Ingredients
1 lb 90–96% lean ground beef
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
½ tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper
4 slices reduced-fat cheddar cheese
8 large iceberg lettuce leaves
1 large tomato, sliced
¼ cup sliced pickles or jalapeños
Optional sliced onion
Light Burger Sauce
½ cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1 tbsp light mayonnaise
1 tbsp sugar-free ketchup
1 tsp mustard
1 tsp pickle juice
Garlic powder and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Divide the beef into 4 patties and season with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
Heat a skillet or grill over medium-high heat.
Cook patties for about 3–4 minutes per side, or until they reach your preferred safe doneness.
Add one cheese slice to each burger during the final minute and allow it to melt.
Mix all the burger-sauce ingredients until creamy.
Use 2 sturdy iceberg leaves for each burger—one underneath and one over the top—to create a bun-like wrap.
Layer lettuce, tomato, burger, melted cheese, pickles or jalapeños, and burger sauce.
Secure with a toothpick if necessary and serve immediately.
Weight-Loss Version
Using 96% lean beef, reduced-fat cheese, Greek-yogurt sauce, and lettuce instead of a bun gives you a filling burger with plenty of protein for relatively few calories.
Approx. per burger: 280–330 calories | 30–35g protein | 5–8g carbs | 13–17g fat.