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This Clean eating burger ticks all the boxes. All of them. Sometimes you just want a burger: A big, juicy, satisfying burger and nothing else is going to do it. So you’re going to love this Clean burger recipe and more to the point, so are the kids.

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Clean Eating Burger

Every once in a while, we’ll have Burger night, the kids choose their own burger sides and I’ll put out all the toppings they can choose from. The littler kids love to put these together themselves, the older ones tend to prefer them put together and presented to them as if they’d actually ordered take out :)

I have before now and for a special occasion, wrapped these in foil just like them come from their (old) favourite burger bar, but that might be a step too far! But however these burgers come, they’re going to be a hit!

Can homemade burgers be healthy?

Clean eating burgers can be healthy burgers. Yes, you read that right. It’s totally possible to make a burger (and sides!) that are Clean, healthy and delicious. The problem with burger bar burgers is the way their cooked and the quality of the toppings, in a lot of cases.

The toppings are often so drenched in bad oils (think fried onions) and the burgers themselves can contain all sorts nasty fillers, that making your own guarantees you know what you’re eating. Not all burger bar burgers use fillers to make their burgers. Some do use 100% meat. But…and it’s a big but, it’s tough to know what part of the animal you’re eating, and the welfare issues that go with the meat they’re using.

Making a homemade Clean eating burger puts you 100% in control of what you’re eating. Enjoy!

What to put on a burger to make it healthy

Pretty much anything you’d find in a burger bar used as a topping for a burger, you can Clean up and use in your Clean eating burger. Even fried onions, fried in a little Olive oil. If you fry your onion on a very low heat for a longer time, you need hardly any oil anyway and you get the same fried, sweet, caramelized onions you’re after!

Here’s some ideas for your Clean eating burger toppings:

Fried onions
Fresh raw onions
Cheese (cheddar, blue cheese, smoked cheese)
Lettuce
Jalapeños
Crispy bacon
Tomatoes
Pickles
Mushrooms

Healthy burger sauces

I love a sauce in my burger. Lots of it! These two sauces go perfectly with a burger, either use them as dipping sauces or put some on the burger bun. Either way, totally delicious!

Chipotle dipping sauce (for a bit of a kick!)
Smoky BBQ sauce

Healthy burger sides

Side orders for a Clean eating burger are a must. At least in this house. I tend to make 2/3 side and let the kids help themselves. I always make these Clean baked beans, I usually chop up some red cabbage, white cabbage and carrots really finely, mix with some chipotle sauce and have a coleslaw, and everyone always wants a potato side, of course!

Potato sides for burgers

There’s lots of potato side the kids love with their burgers. I tend to get them to pick one, purely because I don’t want to be in the kitchen all night! These potato side are a great match for your Clean eating burger:

Parmesan Parmentiers – crispy, crunchy and cheesy
Cheesy chips
Sweet potato fries
Jacket potatoes

Clean burger recipe

This recipe feeds 6 people

Ingredients for the burgers

1½ pounds lean ground beef
1 white onion
1 Egg
Salt & pepper to season
6 Whole Meal burger buns
Toppings & sauces

Process

Chop your onion into very small diced pieces – I have a kid who’s not 100% sold on onions, so I need to make sure these are really tiny so there’s no obvious pieces showing!
Using your hands, work the ground beef, chopped onion, egg and seasoning into a workable mixture. This doesn’t take more than a few minutes: make sure everything is combined really well
Shape your patties. You can either use a piece of equipment like this to shape your burger, or use your hands. I use my hands. I’ve always meant to get the burger shaper, I like the way they look neat and tidy, but have never got round to buying one. Hands are just fine, if a little misshapen. No one’s every complained when they’re eating them!
To cook your Clean eating burger: I use a large frying pan and cook 3 at a time. Put 1 tbsp Olive oil into your pan and heat low. You need very little oil as the burgers use their own fat to cook. Put your burgers into the pan and cook for 3 minutes on each side. I then flip and repeat until the burger is cooked all the way through, as we eat ours fully cooked through. Just before they’re done, turn the heat up to seal the sides and give the burgers a chargrilled look. You want them looking a darker brown in places, not burnt!
Put your burgers onto a plate. If you want cheese in your burger, put sliced cheese on top of the burger now. Cover with foil and let them sit for 5 minutes while you put the rest together

Putting your burger together

Slice the buns – using your frying pan you’ve just cooked the burgers in, out the buns (middle down) in the pan for a minute to toast slightly in the burger flavors
Spread the buns with sauce if you want them
Put your lettuce on the bottom of the bun, then place the burger on the lettuce
Pile as many toppings on the burger as you like!
Replace the top of the bun. Give your burger a little push down, this releases the juices from the burger
Serve with your sides & enjoy!

Other Clean eating recipes: