Recipe: Deconstructed Burgers

Time to share one of my absolute favorite keto recipes to-date. I love burgers more than the average human probably should. Like, I used to be able to knock back a Wendy’s triple and fries without a second thought. So, going keto, I knew that I would have to re-evaluate my burger consumption and came up with a “deconstructed bacon burger” that freaking ROCKS. And it’s super simple. I have actually learned that burgers simply taste BETTER without the bun {WHHHHHAT?!}

The one thing that you’ll come to notice with some of my recipes is that there are no precise measurements -- most of the time I just do a little of this and a little of that (unless I’m baking, of course). I will try to note as much as I can to help you out along the way. With most of these recipes, you can’t mess them up!

The Ingredients

* Ground beef (I use the Simply Nature 85/15 grass-fed ground beef from Aldi)

* Sliced or block cheese (I use Swiss or Provolone; the choice is yours)

* Spring mix greens

* Bacon (cooked & drained)

* Condiment of your choice (I choose mayo)

* Optional Veggies*: Onion, tomato, sauteed or raw mushrooms, avocado, or whatever else floats your boat!

* Tiny dash of garlic powder (like maybe ½ tsp)

* Salt and pepper to taste

How to Prepare

--- The Bacon ---

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F/204°C.

2. Line a 1” deep baking sheet with foil (Optional: place a baking rack, like this one, inside the baking sheet).

3. Lay desired number of pieces of bacon on the baking sheet/rack and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes.

4. When finished, remove from oven and dab excess grease with a paper towel. Set aside.

5. If you choose to not bake your bacon, you can fry it up in a skillet as per package directions. I prefer the oven because it makes much less of a mess on my stove and I’m less likely to burn myself.

--- The Burger Patties ---

While your bacon is baking (or frying) you can start the burgers…

1. Take your ground beef, salt, pepper, and garlic powder and combine in a bowl until well mixed.

2. Form into patties (1 lb of ground beef makes 4 - 4oz patties/servings; if you use a larger pack of ground beef, you may be able to form more patties).

3. Place each patty in a pre-heated non-stick skillet over medium/medium-high heat.

4. Cook on each side until heated through according to your desired doneness.

5. Place slice of cheese on top of the hot patties. Cover the pan with a lid.

6. Allow them to stand (off the heat) for about 5 minutes before serving.

How to Assemble the Deliciousness

1. Place desired amount of greens on your plate.

2. Lay your burger patty on top of the greens.

3. Top with condiment(s), choice of veggie(s), and bacon.

4. ENJOY!

I tend to serve my burgers with anything from a side of mashed cauliflower to steamed vegetables. If you have individuals in your family who are not following a low-carb diet, feel free to serve the burgers on a bun or with some French fries.

*Be cautious not to consume too many of these veggies, as they can greatly increase your carb count if you’re not careful. If you’re not watching your carbs, have at it!

I am not a nutritionist or a dietician, I am just here to share some of my favorite foods with you. This means that none of my recipe posts will contain nutritional information. Please calculate your own nutritional information using the products that you used. I use the MyFitnessPal app to track my foods, but I always triple check my label vs. the item I am entering within the app. There are many errors in the food items listed within the app, so it is imperative that you check for accuracy.