13 Healthier Burger Recipes
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.
Buns
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.
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
- Spinach
- Kale
- Tomato
- Pickles
- Onions
- Chef Meg's Caramelized Onions
- Roasted bell pepper
- Sprouts
- Avocado
- Mushrooms
- Homemade Ketchup
- Chef Meg's Tapenade
- Chef Meg's Creamy Fat Free Herb Dressing
- Chef Meg's Spicy Chili-Garlic Paste
- Chef Meg's Chipotle Mustard Dipping Sauce
- Spicy Yogurt Sauce
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.
