These juicy, blue cheese stuffed burgers are grilled to perfection and wrapped in a naturally gluten-free, low-carb lettuce bun. The ultimate healthy summer dinner recipe!
Throughout my weight loss journey, I learned to make healthier versions of traditional comfort foods. It’s true: You can cook nutritious meals that are delicious and loaded with flavor.
My low-carb blue cheese stuffed burgers with lettuce buns are a great example. These juicy, flavor-packed burgers are the ideal light summer dinner. What’s even better? They’re naturally low-carb, gluten-free and ready in less than 20 minutes.
While this recipe serves four, it’s really easy to double so I love making two batches for quick lunches to enjoy later in the week.
How to Make
To get started, first, place the ground chuck in a bowl and sprinkle it with grill seasoning. Ground chuck is the best cut of beef to use when making burgers because of its naturally higher fat count. After all, life is too short for dry burgers, am I right?
After you’re done seasoning the ground chuck, mix it well, and then divide it into four equal parts to create the patties.
Next, work one section at a time and begin shaping the ground meat into a thick, round beef patty, almost like a large meatball.
Secondly, use your thumb to make a slight indent into the patty and place the blue cheese in the center. Carefully shape the ground beef around the blue cheese. Make sure to fully enclose the cheese in the patty. Continue until all four patties are done and place the formed patties on a plate.
Next, it’s time to fire up your grill! Pre-heat it to medium or high heat. Before placing the patties on top, sprinkle them with salt and pepper for more flavor. For medium-rare patties, cook them for three minutes per side.
As a busy mom, grilling is one of my favorite cooking techniques for many reasons. First, it’s mess-free and doesn’t leave my sink full of dirty pans. Second, grilling is one of the healthiest cooking methods because the excess fat literally drips off the meat as it cooks. Finally, when you grill food, the natural sugars in the foods caramelize, resulting in a sweet and smoky flavor that no one can resist.
Grilling Reminders
- Before grilling, make sure the grill grate is clean. If you’re using charcoal, follow the directions for how much you’ll need and how to build the charcoal pile. For gas grills, refer to your owner’s manual and set the grill to medium.
- Place a dimple in the center of the burger patty to minimize shrinking and optimize cooking.
- Grill burgers for approximately 4 to 5 minutes, depending on the size and thickness or until the center of the burger reaches 160°F. You can also use an instant-read thermometer to monitor doneness.
- While you’re grilling, avoid pressing down and only flip patties once during cooking.
- Rest the meat for at least five minutes before serving. This helps the juices redistribute and prevents the tasty juices from draining onto your plate.
Making a Lettuce Bun
After you’re done grilling the burgers, it’s time to create the lettuce buns. Did you know you can save 200 calories (yes, really!) by using iceberg lettuce leaves instead of bread buns? First, place 2-3 lettuce leaves on a plate. Make sure you gently overlap them. Next, place the cooked burger in the center of the bun.
Finally, add toppings as an optional step. I prefer onion slices, pickles, tomatoes and mustard. These options pair very well with the blue cheese.
Finally, wrap the burgers with lettuce and enjoy your delicious, low-carb delicious meal!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make the patties with a different type of cheese?
Of course! You can skip that step or use another type of cheese, like cheddar, smoked gouda, or feta to better fit your preferences.
How long should the grilled patties rest?
Let the patties rest on a clean plate for five minutes to allow the juices to redistribute.
How long do these burgers last in the fridge?
You can enjoy these burgers for 3 days. Store them in airtight containers and keep liquid toppings separate from the lettuce buns to keep the lettuce crisp.
Did you make this recipe? If you’re on Instagram, tag @TheLemonBowl to be featured.
If you like this recipe, you should also check out the following recipes:
- Greek Turkey Burgers with Creamy Tzatziki Sauce
- Asian Szechuan Beef Lettuce Wraps
- Grilled Pesto Turkey Burgers
- Low Carb Pizza Stuffed Peppers
- Chipotle Black Bean Burgers
Your fork is waiting.
Low Carb Blue Cheese Stuffed Burgers with Lettuce Buns
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds ground chuck
- 1 tablespoon grill seasoning
- 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
- Kosher salt and black pepper (to taste)
- iceberg lettuce leaves
- onion slices, pickles, tomatoes, mustard (optional toppings)
Instructions
- Place ground chuck in a bowl and sprinkle with grill seasoning. Mix well then divide into four equal parts. Working one section at a time, gently begin shaping the ground meat into a thick, round beef patty, almost like a large meatball.
- Carefully using your thumb, begin making a slight indent into the patty and place the blue cheese in the center. Carefully shape the ground beef around the blue cheese, making sure to fully enclose the cheese in the patty. Place formed patties on a plate and continue until all four are done.
- Pre-heat grill to high heat. Sprinkle patties with salt and pepper before placing on the grill. Cook for 3 minutes per side for medium-rare. If you want them to be more done, cook them a bit longer or until you reach desired doneness.
- To make the lettuce bun, place 2-3 lettuce leaves on a plate, gently overlapping one another. Place the cooked burger in the center and top with optional toppings. Wrap with lettuce and enjoy.
