The Best Bunless Burger Recipe for Low Carb Burgers (2024)

The secret to the best bunless burger is the seasoning. Make your own juicy steakhouse burgers at home with a few simple ingredients and a burger press.

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The Best Bunless Burger Recipe for Low Carb Burgers (1)

To me, there's nothing more mouthwatering than a great tasting bunless burger.

I was born in Texas and I'm a bonafide beef lover all the way. So, when I go to a restaurant and order a burger I expect it to be juicy and flavorful. I can't tell you how many times I'm disappointed. Often, the toppings and sauce are great, but the burger patty falls flat. It's a crime shame, really. Ican get a mediocre burger from a fast food joint. I want my burger to be well seasoned and juicy. Don't you?

Living in Southern California, we use our grill almost year round. It's convenient for quick weekday meals or cooking up a bunch of protein to use on our salads during the week. We grill burgers a few times a month. And since we're low carb family, we primarily eat bunless burgers so, taste is king.

The Best Bunless Burger Recipe for Low Carb Burgers (2)

Over the years we have tried all kinds of seasonings and methods to season our beef patties, but our favorite way is the simplest. It just requires two ingredients. Two ingredients that will up your burger game and have your family saying "Mmmm".

Before I share my secret, I want to talk about hamburger meat. Everyone has a food budget and will buy the ground beef they can afford.

For years I purchased the least expensive ground beef I could. It resulted in greasy grill flare-ups and shrunken patties. Sometimes, I purchased lean or extra lean beef. Those patties were often dry and tough after cooking. Other times I would mix the two together which resulted in something better.

The Best Bunless Burger Recipe for Low Carb Burgers (3)

Now a days, I buy better quality meat.

I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford it and I also have begun to eat a little less of it, filling in with more vegetables. So, it's a trade-off for me: better quality (better tasting) meats when I can, but a little less at the table. And, with the extra flavor I don't miss the extra ounces on my plate. Flavor is much more satisfying than quantity. What's the saying? Quality over quantity? It's true.

So, what am I buying at the store today? I buy either grass-fed beef or American Style Kobe Beef. The difference in taste is incredible. At the moment I'm leaning a little towards the Kobe but both are super flavorful. So, if you want to wow your friends, splurge for the better beef. By the way, this is not a sponsored post nor did I receive any product. I just wanted to share some of my favorite things with you.

The Best Bunless Burger Recipe for Low Carb Burgers (4)

[TIPS] If you can't afford to splurge on the beef, add 2 tablespoons of bacon grease or olive oil to your beef - it really makes the burgers juicy and taste nicer. This trick also gives a little more moisture to grass-fed beef which can sometime be a little lean.

Just let me finish by saying that the only real difference between home prepared meals and restaurant food is the quantity of fat and salt. Restaurants cook their food in more oil and season more than the typical home cook. I generally don't use much salt in our meals at home, but when I prepare my steaks and burgers I always remember this rule: protein loves salt. It's become my mantra and it hasn't let me down yet. Enjoy your bunless burgers!

One more thing... A few years ago I purchased a burger press. It's been one of my favorite purchases. We now have uniform patties of even thickness every time. There are different sizes available for different sized patties. Mine is for ⅓ or ½ pound (5 ½ ounce to 8 ounce) burger patties.

Each low carb BunlessBurger is 2 net carbs (makes 3)

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The Best Bunless Burger Recipe for Low Carb Burgers (5)

The secret to the best bunless burgers is the seasoning. Make your own juicy steakhouse burgers at home with a few simple ingredients and a burger press..

4.78 from 9 votes

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Course: Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: fast and easy

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 3

Calories: 479kcal

Author: lowcarbmaven.com

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Mc Cormicks Montreal Steak Seasoning (See note in recipe!)
  • salt and pepper

Optional (read post tips)

  • 2 tablespoons bacon drippings or olive oil
  • 4 ounces sliced onion, nutritional info in the notes

Instructions

  • Prep: Preheat grill and clean the grate.

  • Method: Break up the ground beef and evenly distribute the Worcestershire sauce and steak seasoning and olive oil if using).

  • Mix gently with your hands to distribute the seasoning and form into three balls. Gently press/pat into patties or use a burger press like I have pictured. If you make a slight depression in the center of your burger, it will help prevent it from puffing up in the middle.

  • Cook: Oil the grate. Season the outside of the burger patties with a light sprinkling of salt and pepper (both sides). Grill to your desired level of doneness. I like mine a little pink in the middle. Serve with your favorite extras but don't forget to count the carbs.

  • Optional: For the caramelized onions... Slice the onions. Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium-low heat. When hot, add the onions and saute until softened. Add ½ teaspoon of erythritol and cook until beginning to brown or caramelize. This step can take up to 10 minutes.

  • NOTE: Some brands of Montreal Seasoning are saltier than others and people's taste buds are different. You may want to start with half of the amount of seasoning to see how you like it.

Notes

Nutritional info for one burger with ⅓ of the Caramelized Onions: Calories: 531, Fat: 45g, Carbohydrates 5g, Fiber: 1g, Protein: 26 g, NET CARBS: 4.

