A smashed lettuce wrapped burger is an easy and delicious keto classic!
Holly’s Highlights for Bunless Burgers
- Flavor: Seasoned beef patties topped with cheese, sweet caramelized onions, and a tangy burger sauce deliver satisfying flavor without the carbs.
- Skill Level: Minor patty prep and a skillet are all you need to get juicy, char-grilled flavor!
- Recommended Tools: A burger press is a great tool for getting extra-thin patties.
- Prep Note: Patties can be frozen raw or frozen after being cooked (and cooled) for up to a month. Stack them between squares of parchment paper so they don’t stick together.
Lettuce List the Ingredients
- Beef: An 80/20 blend has the right balance of protein to fat for the best flavor. You can also use ground turkey or chicken.
- Onions: Optional, but totally worth it! Caramelized onions add a sweet and savory flavor bump to lettuce-wrapped burgers. Double up the batch and stir into sour cream for a quick onion dip with keto crackers.
- Cheese: Classic cheeseburgers are topped with cheddar, but any cheese works in this recipe.
- Lettuce: Iceberg lettuce leaves are large enough to wrap around a burger, but you can use any butterhead variety of lettuce, including Bibb and butter.
- Sauce: Sugar-free burger sauce is easily made with ingredients likely on hand. Spice it up by swapping out the pickle juice for jalapeno juice from a can or jar.
- Wrap It Your Way: Season the beef to match the menu! Try a spicy southwest blend for a Mexican inspired taste, or a savory garlic and herb blend.
- Toppings: Build a DIY Burger Bar and offer all your fave low-carb burger toppings like mayo, mustard, pickles, sliced jalapenos, or strips of crispy bacon.
How To Make Lettuce Wrapped Burgers
- Cook onions in butter (full recipe below).
- Divide seasoned beef into 4 balls and cook. Add cheese and cook.
- Stack 4-5 lettuce leaves and top with a cooked burger, sauce, onions, and desired toppings. Wrap lettuce around the burger and enjoy!
Burger Brilliance
- Be sure lettuce leaves are clean and dry before using.
- Make sure the cook surface is blazing hot! This sears the meat on both sides and creates flavorful, crispy edges while keeping the meat tender inside.
- Before smashing the burgers, place a small piece of parchment paper on the burger to prevent the burger press or spatula from sticking to the patty.
Wrap It Up for Tomorrow
Store leftover lettuce-wrapped burgers by separating the lettuce and toppings from the burger patties and keeping them in covered containers in the refrigerator. The burger patties and veggies will keep for up to 4 days. Reheat the patties in the microwave and build a new burger! These are perfect for next-day lunches at work or school.
Serve Bunless Burgers With…
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Lettuce Wrapped Burger
A lettuce wrapped burger is a juicy and flavorful dish without the carbs!
Equipment
Ingredients
Caramelized onions (optional)
- 1 small yellow onion diced
- 2 tablespoons butter
For the Burgers
- 1 pound ground beef 80/20
- salt
- black pepper
For serving
- 16-20 large iceberg lettuce leaves or butter lettuce
- 1 small tomato sliced
- 1 pickle sliced
- 4 slices cheddar or American cheese
- low-carb burger sauce (see notes to make your own)
Instructions
For The Caramelized Onions
- Melt butter in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are a deep golden color, about 20-25 minutes.
For The Burgers
- Divide beef into four 4-ounce portions. Roll into balls.
- Preheat a griddle or large cast-iron skillet over high heat. Add the burgers to the skillet one at a time and press down with a burger press or heavy spatula until flattened to about ¼-inch (use a square of parchment between the burger press and patty to avoid sticking). Season the tops with salt and pepper.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes or until edges are browned. Flip burgers. Add a cheese slice to the top of each burger and cook for 2 minutes more or until desired doneness.
- To serve, make a stack of 4 or 5 lettuce leaves. Add burger patty and top with burger sauce, caramelized onions and toppings as desired. Wrap lettuce around the burger.
Notes
To make a low-carb burger sauce, combine:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon sugar-free ketchup
- 1 tablespoon chopped pickles
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice
- ⅛ teaspoon paprika
Nutrition Information
Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 367mg | Potassium: 550mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 726IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 153mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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