Burgers and the 4th of July go hand in hand—but that doesn’t mean you have to load up on heavy foods that leave you feeling sluggish. This recipe is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the celebration while keeping energy steady and blood sugar balanced. We’re using high-quality protein from bison (or grass-fed beef or turkey), and packing in extra nutrients with a savory mix of spinach, mushrooms, and onions. Wrapped in crisp romaine instead of a bun, it’s delicious, satisfying, and perfect for backyard grilling or gathering around the picnic table with friends.
Inside-Out Burgers
4
Prep time:
10 min + 10 min rest time
Cook time:
15 min
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup red onion, diced
- ½ cup mushrooms, chopped
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 cups spinach
- 1 small tomato, diced, liquid drained
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- Sea salt and pepper, to taste
- 16 ounces ground bison (can substitute ground grass-fed beef or turkey)
- 8 leaves romaine lettuce
Method
Step 1
Heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion, cook for 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Stir in mushrooms.
Step 2
Add balsamic vinegar and stir. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring a few times.
Step 3
Add balsamic vinegar and stir. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring a few times.
Step 4
Add spinach and tomato and cook for another minute. Stir in mustard and turn off heat. Season with salt and pepper. Drain off excess liquid and reserve. Cool in refrigerator for 15 minutes.
Step 5
Form bison into 4 evenly sized balls. With your fingers, make a well in the center of each ball. Stuff about 2 tablespoons spinach mixture inside each ball. Seal the top and flatten to form a patty.
Step 6
Grill or broil your burgers.
To grill: Heat your grill pan using a little oil.
When hot, grill each patty for about 2-3 minutes on each side or when desired doneness is reached. Repeat as needed depending on pan size.
To broil: Set oven broiler to "high." Place patties on a foil-lined baking sheet on top oven rack. Broil for about 3 minutes, flip patties over, and broil for about another 2-3 minutes or until burgers reach desired doneness.
Step 7
Let the burgers rest for a couple of minutes. Take 2 romaine leaves and sandwich your burger between them.
Serving Tip: Instead of mayo or sugary ketchup, use a dollop of homemade Creamy Ranch Dressing on top of burger.
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving (per burger):
Calories: 347, Total Fat: 21g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 94mg, Fiber: 5g, Protein: 30g, Carbohydrates: 9g, Sodium: 160mg, Sugars: 2g, Net Carbs: 4g
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