Bunless Big Mac Burger

Get ready for a mouthwatering twist on the classic Big Mac with our Bunless Big Mac Burger recipe. This low-carb, high-protein, and dairy-free version features our Sugar-Free Copycat Big Mac Sauce, which captures the iconic flavors of the classic sauce while fitting seamlessly into your low-carb lifestyle.

Known as "bunless" or "naked" burgers, these delicious creations have gained popularity in the UK and other countries due to the rising demand for low-carb options.

Embrace a guilt-free burger experience, savoring all the beloved flavors you adore, while leaving the bun behind. Let's dive into this delectable recipe and uncover the secret to a truly satisfying burger, no bun required!

Recipe Tips

These burgers are versatile! Feel free to swap the romaine lettuce with some iceberg lettuce (although it is nutritionally inferior), or even some lamb lettuce. Add your favorite toppings - try our pickled jalapeños, pickled onions or pickled zucchini.

Apart from classic beef patties, you can serve the burger sauce with patties made from lamb or chicken, or even with salmon burgers.

For those who are not strict keto and want to add some healthy carbs, opt for oven roasted or air-fried sweet potato wedges.

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Step-by-step

1. In a bowl, mix the ingredients for the burger patties: beef, minced garlic, onion powder, apple cider vinegar, sea salt and black pepper. Do not over-mix or the burgers will become tough.

2. Using your hands, create 4 equal patties, ¹/₂ to ³/₄ inch (1 ¹/₄ to 2 cm) thick. Use your hands to smooth any cracks.

   

3. Pierce the patties with a fork several times. This will loosen the patties and help them cook equally without curling or getting tough while enabling maximum caramelisation. Set aside.

4. Grease the hot skillet with the avocado oil (or ghee) and add the burger patties. The patties should sizzle as soon as they touch the skillet. Do not crowd the pan - work in batches. Cook over high heat, until a crust forms on the bottom and the burgers are easy to flip on the other side. This will take 2-3 minutes.

5. Once flipped, cook until the crust forms on the bottom and the sides are browned. Do not pierce the burgers with a fork or you will lose the juices. It will take another 2-3 minutes to cook through. The thicker the patties, the longer they will take to cook. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Note: Fat for greasing is not included in the nutrition facts. Some fats in the meat are lost during the cooking process.

   

6. Prepare the burger sauce by mixing all the ingredients for the Big Mac Sauce.

   

7. To serve, fold lettuce leaves in serving bowls and top them with tomato slices, onion rings and pickles. Add burger patties (two per serving) and drizzle with the prepared burger sauce. (You can sandwich some tomatoes, pickles and onion between the patties or serve them on the side.)

   

8. Eat warm. To serve later, you can store the individual components in separate containers (vegetables, burger patties and sauce) and assemble just before serving. Store in the fridge for up to a day.

   

Recipe

Bunless Big Mac Burger

★★★★★5.0 (6 ratings)

Your favorite burger without the bread! This low-carb, keto-friendly, and dairy-free burger topped with our ...

Hands on

15m

Overall

15m

Servings

2

7.2 g

Net carbs

45.4 g

Protein

66.5 g

Fat

722

kcal

1 serving2 servings3 servings4 servings5 servings6 servings7 servings8 servings9 servings10 servings11 servings12 servings

US + metricMetricUS

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Ingredients makes 2 servings

• Burger patties:
• 500 g ground beef (1.1 lb)
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 ¹/₂ tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
• ³/₄ tsp sea salt
• ¹/₂ tsp black pepper
• 2 tsp extra virgin avocado oil or ghee for greasing
• Sauce and sides:
• 4 tbsp Sugar-Free Copycat Big Mac Sauce (60 ml/ 2 fl oz)
• ¹/₂ medium red onion, sliced (50 g/ 1.8 oz)
• 1 medium tomato, sliced (123 g/ 4.3 oz)
• 1 sugar-free pickle, sliced (35 g/ 1.2 oz) - you can make your own pickles
• 1 small head Romaine lettuce, torn into pieces (150 g/ 5.3 oz)

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix the ingredients for the burger patties: beef, minced garlic, onion powder, apple cider vinegar, sea salt and black pepper. Do not over-mix or the burgers will become tough.

2. Using your hands, create 4 equal patties, ¹/₂ to ³/₄ inch (1 ¹/₄ to 2 cm) thick. Use your hands to smooth any cracks.

3. Pierce the patties with a fork several times. This will loosen the patties and help them cook equally without curling or getting tough while enabling maximum caramelisation. Set aside.

4. Grease the hot skillet with the avocado oil (or ghee) and add the burger patties. The patties should sizzle as soon as they touch the skillet. Do not crowd the pan - work in batches. Cook over high heat, until a crust forms on the bottom and the burgers are easy to flip on the other side. This will take 2-3 minutes.

5. Once flipped, cook until the crust forms on the bottom and the sides are browned. Do not pierce the burgers with a fork or you will lose the juices. It will take another 2-3 minutes to cook through. The thicker the patties, the longer they will take to cook. Transfer to a plate and set aside. Note: Fat for greasing is not included in the nutrition facts. Some fats in the meat are lost during the cooking process.

6. Prepare the burger sauce by mixing all the ingredients for the Big Mac Sauce.

7. To serve, fold lettuce leaves in serving bowls and top them with tomato slices, onion rings and pickles. Add burger patties (two per serving) and drizzle with the prepared burger sauce. (You can sandwich some tomatoes, pickles and onion between the patties or serve them on the side.)

8. Eat warm. To serve later, you can store the individual components in separate containers (vegetables, burger patties and sauce) and assemble just before serving. Store in the fridge for up to a day.

Nutrition per serving, 1 bunless big mac

Carbs 4%Protein 22%Fat 74% of calories

Net carbs

7.2 g

Total carbs

10.7 g

Fiber

3.5 g

Sugars

4.6 g

Protein

45.4 g

Fat

66.5 g

Saturated fat

21.1 g

Calories

722 kcal

Sodium

1,353 mg · 58.8% RDA

Magnesium

67 mg · 16.7% RDA

Potassium

1,125 mg · 56.3% EMR

Nutrition by ingredient

Per 1 bunless big mac	Net carbs	Protein	Fat	kcal
Beef, minced (ground), raw, grass-fed	0 g	42.9 g	50 g	635
Garlic, fresh	0.5 g	0.1 g	0 g	2
Onion powder, spices	1.2 g	0.2 g	0 g	6
Apple cider vinegar	0 g	0 g	0 g	1
Salt, sea salt	0 g	0 g	0 g	0
Pepper, black, spices	0.2 g	0.1 g	0 g	1
Avocado oil, extra virgin	0 g	0 g	4.5 g	40
Big Mac Sauce, homemade	0.9 g	0.3 g	11.5 g	2
Onion, red, fresh	1.6 g	0.3 g	0.1 g	10
Tomatoes, fresh	1.7 g	0.5 g	0.1 g	11
Pickles, cucumber, dill or kosher dill	0.2 g	0.1 g	0.1 g	2
Lettuce, Romaine	0.9 g	0.9 g	0.2 g	13
Total	7.2 g	45.4 g	66.5 g	722

Serving size 1 bunless big mac

• Gluten free
• Dairy free
• Nut free
• Pork free
• Coconut free
• Fish free
• Shellfish free