Everything But the Bun Burger Salad

This Everything But the Bun Burger Salad is perfect for when you’re craving a take out or fast food burger but still want to be healthy.  By using extra lean ground beef, center cut bacon, a lighter dressing and ditching the bun, you can enjoy all your favorite elements of a burger without derailing your weight loss and health goals.  The fact that this Everything But the Bun Burger Salad comes together quickly, makes it perfect for a weeknight meal.

What you’ll need to make this Everything But the Bun Burger Salad

• romaine lettuce
• pickle slices and pickle juice
• sweet potato fries
• burger sauce
  • I used Bolthouse Farms Burger Sauce Salad Dressing
• 96/4 extra lean ground beef
• garlic powder
• dehydrated minced onion
• paprika
• kosher salt
• Velveeta cheese slices
• red onion
• center cut bacon
  • I always use Oscar Mayer center cut bacon to cut down on fat without sacrificing flavor

Are beef burgers a good option for healthy eating?

A lot of people are hesitant to use beef when they are trying to eat healthier or lighter; but, many people will be surprised to learn that extra lean ground beef actually has comparable macros (or even preferable macros) to some cuts of ground turkey.  It’s easy to assume that ground turkey is going to be lower fat and lower calorie than beef, but when it comes to a cut like 93/7 ground turkey, the 96/4 extra lean ground beef actually “wins” here.

So bottom line is:  don’t be afraid to eat beef!  It can be a fun and healthy alternative in your diet.

How do I prevent the lean ground beef from being bland and too dry?

Since we are using extra lean ground beef, it is really important to add some good flavor into the meat with seasonings.  We will do that by adding dehydrated onion, garlic powder, paprika and salt.  

Another thing to note about using extra lean ground beef is that you don’t want to overcook the burgers. To avoid a dry burger, you will want to cook them to an internal temperature for medium to medium-well.  This will ensure that the burgers do not dry out.

How to make this salad

Start making this salad by mixing the ground beef, onion, garlic powder, paprika and kosher salt and forming into 4 patties. Grill the burger patties to your desired internal temperature and melt the cheese on top once cooked thoroughly. Slice the onions and grill along side the burgers.

While burgers are cooking, thinly shred the romaine lettuce and toss with pickle juice. The pickle juice really gives this salad extra zing!