What to make with extra lean ground beef? Of course, homemade burger patties! This recipe is the best way to use extra lean ground beef, a simple and juicy burger patty recipe full of flavor. Your family will request to make this healthy recipe over and over again. These pan-fried extra lean ground beef burger patties on a hot cast-iron skillet are ready to serve in 30 minutes. Without sacrificing taste, this delicious recipe is keto-friendly and gluten-free.

Nothing is faster and easier than ground beef to make quick, nutritious, and delicious burger patties. However, making burger patties taste good is hard unless you use ground beef with much fat content. And juicy enough for kids to enjoy without the help of their milk beside them. But, I was never a fan of using high-fat content ground beef. First, it just does not taste the best and makes your house smell like burned fat for days; second, burger patties, when cooked, become almost nonexistent when all the fat starts melting on the hot skillet.
So I needed to figure out how to make the extra lean ground beef burger patty recipe taste good. And, of course, kids and family proved. I recently figured out this easy-to-make and healthy recipe, and my family can't get enough of it. This is a great 30-minute meal for today's busy life.
I served extra lean ground beef burger patties with homemade sourdough discard naans. Then, I used a mix of tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, and avocado to make a quick and simple fresh salad.
Other excellent side dish recipes are yogurt biscuits, potato salad, cauliflower broccoli salad, chickpea salad, roasted green beans, and potato soup.
Find more of the extra lean ground beef recipes; keto eggplant casserole with ground beef and Easy ground beef and broccoli casserole.
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What is extra lean ground beef?
The amount of lean protein in extra lean ground beef is at least 90 percent. Therefore, extra lean ground beef has less fat and more protein which means fewer calories overall and healthier extra lean ground beef burger patties.
In my recipes, I use a 93/7 lean-to-fat ratio of extra lean ground beef. In other words, it has 93 percent lean protein and only 7 percent of fat.
How to make extra lean ground beef burgers juicy?
So the secret ingredient to cooking juicy and tender extra lean ground beef burger patties is baking soda. Add half a teaspoon of baking soda to one pound of lean ground beef mix and fry it in a skillet. Baking soda raises the PH of the meat. This will prevent the strong bonding between meat protein strains—so less moisture loss during the cooking process. As a result, moisture gets luck inside the ground meat, making it tender and juicy. Less moisture out means faster cooking and browning, which results in tenderized extra lean ground beef burgers.
Ingredients
You will need:
Ground beef. I used extra lean ground beef, a 93/7 lean-to-fat ratio.
Onion. I used red onion. Red onions are sweet. Use any onion you like the most.
Baking soda.
Garlic and onion powder. Both add a lot of flavors.
Oil. I use avocado oil to fry. Avocado oil has a high smoke point, which is excellent for frying.
Salt and pepper. Add any other seasoning spices or herbs you like.
Instructions
Place the extra lean ground beef in a bowl and add to it grated onion. Use a grater or food processor to grind the onion.
Next, add the onion, garlic powder, baking soda, salt, and pepper to the bowl. Mix all the ingredients well.
To make the burger pattie, divide the mixture into eight medium size burger patties. Using your hand, shape the patties.
Let the cast-iron skillet heat up well over a medium-high flame. Add frying oil to the skillet. Let the oil heat until shiny. Transfer burger patties into skillet four at a time. Let them cook for about 6 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
Serve it hot or cold with your favorite side dishes, and ENJOY!
Tips & Tricks
- Fry burger patties in a cast-iron skillet. This will make for better searing to create a browning crust.
- Use a high smoking point cooking oil like avocado oil.
- Omit oil and bake burger patties in the oven instead.
- Add your favorite vegetables, such as carrot, celery, pepper, spinach, garlic, and kale. Grind them well using a food processor and remove their liquid.
- Double the cooked recipe and save the rest in the fridge for another day or make a freezer stock.
- Use these burger patties in a stew, soup, or chili. Shape them into tiny little balls.
- Add onion powder and garlic powder to boost the flavor.
- Let the patties sit in baking soda for five minutes before frying them. This will tenderize meat further.
- Substitute ground beef with ground chicken breast or turkey breast.
- Make this recipe vegan and use grounded chickpeas instead.
- Serve them with your favorite side dishes. I serve them with fresh salad, sauerkraut, and homemade Easy sourdough discard naans.
