Juicy gourmet burgers (3 fun flavors with salad recipes)

These are the most mouthwatering juicy gourmet burgers you can easily make at home to complete your weeknight dinner meals or host outdoor family parties.

I share 3 fun beef burger recipes to choose from, each with its unique flavor combinations, zesty herbs, and cheese.

You can keep it healthy and low carb by combining one of these savory homemade burgers with a super simple refreshing salad—recipes included.

But nothing stops you from loading them with extra toppings, plated with that perfect bun for an over-the-top, restaurant-style hamburger experience.

They are gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and a great low-carb option when paired with a salad!

Jump to: Three fun gourmet-style burger recipes | How to make gourmet burger patties on the stove | Healthy salads for burgers | Other healthy serving suggestions | Additional & helpful recipe notes | What to do with leftover cooked hamburgers | How to freeze uncooked hamburgers for meal prep

I'll admit, burgers don't end up often on my dinner table. But when they do, I like them full of flavor and tasty enough on their own without the need for smothering on top all kinds of condiments—you still could, of course.

And, as a home cook, I prefer making my own to anything takeout.

To make a good juicy burger, I rely on a few key ingredients, such as a blend of quality ground beef and extra-virgin olive oil for an even more compelling flavor.

Each of these hamburger recipes is super easy to make yet has a mix of spices for extra flavor and their own unique ingredients combo to make them gourmet-style.

They're all grain-free, and when served on a bed of homemade salad—the way I prefer it—you'll have one healthy burger meal!

We love them here at home, although each one of us has our favorite. So let's look at how to make them and how to prep a quick hearty salad as a side!

How to make 3 fun gourmet-style burger recipes

These fun beef hamburgers are juicy, homemade and each is ready and served in less than 40 minutes.

And although the flavors and ingredients are different from your usual regular burger, they are all straightforward recipes that quickly come together.

You'll appreciate their crispy brown edges, the creaminess on the inside with a mix of their unique fresh herbs or vegetables, dried flavorful spices, and for some, even a touch of spicy sweetness.

You only have to pick your favorite flavor combo.

1. Beef and beet burger with feta and Cardamom—Ingredients

• Ground beef – I prefer an 80 lean/20 % fat ratio for the juiciest burgers. But anything over 15% fat will work. 
• Feta cheese – Equivalent to a greek burger, I'm adding crumbled feta cheese into the beef mix to add a tangy, buttery, and slightly salty flavor. Plus it pairs so well with grated beet roots.
• Shallot– This onion is delicate and sweet when cooked, adds a tasty aroma to these burgers and balances out the more earthy flavors of beets.
• Grated beets– you want to add this root vegetable because it adds moisture and nicely evens out any fattiness from the feta cheese or the meat. But it will also give these gourmet burgers a beautiful color and an almost rare meaty look.
• Balsamic vinegar – It has an underlying sweetness and a mellow tartness. I am not adding a lot, otherwise the burgers will fall apart, but just enough for that touch of extra flavor.
• Seasonings: Salt, cardamom, pepper (optional), they just work with the rest of the ingredients. I usually add a touch of these dry spices to flavor the beef mix, and then season the burgers with extra salt and pepper when they are sizzling on the stove.

2. Ground beef burger with Parmesan and Parsley—Ingredients

These Mediterranean-style burgers have similar ingredients as my tender Italian meatballs with just a few adjustments.

• Ground beef –  Choose an 80 lean/20 % fat ratio for the juiciest burgers. But anything over 15% fat will work. 
• Parmesan cheese – Mediterranean-style burgers call for this mild salty and almost fruity cheese making these burgers incredibly creamy once cooked and super tasty with garlic and fresh Parsley. This combo just works!
• Garlic– I'm adding three whole cloves to the beef mix for flavor and aroma.
• Fresh Parsley– this fresh herb is earthy, peppery and will nicely balance not only the rest of the flavors but also add a freshness to these gourmet burgers. Half a cup is enough, but if you are a parsley lover, feel free to add a bit more of this Italian herb.
• Seasonings: Salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper. Feel free to add more cayenne pepper for a more spicy touch.

3. Ground beef burger with Brie, almond flour, and apricots—Ingredients

• Ground beef – I prefer an 80 lean/20 % fat ratio for the juiciest burgers. But anything over 15% fat will work. 
• Soft Brie cheese – Another soft buttery cheese that almost taste like mushrooms and is perfect for pairing with a ground beef mix.
• Almond flour– I'm adding some blanched almond flour to ensure that the burgers don't fall apart, but also to add a more nutty element that goes well with beef meat and Brie.
• Green onions– This adds a lovely fresh and spicy, peppery flavor to balance out any richness.
• Apricots– it's a touch of sweetness that nicely compliments the brie and almond flavors, but also goes well with that hint of paprika powder.
• Seasonings: Salt, onion or garlic powder, paprika powder. Feel free to add more paprika powder for a more spicy touch.

