Whether you want to grill your burgers outdoors, cook in a cast iron skillet, or meal prep for the week, this guide will help you build the ultimate paleo burger. If you think that eating paleo means that you cannot enjoy a delicious juicy burger, think again. Using high-quality meat for your burger and fresh toppings will deliver the flavors you are craving, without any of the processed ingredients.
What is a paleo burger?
A paleo burger is made using whole ingredients that fit within the paleo lifestyle. Instead of using traditional burger buns, refined sugars, and processed sauces, paleo burgers focus on quality ingredients such as…
- Grass-fed beef (or other quality protein)
- Fresh vegetables
- Fresh lettuce (to make a lettuce wrap burger or burger bowl)
- Healthy Fats
- Natural Seasonings
Choose the best meat
- Grass-fed ground beef (80/20 is the best for burgers)
- Ground bison
- Ground turkey
- Ground chicken
- Ground lamb
Using an 80/20 fat ratio creates the juiciest burger and is free from any fillers. Keeping the meat cold and trying to not over mix your burger keeps it more tender.
Paleo Burger Seasoning
Making this burger seasoning really adds to the flavor of the burger. It is so simple to make and will make enough to use a few times.
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Combine all of the ingredients and then store in a small mason jar with your spices. Use 2 tablespoons per 1 pound of meat. Simply add to the meat mixture and mix gently until incorporated.
Make sure you check all seasoning blend ingredients. They are typically loaded with added sugar, preservatives, or starches.
Making the perfect paleo burger patty
- Add in 2 tablespoons of paleo burger seasoning, gently mix together
- Split 1-pound of ground meat in to 4 portions
- Form patties and place on a plate or sheet pan
- Make a small indentation in the center of the patty (this helps to prevent your burger patty from puffing up while cooking)
- Chill patties for 20-30 minutes before cooking
Ways to cook your burgers
- Grill – cook over medium-high heat until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees for a medium cooked beef burger (ground chicken and ground turkey will beed to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees).
- Cast-iron skillet – perfect way to cook a burger on those rainy nights. You will get a nice crust and a juicy burger.
- Smash burger – create a round meatball shape with your burger meat. Using a hot griddle, press down on the burger meat one time to create your “smash” burger. You want to avoid pressing anymore so that you do not loose the juices from the burger.
Paleo bun options
Traditional burger buns are not paleo, but these options are so good. I promise, you won’t miss the bun. The lettuce can be used to make a wrap around the burger and the mushrooms and sweet potatoes can be used on each side of the patty as the “bun”.
- Butter lettuce
- Iceberg lettuce
- Romaine lettuce
- Portobello mushroom “buns”
- Sweet potato slices
Another great option is to make a “burger bowl” using any kind of lettuce you like and then adding the burger and toppings that you want.
Toppings
- Avocado
- Bacon (paleo approved of course)
- Tomato
- Red onion
- Pickles (paleo pickles, check your labels; Grillo’s Pickles is my personal fav)
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Caramelized onions
- Fried Egg
- Microgreens
- Arugula
Paleo Sauces
Always read your labels! Always! With that being said, there are plenty of “paleo-friendly” sauces that you can buy at the grocery store. Primal Kitchen has a lot of great paleo sauces. Just be sure to check them out as not all of them are paleo. Plus, you can also make your own “special sauce” or paleo bbq sauce.
- Mustard
- Ketchup
- BBQ sauce
- Chimichurri sauce
- Guacamole
- Primal Kitchen Ranch
- Big Mac Sauce
Get creative
Experiment with different proteins, topping, and sauces. Whether you are hosting a backyard bbq or preparing a quick weeknight dinner, making paleo burgers will be the ultimate way to enjoy a great meal.
