For those following a ketogenic diet, the thought of giving up favorite foods like burgers can be daunting. However, with a few clever adjustments, you can still enjoy a juicy, satisfying burger while staying within your carb limits. This article explores various keto burger recipes and ideas, from bun alternatives to creative toppings and sides, ensuring you don't miss out on burger night.
Embracing Keto Burgers
Eating a ketogenic diet doesn’t mean eliminating all of your favorite foods. In fact, with little hacks here and there, you can make low-carb burgers super delicious, healthy, and easy. The great thing about keto burgers is that (minus the bun!) all the favorite toppings are pretty keto-friendly. Lean ground beef, cheese, crispy bacon, romaine lettuce, tomato, pickles, sliced onion, grilled onions, and even caramelized onions-all low-carb and keto! When it comes to seasoning, the best burgers (in my opinion) are simple, enhancing the umami flavor of the beef. Black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and sea salt are all you need, and they’re all keto-friendly!
Bun-less Options and Alternatives
One of the biggest challenges in making a keto burger is finding a suitable replacement for the traditional bun. Fortunately, there are many delicious and creative alternatives:
- Lettuce Wraps: Lettuce leaves are the most common option for a low-carb bun substitute. Boston bib lettuce leaf is a great option to use as the bottom 'bun'. Thinly slice your onions and separate your lettuce leaves into individual leaves for your low-carb bun. Iceberg lettuce "buns" also work well.
- Thick-Cut Tomatoes: You can use thick slices of tomatoes to create an open-face burger that can be enjoyed using a fork and knife.
- Roasted Portobello Mushrooms: Grill or roast portabella mushrooms for a delicious low-carb bun!
- Thick Sliced Red Bell Pepper: Although you may not be able to get a round shape, thick slices of bell pepper can make a decent "bun" for a sandwich, enjoy raw slices or lightly roast them for more flavor (and a softer bite).
- Grilled Pineapple: A fruity option that tastes even better when grilled slightly!
- Eggplant: Similar to the sliced sweet potatoes, you can also slice eggplant into 1/2" thick rounds and roast them at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes until tender, and use them for a low carb burger bun option!
- Zucchini: This is probably one of the less preferred options, as you would have to find a fairly large zucchini to get rounds big enough to be a bun option for a burger patty, but you can always use roasted rounds of zucchini for burger slides or burger bites.
- Jicama: If you're looking for a crunchy bun option, then head to the store and pick up a large jicama! This root vegetable has a celery-like flavor and can be sliced into raw rounds and used as burger buns or even low-carb taco shells.
- Keto Buns: The key to making this burger low-carb. If you're nut-free, use these nut-free keto buns.
Keto Burger Bowl
Fulfill your burger cravings, even on a low carb diet, with this delicious Keto Burger Bowl recipe! It's loaded with everything you love about a burger, minus the bun. It's easy to make and topped with THE BEST Keto Burger Sauce. Also known as a burger salad, or big mac salad, in this recipe, ground beef is seasoned and crumbled for the perfect tender flavor in every bite. Put these burger bowls together in less than 20 minutes for an easy dinner.
Burger Bowl Ingredients:
- Ground beef - this recipe uses meat with an 80/20 fat content, which contributes to the amazing flavor. A more lean ground beef may be used, if you prefer.
- Steak seasoning - click the link for an easy homemade Montreal steak seasoning recipe, or pick up pre-made steak seasoning on the spice aisle at the grocery store. You can also substitute ½ teaspoon salt + ½ teaspoon black pepper + ½ teaspoon garlic powder, if you don't have any steak seasoning on hand.
- Worcestershire sauce - while large amounts of Worcestershire sauce would not be keto-friendly, I'm using a vegan, gluten free Worcestershire sauce in this recipe that only contains 1 carb per tablespoon. Since we're only using 1 teaspoon in this recipe, it's fine for those on a keto diet, but you're also welcome to leave it out.
- Dijon mustard - creamy is best for this recipe, but whole grain dijon or yellow mustard may also be used instead.
- Hot sauce - the hot sauce does not make the beef spicy, it simply adds flavor with no extra carbs!
- Cheddar cheese - for the real taste of a classic cheeseburger, with no carbs, I recommend using cheddar cheese for this recipe. I always prefer extra sharp cheddar for extra flavor!
- Shredded lettuce - I like to use shredded iceberg lettuce for the real taste and texture of a burger, but feel free to swap in chopped romaine lettuce, or a leafy lettuce like spinach or spring mix.