Note on ground beef: A higher fat percentage helps keep the burgers moist and deliciously flavorful. But don't worry about the burgers turning out too greasy because a lot of that fat will render off during cooking.

How to make gourmet burger patties on the stove

Let's talk about a few quick tips to keep in mind when making these gluten-free burgers. It will help keep the meat patties from falling apart or turning too dry.

Equipment

You'll need, preferably, a large 12-inch (cast iron) skillet to fit as many burgers at once. But even then, you're going to have to work in batches to allow enough room in between the hamburger patties while cooking.

Extra-virgin olive oil

Cooking the burgers in a good quality olive oil makes all the difference, locks in the moisture, and creates incredible flavors.

Heat the oil over medium-high heat until warm, about 3 minutes before adding the hamburger patties.

Add a pinch of salt to the bottom of the pan (optional).

Thickness of the patties

Ideally, you want already formed patties when you heat the pan and have them lined or stacked up on a plate or parchment paper next to the stove. And you can decide how thick or thin you want them.

I like mine relatively thick and cook them usually for 4-5 minutes on both sides for a well-done burger, 3-4 minutes for a medium one. You can make a dent in the center with your thumb to avoid puffing them up. But that is optional.

If you decide to make them fairly thin, you can adjust the cooking time to maybe anywhere from 2 to 3 minutes, depending on how you like your burger (taste test).

My hamburgers are often unevenly-edged and not always perfectly the same size. But that's what you want in a gourmet burger, each one unique with its own delicious crispy browned border.

Flipping the burgers

I have no rule about this. I usually wait for 4 to 5 minutes until I flip them over and cook them until done on the other side.

Ideally, you want to flip your burgers only once or twice during cooking.

Seasoning

Although the ground beef mix is already seasoned, you still have to add extra seasoning while they're sizzling on the stove.

I usually only add extra salt and black pepper to taste, and in case I want more spiciness with the Mediterranean-style or Brie burger, I might add some cayenne pepper or paprika pepper as well.

Don't move them around too much

It's the key to keeping them from falling apart and getting those delicious brown edges.

If they are difficult to remove from the pan, they might need more time to cook. So, leave it for another minute.

Bonus: Salad for Burgers

Nothing is to stop you from turning these non-traditional hamburger patties into delicious sumptuous burgers with your favorite toppings.

In that case, sliced red onions, pickles, red beefsteak, or Roma tomatoes, and a brush of olive oil or mayo sprinkled on the inside of your favorite buns are highly recommended.

But if you want a super healthy, Paleo-friendly, and low carb burger meal, I suggest making these beef patties the heart of the dish complemented by a simple yet tasty salad!

So ditch the bun and make one of these Mediterranean flavored salads that pair well with any of these juicy hamburgers.

They are so easy to make that you can prepare them while the burgers are on the stove while keeping an eye on them, of course.

Green cucumber and avocado salad

This all-green salad is creamy, crunchy, incredibly refreshing with that touch of lemon juice, and easily customizable.

Ingredients

• Cucumber – I prefer a European cucumber or Persian cucumbers for the best result.
• Ripe avocado – texture wise it offers a nice contrast to the crunchy cucumber and adds a delicious buttery bite.
• Scallions–they are a milder tasting onion, but still add a refreshing peppery bite to this burger salad.
• Cilantro– I love the citrusy touch it adds, but feel free to replace it with fresh Parsley leaves.
• Pickles (bread and butter pickles)– they are sweet, crunchy and perfect for burger salads.
• Cloves or broccoli sprouts (optional): I love to add those to the mixed greens to make it extra nutritious. But I understand that not everyone loves them.
• Combo of sunflower and pumpkin seeds: optional but so recommended.
• Dressing: lemon juice, olive oil, salt. This is all you need to make a tasty and healthy salad but let the flavors of your gourmet burger shine.

How to make this green burger salad

• It's super simple. All the greens and pickles get chopped and tossed in a large salad bowl.
• Mix in the seeds if you're adding them.
• Season with a tad of olive oil and lemon juice and salt to taste.
• Stir and let the salad sit for a few minutes before serving.
• Adding a handful of chopped hard cheese of your liking is another great option.

