We get the onions going first and let them cook low and slow until soft and sweet, timed to finish right as the beef comes off the heat. The patties cook fast, so have the sauce, lettuce, and toppings ready before the first one hits the pan.

What our readers are saying

This sauce is LIFE!!! I’ve made my fair share of lettuce-bun burgers, but they always seemed pretty meh until this sauce! Seriously, so obsessed. The flavors are the perfect complement to the burger and I’ll never make homemade burgers without this sauce again.

Elle

Read more reviews >>
Bunless burger recipe horizontal image burger with sauce to the right.

What makes this lettuce burger work

The sauce. You whisk tomato paste, mustard, white vinegar, coconut aminos, mayo, and a little finely diced pickle into something tangy with a hint of sweet, and it turns a plain patty into a burger worth making again.

Thin patties. They shrink as they cook, so start them wider than the lettuce, and at that thickness they brown in three to four minutes a side.

Iceberg lettuce. Cut the head into quarters, trim the stem, and peel off the sturdy outer leaves. This gives you a “bun” that holds a loaded patty without tearing. The sturdiness and crunch is what makes this an easy ground beef dinner recipe we keep in the rotation when we want beef burgers without a bun.

Bunless burger recipe vertical image hands holding burger this recipe

What we learned testing this recipe

  • Double up the patties: since each one is thin, stack two with extra sauce in the middle for double-double animal style type burger.
  • Make the sauce ahead: stir it together before you start and chill it while you cook; the flavors settle and sharpen as it sits.
  • Grill or skillet (or flat top): they all work great. Just prep all the ingredients up front, the burgers cook fast once they start.
  • Cheese: We found these didn’t need cheese with the special sauce. Of course, you can add cheese if you want.
Bunless burger recipe vertical image hands going in to pick up burger

What to serve with bunless burgers

When doubled up this eats like a meal, but when we want something on the side we go with a batch of sweet potato fries to keep that burger-and-fries feel. Or, if we are cooking in the skillet, we do some pan fried plantains for an easy and quick-cooking side dish.

Bunless burger recipe vertical image close up of burger in basket.

Similar flavor, different meal

If you like the special sauce, our Blackstone smash burgers use the same sauce on a griddle with a crispy crust. And our Greek turkey burgers use the same iceberg-bun with a different protein and a fresh tzatziki on top.

Bunless burger recipe vertical image hands holding burger
4.54 from 69 ratings
Get the Recipe:

Lettuce Burger Recipe (Loaded, w/Special Sauce)

Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 burgers
Thin beef patties sear in a hot skillet, then stack with caramelized onions, tomato, pickles, and a tangy special sauce inside crisp iceberg lettuce instead of a bun. It eats like a burger you pick up with both hands, and dinner is ready in about 25 minutes.
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Ingredients

For the burgers:

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 tbsp ghee, or other cooking oil of choice
  • salt and pepper

For the toppings and “bun”

  • 1 onion, sliced into rings
  • 1 tbsp ghee, or other cooking oil of choice
  • 1 tomato, sliced
  • 1 dill pickle, sliced into rounds
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce

For the sauce:

  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tbsp white vinegar
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • 1 tsp coconut aminos, (can sub 1/2 tsp soy sauce)
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 cup mayo
  • 1 small dill pickle, finely diced

Instructions
 

  • Start by making the sauce. Combine all of the sauce ingredients in a bowl and mix well with a whisk. Refrigerate while you make the burgers.
    2 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tbsp white vinegar, 1 tsp mustard, 1 tsp coconut aminos, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp onion powder, 1/4 cup mayo, 1 small dill pickle, finely diced
  • Form beef into burger patties. You want very thin patties, about 1/4 inch thick. 1 lb of beef will make about 4 of these patties. They will be very large and thin (but will shrink a lot when cooking). Season the patties with salt and pepper on both sides and set aside.
    1 lb ground beef, salt and pepper
  • Slice onion as noted and heat a medium skillet over medium-low heat and add 1 tbsp of ghee. Add the onion to cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and caramelized. This should take about 15 minutes and be finished about the same time as the burgers. If they cook to fast or finish early, just simmer on low until the burgers are ready.
    1 tbsp ghee, 1 onion, sliced into rings
  • Prep the toppings for the burgers as noted. For the buns, cut the iceberg lettuce head into fourths. Cut off the bottom “stem” of each wedge of lettuce. Remove the thick inner pieces, leaving the outer leaves. You’ll split these leaves to form your top and bottom “bun”.
    1 tomato, sliced, 1 dill pickle, sliced into rounds, 1 head iceberg lettuce
  • Cook over medium-high heat on a grill or heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tbsp ghee. Once the ghee is hot and shimmering (or the grill is hot), add the burgers to cook for 3-4 minutes per side, or until cooked to your liking. If using a skillet, you may have to cook burgers in batches, two at a time.
    1 tbsp ghee
  • Now, assemble your burgers. Put 1/2 of the lettuce wedge on a plate and add a tomato slice and some pickles at the bottom. Top with a burger patty and spread some sauce over the top. Add on some onions and top with more sauce if desired. Top with the other 1/2 of the lettuce wedge to form a burger. Pick it up with both hands and enjoy.

Last Step:

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Notes

  • Nutrition estimates are per serving and an estimate provided for reader benefit.  See our full nutrition information disclosure here.  
Calories: 498kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 41g, Saturated Fat: 15g, Fiber: 3g
Course: Main Course
Author: Justin Winn
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Tag @realsimplegood with hashtag #realsimplegood on Instagram. We love to see what you make!
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