Who needs a bun? Try this delicious bunless burger instead. Simply sandwich your fillings between two beef patties, and have at it!
Bunless burger is such a wonderful solution for those on a low carb or keto diet. And no, I don’t miss the bun! When you get used to eating low carb, you no longer “need” bread to hold your burgers or hot dogs.
I used to love bread, but now I consider bread as an unnecessary filler. (Though I still have several good recipes for keto bread!)
I’d much rather have an extra delicious beef patty than have just one patty sandwiched in bread!
The ingredients used in this recipe
You’ll only need a few ingredients to make this recipe:
- Ground beef patties
- Salt and pepper
- Dijon mustard
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Red onion
- Sharp cheddar
How to make bunless burgers
Easy! Scroll down to the recipe card for the full details. Here are the basic steps:
- Season the beef patties with salt and pepper.
- Cook them on a hot cast iron griddle, 1-2 minutes per side.
- Transfer to a plate and allow to rest, loosely covered in foil, for 5 minutes.
- While meat is resting, assemble the remaining ingredients.
- To assemble the “sandwiches,” grab two plates. Place one cooked patty on each plate. Spread it with mustard. On top of the mustard, layer the lettuce, onion, tomato, cheese, and then top with another cooked patty.
How to eat a bunless burger?
When I eat burgers (these broiled burgers are very good, as are these bacon burgers), I usually just put them on a plate and use a knife and a fork.
This “sandwich” that you can hold with your hands is another way to enjoy meat, cheese and veggie layers without bread.
It’s admittedly more fun than using a knife and a fork, and it is always a hit with kids, who find the “meat bun” funny – and fun. The kids enjoy not just eating these burgers, but also assembling them.
A bread alternative you could try
If you do miss hamburger buns, try making cloud bread – while not true bread, it’s surprisingly similar to spongy white hamburger buns.
Are bunless burgers healthy?
I think so. Certainly the homemade version. Let’s address a few common concerns:
Ditch the bun
These burgers are a better choice than a hamburger in a bun, because that white spongy bun does nothing to promote your health, and might even be detrimental.
Red meat concerns
Current dietary advice is to limit red meat. But fresh unprocessed meat is very nutritious.
As long as one doesn’t overindulge, or have a specific issue that requires them to limit saturated fat (which is generally not harmful), I believe that beef does have a place in a healthy diet.
Cheese
Current research says that for healthy people, full-fat dairy is fine and cheese, specifically, is harmless.
What to eat with a bunless burger?
I like to serve it with vegetables, such as steamed broccoli or green beans. It’s also good with a side of jicama fries or zucchini fries.
Bunless Burger
INGREDIENTS
- 4 (1/4 lb) ground beef patties
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 4 lettuce leaves
- 2 thick tomato slices
- 2 red onion slices
- 2 slices sharp cheddar
INSTRUCTIONS
- Season the beef patties with salt and pepper. Cook them on a hot cast iron griddle, 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and allow to rest, loosely covered in foil, for 5 minutes.
- While meat is resting, assemble the remaining ingredients.
- To assemble the “sandwiches,” grab two plates. Place one cooked patty on each plate. Spread it with mustard. On top of the mustard, layer the lettuce, onion, tomato, cheese, and then top with another cooked patty. Serve immediately, with extra napkins. 🙂
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Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., has been following a healthy real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She has taken 
