped to taste
– (Optional: marinara sauce for dipping)
Directions
Make ahead: Split and butter the french bread, then reassemble and store until grilling. Prepare the blue cheese dressing and chill. Shred and combine cheeses in a bowl. Chop tomatoes, onions, bacon, olives and chives into separate bowls.
Heat one side of your grill to hot and leave the other side low or off. Season patties with salt and pepper and grill them on the hot side to your desired doneness, turning once. Remove and tent to keep warm.
Toast the buttered cut-sides of the bread over high heat with the lid open until nicely browned; remove. Place the bottom halves on sprayed foil, top with the burgers, pile on the cheese blend and your chosen toppings, and lightly press them into the cheese. Transfer to the low-heat side of the grill, close the lid, and let the cheese melt.
Spread the top halves with blue cheese dressing while the cheese melts. When ready, place the tops on the burgers, serve with optional marinara for dipping, and enjoy.
Pour an ice-cold drink, gather friends, and dig into a cheeseburger that tastes like a day at the beach.