- Tomatoes - feel free to use a large diced tomato or slice cherry tomatoes in half.
- Pickles - I like to use sliced dill pickles for my burger bowls, but feel free to use your favorite kind of pickles. Just watch the ingredients, as sweeter pickles may contain added sugar, which is not keto-friendly. You can also use this recipe for homemade pickles, and omit the added sugar. Or try this recipe for pickle de gallo.
- Red onion - these have a great flavor that goes well with the other toppings, but any variety of onion will also work.
Instructions:
- Prepare the ground beef. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and crumble it as it cooks. Cook the beef for 6-8 minutes. Once the beef is no longer pink, drain the excess grease from the skillet. Mix in the seasonings, sauces, and cheese. Stir to combine everything, then remove the meat mixture from the heat.
- Assemble the bowls. Start by creating a base with the lettuce. Feel free to use ground turkey instead of ground beef to lighten up the recipe.
- Add a drizzle of hot sauce over the burger bowls to spice them up. It adds flavor, but no additional carbs! Add bacon to make a delicious bacon cheeseburger bowl.
Toppings and Condiments
The tricky part is when you get to the condiments. Mustard is keto-friendly, but ketchup and some mayonnaise or burger sauces can be higher in carbs. You can always buy alternatives, such as True Made Foods Ketchup, or you can make your own. My homemade keto mayonnaise takes less than 5 min.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
We went for a combo of bacon, carmelized onion, avocado, and chipotle mayo but there are endless toppings and flavor combinations to choose from.
Sauces:
- Keto BBQ Sauce: This keto BBQ sauce is your go-to low carb condiment that’s ready in just 10 minutes and packed with sweet, smoky flavor. It's naturally sweetened, Whole30-compatible, and perfect for brushing on meats, drizzling over salads, or dipping everything from wings to veggies. This easy homemade sauce is a summertime staple in my kitchen.
- Keto Ranch Dressing: This super easy keto ranch dressing is everything you love about traditional ranch dressing - creamy, tangy, and goes with everything! This low carb salad dressing has all the flavor without all the carbs! Made with dried herbs and spices, and ready in 5 minutes it’s great for dips, salads, casseroles, and more.
- Keto Mayonnaise: This easy keto mayonnaise is ready in 3 minutes and turns out perfectly every time without breaking! This 5-ingredient healthy mayo recipe is so tasty you'll never buy storebought again!
- Burger Sauce: Homemade mayo and sugar-free ketchup are ideal to keep it low-carb, but store-bought versions work too if you're in a pinch.
- Big Mac Burger Sauce: The Big Mac Special Sauces you find in the supermarket are filled with sugar. It is so easy to make your own. My Big Mac Sauce recipe is one of our most popular recipes.
Other Toppings:
- Lean ground beef
- Cheese
- Crispy bacon
- Romaine lettuce
- Tomato
- Pickles
- Sliced onion
- Grilled onions
- Caramelized onions
Keto Sheet Pan Burgers with Bacon and Jalapeño
A Keto sheet pan burger recipe that is easy to make and loaded with bold flavors. You’ll want to make this one over and over again! The bacon grease spreads and soaks into the jalapeños and onions, giving them extra flavor and lusciousness. The jalapeños caramelized a bit and got crisp around the edges, which I loved. You’ll notice in true dude burger style, there is no tomato, no fru-fru avocado or girly arugula - just nutritionally defunct iceberg lettuce, and dill pickles (which are optional) for a little crunch. Just the way Mr. Hungry likes it.
Gorgeous and flavorful on their own, what makes these keto sheet pan burgers truly craveable is that sauce. Creamy, tangy, spicy, sweet - it’s everything you ever wanted in a keto burger sauce. And if you love it as much as I do, you’ll find other ways to use it too - on chicken, on salads, even drizzled over broccoli or cauliflower. It makes so many things taste better!
Keto Copycat In N’ Out Burger
Get your favorite smash burger fix at home with this keto double double “protein” style copycat burger recipe! This is my keto friendly take on the popular protein style In N’ Out burger. I made mine “smash burger” style with an all over char. Add your favorite toppings and sauce and wrap it in lettuce bun and dig into what I think is a pretty damn good replica of this popular keto friendly burger.
