13 Healthier Burger Recipes

By , SparkPeople Blogger
It’s National Burger Month and you’re probably wondering why SparkPeople is celebrating a food with such an unhealthy reputation. The reason is that SparkPeople sees beyond the calories, fat, and sodium to a tremendously fun and flexible vehicle for healthy eating. Each component—the patty, bun, spreads and toppings—provide opportunities for customizing to your tastes and nutritional needs. We’ve gathered our best tips and recipes to help you build a better burger, your own Spark burger. 

Patty

Burgers typically consist of protein, grains, a binding agent, vegetables, and spices. Use 1 pound of protein, 1 cup of grains, 1 cup of vegetables, 2 tablespoons of binder and 1 teaspoon of spices.

Protein Grains Binders Vegetables
Ground chicken or turkey

Lean ground beef

Ground lamb

Ground buffalo

Salmon

Mahi-Mahi

Beans (pureed)

Lentils		 Oatmeal

Quinoa

Brown rice

Oat bran

Wheat Germ

Whole-wheat bread crumbs		 Egg whites

Flaxseed meal (mixed with water)

Chia Seeds		 Spinach (chopped)

Kale (chopped)

Onions (chopped)

Carrots (chopped)

Zucchini (shredded)

Sweet potato (pureed)

Peppers (diced)

Corn

Tomato paste

Salsa

Mushrooms 


Buns
  • Sandwich thin
  • Open face (Serve burger on top half the bun)
  • Whole wheat bun
  • Pita bread
  • Tortilla
ToppingsSpreads13 Better Burger Recipes

Greek Turkey Burger (Chef Meg's Makeover)

Chef Meg's Tangy Chicken Burgers

Chef Meg's Spicy Sliders

Chef Meg's Salmon Cakes

Cheddar-Stuffed Black Bean and Mushroom Burgers

Buffalo Burgers with Cheddar Cheese

Thanksgiving turkey burgers

Chipotle Eggplant Veggie Burgers

MAHI MAHI BURGERS

Quinoa Turkey Burgers

Vegan Lentil Burgers

Portobello Burgers

Spicy Black Bean Burgers
 
Create your Spark burger: what is your healthy burger recipe?


For more grilling recipes, check out our e-book: "SparkPeople's Ultimate Grilling Guide: 75 Hearty, Healthy Recipes You Can Really Sink Your Teeth Into"! Click here to learn more.