Nutrition Facts

The Best Bunless Burger Recipe for Low Carb Burgers

Amount Per Serving

Calories 479Calories from Fat 360

% Daily Value*

Fat 40g62%

Carbohydrates 2g1%

Protein 26g52%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Calories: 479kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 40g

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FAQs

How do you eat hamburgers without a bun? ›

I place my hamburger patty on my plate, add salad or cooked vegetables, sprinkle on salt and pepper, pick up my fork (and knife if I need it—you know, tough hamburger), then I enjoy my meal. I imagine you could use a couple of waffles, slices of dry bread, maybe buttered toast, or thick slabs of iceberg lettuce.

What is the best way to eat a keto burger? ›

Serving a delicious homemade burger on a bed of lettuce with all the fixings (tomatoes, cheese, onions, pickles – you name it!) is the BEST Keto way to enjoy a burger. Feel free to wrap your burger in some iceberg lettuce to make a lettuce bun instead, if you're set on that classic burger feel.

Is a burger without bun keto? ›

Most fast-food establishments will be happy to serve you a bunless burger. Boost your fiber intake by adding a simple side salad topped with a high-fat dressing to your meal. Bunless burgers are a simple, keto-friendly fast-food that will keep you satisfied when eating on the go.

How do you keep lean burgers from falling apart? ›

Add 1 egg yolk per pound of hamburger. It won't add appreciably to the fat content and will bind the meat beautifully. The other thing you can do is add canned, drained, crushed black beans or chickpeas to the hamburger. The starch from the beans will bind the meat together and add an interesting taste.

What is a hamburger with no bun called? ›

If it's just by itself on a plate, it's called a hamburger patty; if it's on a piece of bread with melted cheese, it's called a burger melt. Thomas Hildum. Author has 919 answers and 268.9K answer views. · 2y.

How many carbs in a bunless burger? ›

Hamburger No Bun (1 small patty (3.5 oz, raw) (yield after cooking)) contains 0g total carbs, 0g net carbs, 8.4g fat, 18.8g protein, and 156 calories.

What is extremely lazy keto? ›

A lazy keto diet consists of low-carb foods like meat, fish, full-fat dairy and non-starchy vegetables, but limits high-carb foods such as bread, potatoes, sugary snacks and some fruits. If you've tried the keto before and found it too tedious, lazy keto could be a good compromise.

Is McDonald's burger without bun keto? ›

For a keto-approved version of a fast-food burger meal, simply skip the bun and any toppings that could be high in carbs. Burgers with no bun Burgers are a fast-food staple, though the bun and some added condiments may make them inappropriate for people on keto diets.

Which lettuce is best for bunless burgers? ›

These five selections belong at the top of our list because they're a perfect fit for lettuce-wrapped burgers.
  1. Baby Iceberg Lettuce. The sturdy cup-shaped leaves of baby iceberg lettuce really hold up to the job of holding on to a burger. ...
  2. Romaine Lettuce. ...
  3. Green Leaf Lettuce. ...
  4. Butterhead Lettuce. ...
  5. Red Leaf Lettuce.
Nov 7, 2023

What junk food is keto-friendly? ›

Keto Junk Food Alternatives: Our Top 15 Alternatives
  • Southern Recipe Original Pork Rinds. ...
  • Keto Pizza Bites From Hog Heaven. ...
  • Keto Jalapeño Popper Burgers. ...
  • Family Size Chili & Lime Pork Rinds. ...
  • Keto Donuts - Krispy Kreme* Copycat Recipe. ...
  • Keto Roast Beef Sandwiches. ...
  • Spicy Dill Pork Rinds.
Feb 23, 2024

Can I eat KFC on keto? ›

KFC. Although KFC is renowned for the Colonel's crispy fried chicken, its batter unfortunately adds 8-11 net carbs for just one medium-sized piece. That being said, KFC can still be a keto-friendly spot to hit up when ordering Kentucky grilled chicken.

What is a good binder for hamburgers? ›

In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, 1 egg, and a generous amount of salt and pepper to season (half tsp each). Egg is a burger binding agent for the ground beef patty.

Should I add egg to hamburger patties? ›

Egg yolk acts as a binder and adds flavor

After forming it into a patty, he explains that the egg actually helps bind the meat together, and adds an incredibly rich flavor to the burger patty. As a good rule of thumb, it's best to add one yolk per pound of ground beef.

Should you use egg as a binder in burgers? ›

In my experience, the best way to prevent your burger patties from falling apart during cooking is to use both egg and breadcrumbs to make them. You can add eggs to the mixture and then, coat them with breadcrumbs before shaping them into burger patties.

What to do with burgers when you don't have buns? ›

Bread, toast, grilled bread, a bagel, a wrap, lettuce, waffles, a donut, noodles that have been pressed into a disk and fried, etc. Just about anything that you can eat and not make a huge mess with can be used as a bun for a burger.

Is it better to eat a burger without the bun? ›

Refined carbohydrates are those found in white rice, baked goods and white breads, including hamburger buns. While you may save a few hundred calories removing the bun from your hamburger, this step alone is not likely to lead to significant weight loss.

How do you order burgers without buns? ›

Fast food burger chains like Five Guys or Wendy's can be a good place to try a “bunless burger.” Simply remove the bun before eating or ask the staff to leave it out. Some restaurants like Five Guys will even wrap your burgers or hot dogs in lettuce or serve it in a bowl if requested.

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