Ingredients:
- Burgers:
- 1 lb. Ground Beef 80/20 preferred
- Salt & Pepper
- 4 slices Yellow American Cheese
- Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup Mayo I like avocado mayo personally
- 1 Tbsp. Sugar Free Ketchup or sub 1 tsp. Organic Tomato Paste
- 1 tsp. Mustard
- 2 Tbsp. Diced Pickles
- 1-2 tsp Pickle Juice
- 1/2 tsp. Salt
- 1/2 tsp. Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- Toppings:
- Iceberg Lettuce “buns”
- Sliced tomato
- Pickles
- 1/2 Yellow Onion sliced thin (traditional In N’ Out caramelizes the onions too)
- [Optional - Smart Buns]
Instructions:
- Start by preparing the sauce. In a small bowl combine the mayo, sugar free ketchup, 1 tsp of mustard, diced pickles, pickle juice, and spices. Mix together and test taste. Flavors do meld better together over time so feel free to adjust.
- To prep the hamburger patties, measure out 2 oz. of meat per patty and roll into a meatball. Repeat so you have 10 total meatballs. Season the tops with sea salt and cracked black pepper.
- Preheat your cast iron/ griddle to a high heat. Add a little oil to the pan if necessary. Place two meatballs onto the griddle or pan, use a wide spatula and press down. I like to use a potato masher to help me press and smash the burgers as flat as possible. Baste the top (optional) in mustard before flipping. Work quickly. As the edges appear to brown, flip them. Place one piece of American cheese on one burger patty and stack the second patty over it.
- To assemble the patty I start with a bottom piece of lettuce (my bun). add the slice onion, the double stacked burger patty, tomato, pickles, and the sauce. Cover with the second lettuce bun and dig in!
Keto Cheeseburger Casserole
This keto cheeseburger casserole is hearty and filling. This cheeseburger casserole is delicious in a delightfully non-gourmet sort of way. Grownups and kids alike enjoy it.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Ingredients:
- Ground beef: I typically use extra-lean ground beef (93% lean). It's fine to use 85% lean.
- Onion and garlic. Sometimes, when I'm lazy, I substitute onion and garlic powders - two teaspoons of each.
- Mayonnaise: Or sriracha mayo for some heat.
- Mustard: I usually prefer Dijon mustard.
- Shredded cheddar: I use sharp or extra-sharp cheddar.
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a 2-quart baking dish with olive oil.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes. Add the beef and the onions. Cook, stirring to break up the beef until the meat is browned and the onion is soft, for about 5 minutes.
- If there are liquids at the bottom of the skillet, carefully drain the mixture and return it to the skillet. Stir in the kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic. Cook, stirring, for 1 more minute. Turn the heat off.
- Stir in the mayonnaise, unsweetened ketchup, mustard, and 1 cup of shredded cheddar. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
- Bake until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through, for about 15 minutes. Alternatively, if your baking dish is broiler-safe, broil the casserole 6 inches below the heating element (not directly below) until the cheese is melted, 1-2 minutes. Serve immediately.
Tips for the Perfect Keto Burger
- Choose the Right Ground Beef: Some of the best ground beef to buy for burgers is 80/20 ground chuck, meaning 80% is lean meat and 20% is fat, giving you a juicy and super flavorful burger. You can also purchase ground sirloin, round, or a mixture of all three which is typically just labeled "ground beef". If the label doesn't list the specific cut where the ground beef came from, then most likely it's a combination of trimmings and scraps.
- Don't Overmix the Meat! Combine ground beef in a large mixing bowl to combine the spices, but don’t overmix your meat.
- Use a Burger Press: Use a burger press to shape your patties evenly.
- Check the Internal Temperature: Grab your meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. If you like your burger cooked rare you will want your internal temperature to be 120-125 degrees F. If you like it medium-rare you will want it to be 130-135 degrees F.
- Seasoning: When you get to seasoning, the best burgers (in my opinion) are simple, enhancing the umami flavor of the beef. Black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and sea salt are all you need, and they’re all keto-friendly! The best way to season your meat is the “less is more” concept.
Keto-Friendly Sides
All the best keto hamburgers have great sides and sauces, don’t they?
- Keto French Fries: This keto french fries recipe is made with just 3 ingredients and oven-baked to golden brown perfection. Pair with a yummy dipping sauce like sugar-free ketchup, and enjoy this crispy, gluten-free, keto-friendly fries recipe!
- Keto Zucchini Fries: These Keto Zucchini Fries are a low carb oven baked zucchini fries and dipping sauce.
- Garlic Green Beans: These garlic green beans aren’t your average side dish. Bursting with garlicky goodness and the perfect crunch in every bite, this quick and easy side will jazz up any meal!
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto