Beef and Mushroom Blended Burger

Healthy Burger Recipe

Thanks to Flatout for sponsoring this post

This burger — bun and all — has fewer calories than a peanut butter clif bar. Fewer than a medium cafe mocha at Starbucks. And less even than a small turkey sandwich at Subway.

Indeed, this burger comes in at a weensy 250 calories a pop.

AND it’s super tasty.

Two key factors make it both low in calories and high in flavor:

1. The Secret Ingredient

Instead of using 100 percent ground beef, the recipe replaces mushrooms for some of the meat. That little step knocks down the calories and saturated fat significantly and bumps up the flavor and texture. If you’re skeptical, consider this: In a blind taste test comparing an all-beef dish to a beef and mushroom blended burger, more than half of consumers preferred the blended version. Why? The mushrooms add that signature umami quality and trap moisture in the meat. It’s also the more sustainable option. As for the mushroom taste? It pretty much goes under the radar. Keep it to yourself and your dining companions won’t know what hit them except for a really good burger.

Healthy Burger Recipe

2. The Bun

Typical white flour burger buns add lots of calories and not a whole lot else. Here, the bread of choice is a Foldit from Flatout, which has just 90 calories and a boatload of fiber. It’s also the perfect scale — not too big — which means your juicy burger and favorite toppings don’t get dwarfed by an oversized bun. This is probably among the reasons it’s the official flatbread for Weight Watchers (let’s be honest, anything that’s good enough for Oprah is good enough for moi).

Healthy Burger Recipe

I encourage you to try this. I was downright thrilled when it worked so successfully, and even more so when Mr. Mom’s Kitchen (who considers himself a bit of a burger connoisseur) liked it as much as I do.

#ad Fire up those grills with this better-for-you burger. Just 250 little calories. #mushrooms #beef @flatout Click To Tweet
Healthy Hamburger
5 from 5 votes
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Better-for-You Burger

Who knew a burger this good could be good for you too. The key? Blending mushrooms into the mix, which adds umami, moisture, and goes totally under the radar as far as flavor goes. A traditional bun gets swapped out for a whole grain Flatout Foldit, which adds just 90 calories a burger, along with a whopping dose of fiber. Best of all? Delicious.

Course Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings 4 burgers
Calories 250 kcal
Author Katie Morford

Ingredients

  • pound cremini or white button mushrooms
  • ¾ pound lean ground beef
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Four whole grain Flatout Foldits

Instructions

  1. Put the mushrooms in a food processor fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until they blend up into tiny pieces.
  2. Set a large non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium. When the pan is hot, add the mushrooms. Saute until the mushrooms release their liquid and it evaporates from the pan, a couple of minutes. The mushrooms will turn tender and darken.
  3. Transfer the mushrooms to a bowl with the ground beef, the 1/2 teaspoon salt, and several grinds of black pepper. When cool enough to handle, use your hands to mix the mushrooms and meat evenly together. Try not to overwork the mixture. Form into 4 patties and season with a little more salt and pepper.

  4. Cook the burgers using your favorite method -- grilled, cooked in a skillet, or broiled -- until done to your liking.
  5. Just before serving, lightly warm the Flatout Foldits. Put a burger on each one and add your favorite toppings.


Comments

06.08.2017 at6:05 AM #

Carolyn Edwards

Katie – What a great freaking idea! Of course the first thing I thought was that I can enjoy my full calorie beer with this burger.

***roll eyes***

–Carolyn

06.08.2017 at6:05 AM #

Katie Morford

I like the way you think 🙂

06.11.2017 at3:26 PM #

Liz Weiss

I’m a huge fan of Flatout Foldits. My boys lived on them through their high school years — they make the perfect school lunch sandwich. Love your burger makeover and your modern “bun.”

06.11.2017 at3:26 PM #

Katie Morford

My kids love them too…but I have to say with a burger, it’s my new favorite.

07.03.2017 at8:26 AM #

Edwena

This is too good! The moms I work with will love this – great post!!

07.03.2017 at8:26 AM #

Katie Morford

Thanks Edwena. I’m hooked on the blended burger and love it with the Flatout.

09.02.2017 at6:55 AM #

pamela fender

I can’t wait to try these.
I’ve made mushroom tacos before. So delicious. Just replace the beef for mushrooms. You’ll be pleasantly surprised!

09.02.2017 at6:55 AM #

Katie Morford

That sounds like something I’m going to have to try. I now have two vegetarians in my house, so I’m always look for new ideas. Thank you.

09.03.2017 at3:33 PM #

Tami

How lean can you go with the beef?

09.03.2017 at3:33 PM #

Katie Morford

I usually buy lean, but I imagine extra lean would work, though the burgers may be a little less juicy.

07.11.2020 at2:31 PM #

Rochelle Winston Davies

I can’t wait to try this and since I always have baby bella or crimini mushrooms on hand, maybe I will try this on the barbecue tonight. One of ‘my tricks’, if you will, is to swap out some of the ‘bad fat’ with what I call ‘good fat’. I buy extra lean beef but then ADD in a Tablespoon or two of olive oil to keep the burgers from tasting too dry.

07.11.2020 at2:31 PM #

Katie Morford

What an interesting idea. I do something similar with Greek yogurt if I’m making it for a savory dish…I’ll buy non-fat and enrich it with a spoonful of olive oil. I’ll have to try your burger sometime 🙂

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