- If you want your burger patties medium and red inside, cook them for less time.
- Let the burger patties fry evenly on one side before turning them over.
- Add in your favorite spices and herbs. Easy way to customize the flavor without adding calories. Cayenne pepper, turmeric, paprika, cilantro, parsley, etc.
Substitutes
- Customize protein. Substitute ground beef with ground chicken breast or turkey breast, or salmon fillet.
- Vegetarian. Use grounded chickpeas or your other favorite grounded legumes. In this case, you need to use eggs to hold the patties together.
- Seasonings. Use your favorite spices and herbs.
Variation
- Cooking methods. Another great way to use this recipe is to bake the burger patties in a hot oven or grill them. Add them to your favorite sauce, such as tomato sauce, and make stew. You could add them to your favorite soup recipe for an additional protein bonus. Or add them to your beloved chili recipe.
- Burger patties variations. You can add almost any vegetable to make these burger patties more nutritious. Crunchy or starchy vegetables all work great.
Equipment
- I used this 10-inch cast-iron skillet (affiliate link) to fry the burger patties. Everything tastes extra delicious when cooked in cast-iron cookware.
- Grater (affiliate link).
Storage and reheat
Store these extra lean ground beef burger patties in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Whenever ready to serve them, let them heat up slowly on a stovetop or microwave them for a few seconds.
You can freeze them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. Let them thaw in the fridge the night before, then heat them on the stovetop or microwave them.
What to serve with burger patties
Sauteed green beans and broccoli are great options. Fresh spring salad mix, sauerkraut, rice, quinoa, or my ultimate easy sourdough discard naans or Easy sourdough discard flatbread are other options.
Other excellent side dish recipes are yogurt biscuits, potato salad, cauliflower broccoli salad, chickpea salad, roasted green beans, and potato soup.
What did you substitute? How did your family and kids like it? Let me know in the comment below your favorite combination and/ or side dishes. I love to hear from you!
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Recipe
Juicy extra lean ground beef burger patty
This easy-to-make juicy extra lean ground beef burger patty recipe is so tasty that everyone will love it.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of extra lean ground beef
- 1 medium-size onion.
- ½ teaspoon baking soda.
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons oil.
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Grate onion. Use a grater or a food processor.
- Add the grated onion to your extra lean ground beef.
- Next, add ½ teaspoon of onion powder and ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Then, add ½ teaspoon of baking soda.
- Last, add salt and pepper as needed to your taste.
- Mix all the ingredients well.
- Divide the mixture into eight medium size burger patties. Using your hand shape the patties.
- Heat the cast-iron skillet well on medium-high heat.
- Add two tablespoons of oil to the skillet. Let the oil heat until shiny.
- Transfer burger patties into the skillet four at a time.
- Let them cook for about 6 minutes on each side or until golden brown.
- Serve it hot or cold with your favorite side dishes, and ENJOY!
Notes
- Add in spices and herbs of your choice.
- If you want medium and red burger patties inside, cook them for less time.
- Let the burger patties fry well on medium-high heat before turning them over.
- I used a 10-inch cast-iron skillet to fry the burger patties.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 137Total Fat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 50mgSodium: 164mgCarbohydrates: 1gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 17g
XMC.PL
Fascinating information! I cant believe Ive finally found the information Ive been searching for for so long. Thank you!
Deliciousnutritiousfood
Thank you, I am glad you found it helpful!
Ray
Baking soda did the trick to make the lean ground beef juicy and I mixed in some chopped cilantro for extra flavor. This recipe was so easy and delicious to make during weekdays. Thanks
Deliciousnutritiousfood
I absolutely love the addition of cilantro to the recipe; well done! enjoy it!
Debra
I am going to make this tonight for dinner Looks like a great recipe. Thanks for sharing it!
Deliciousnutritiousfood
Thank you, Debra! Thanks for stopping by!
Tara
What a great recipe! Thanks for sharing it
Deliciousnutritiousfood
Thank you, I am glad you like it.
Alias
This recipe is the best way to get lean ground beef Patties tender and juicy. My family loved it! I served mine with some roasted potatoes and green beans. Thank you for your awesome recipe!
Deliciousnutritiousfood
Thank you for your comment!
Mat
So tender and juicy, I added some paprika and pepper flakes
Deliciousnutritiousfood
I am glad you like it! Thank you!