Red Cherry Tomatoes and bell pepper salad

This burger salad is another healthy yet straightforward side dish that's naturally sweet, crunchy, and has some bitter undertones from lovely and nutritious dandelion greens.

Ingredients

• Grape tomatoes – I prefer small mini tomatoes on the vine, grape or cherry.
• Bell pepper – texture wise it offers a nice contrast to the sweet tomatoes.
• Dandelion greens–I love this vegetable and in this salad its more bitter undertones nicely compliment the tomatoes and bell pepper, yet, you get all the health benefits of this remarkable vegetable. You can replace it with romaine lettuce or arugula if it's too bitter for your taste.
• Dressing: balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper. Simple yet delicious.

How to make this red burger salad

• Cut the tomatoes in half and thinly cut the bell pepper into long strips.
• Toss in a large salad bowl together with chopped dandelion greens.
• Season with a tad of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir and let the salad sit for a few minutes before serving.

Other salads that pair well with these healthy hamburger recipes

• These all-beef skillet burgers pair just as well with a creamy kale-apple salad to switch it up now and then.
• And in the summer months, you should definitely try this nourishing mango-avocado salad as a side—incredibly refreshing.
• Or try the Avocado Quinoa salad with a lovely lemony dressing that can work here as well.

Other serving suggestions

Don't feel like making a salad, but still want to keep your burger experience healthy-ish? Here are a few other options:

An excellent substitute for regular burger buns is my homemade gluten-free biscuits—baked either with Buckwheat or Teff flour. They are crunchy and firm on the outside yet deliciously soft inside.

Or serve the beef burgers and the salad with heavenly spiced oven-baked potatoes or a creamy mashed cauliflower in case you are planning that backyard family dinner party.

Additional recipe notes

Good ground beef

Juicy burgers start with good ground beef. Go for the best beef you can buy, ideally from a farmer's market.

But even grocery stores offer plenty of local, high-quality beef, and I often stock up when on sale. I like to buy ground beef with at least 15 to 20 percent fat content.

Shaping the hamburger patties

I make my burgers on the thicker side and usually make about six large hamburger patties with the given amount of ingredients. But you could go for eight to ten smaller-sized burgers for maybe an outdoor party.

It is best to divide the mixture equally into six to 8 pieces before shaping the patties.

I roll each piece quickly into a ball. Then use the palm of my hands to flatten them into patties before I place them directly in the skillet.

Making gluten-free burgers

Keep the beef mixture chilled in the fridge until you are ready to cook the hamburger patties on the stove. It will help keep them from falling apart.

But to ensure that the meat cooks evenly, you want to leave the burgers out at room temperature for about 10 to 15 minutes max.

Also, handle the meat as little as possible. It's best to chop the cheese, veggies, and fresh herbs before taking the ground beef out of the fridge and working these ingredients into the meat mixture as quickly as possible.

Just mix everything briefly but enough to combine all the seasoning and ingredients into the ground beef.

Seasoning tip

I like to sprinkle the bottom of the pan with a few pinches of salt before the olive oil warms up and season the other side once I flip the burger with an extra touch of salt and whatever seasoning is called.

What to do with leftovers—cooked burgers

You can store cooked burgers in the fridge for up to 4 days in a sealed container. Although they reheat quickly in a microwave, I prefer to do so directly in the skillet.

• Take the leftover hamburger patties out of the fridge.
• Place them on the kitchen counter and let them sit for a minute or two at room temperature.
• Reheat a little bit of olive oil (one tablespoon) over medium-low heat in a pan with a lid;
• Place the leftover patties in the warmed skillet;
• Cover the top and let it cook for one to 2 minutes on one side;
• Then flip and cook for another one to two minutes or until sufficiently warmed

Homemade and cooked hamburger patties will also keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Note: these leftover burgers also taste great when served cold, rested for a few minutes at room temperature out of the fridge, chopped, and tossed over a salad like a burger salad bowl—great quick meal prep idea for lunch the next day.

How to freeze uncooked hamburgers for meal prep

You can easily make any of these beef burger recipes in advance, and it is perfect if you like to meal prep.

Cover and wrap each uncooked hamburger patty with parchment paper. Then stack carefully in an airtight container.

It's best to portion size it so you can take out what you need the night before and store it in the fridge to cook the next day.

They should be good in the freezer for about 3 to 4 months.

Other low carb dishes you might like

• Whole Roasted Chicken with Brie
• A Quick Sesame Garlic Shrimp Recipe with Avocado
• An Easy Herb Butter Shrimp Recipe with Leeks
• Easy Spicy Beef Short Ribs
• Marinated Chicken Wings

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