Combine two family favorites into these delicious and healthy burgers. Serve with sweet potato fries and a side salad with low-fat dressing. The idea of having a pizza burger might sound like the unhealthiest thing imaginable, but this recipe is actually quite nutritious!
To make it as healthy as possible, aim to find the leanest ground beef in your grocery store. Generally, this is going to be 96% lean, 4% fat. Sometimes, you may be able to find leaner, but it isn't common. In addition, grab some low-fat cheese. Using cheese that is lower in fat won't change the taste substantially, but it will reduce the amount of calories and fat present.
This recipe is meant to be made on the grill. Either a charcoal or gas grill will work just fine. If you're using a gas grill, remember to preheat it first. Preheating a gas grill ensures that your burgers will be cooked evenly. Remember to stick with meatless spaghetti sauce, since you'll already be using plenty of meat for the burgers themselves!
If your kids have been begging you for pizza, give them these pizza burgers instead. They'll love them, and you'll be able to avoid having to spend the money for take-out or delivery. Plus, these pizza burgers are healthier than pizza and wings. Enjoy!
Pizza Burgers
Ingredients:
1 egg
1¼ cups purchased meatless spaghetti sauce
½ cup fine dry bread crumbs
⅓ cup chopped onion (1 small)
1 teaspoon dried basil or oregano, crushed
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 pounds lean ground beef
2 medium green, yellow, and/or red sweet peppers, cut into rings and halved
1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking oil
8 Kaiser rolls, split and toasted
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (4 ounces)
Directions:
1. In a large bowl beat egg and ¼ cup of the spaghetti sauce with a whisk. Stir in bread crumbs, onion, basil, and garlic. Add beef; mix well. Shape meat mixture into eight ½-inch-thick patties.
2. Tear off an 18×12-inch pieces of heavy foil. Place sweet pepper pieces in center of foil; drizzle with oil. Bring up 2 opposite edges of foil and seal with a double fold; fold in remaining edges to enclose the peppers, leaving space for steam to build.
3. For a charcoal grill, place patties and foil packet on the grill rack directly over medium coals. Grill for 10 to 13 minutes or until meat is done (160°F) and peppers are tender, turning patties and foil packet once halfway through grilling. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place patties and packet on grill rack over heat. Cover and grill as above.)
4. Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 cup spaghetti sauce. Serve patties on rolls with pepper pieces and cheese. Spoon some of the heated spaghetti sauce over burgers. Pass any remaining spaghetti sauce.
Serves 8
Serving size: 1 burger
Per serving
Calories: 460
Total Fat: 18 g
Sat: 6 g
Protein: 32 g
Carb: 42 g
Fiber: 0 g
Cholesterol: 106 mg
Sodium: 742 mg