Looking for a "lighter" way to have a cheeseburger, no tofu please!

cguerra2013
cguerra2013 Posts: 11 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I really miss cheeseburgers..is there any leaner meat options, or vegetarian you would suggest?

What kind of bread do you use? I would like something preferably wholesome and low in calories!

Post your recipes below!!
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Replies

  • elphie754
    elphie754 Posts: 7,574 Member
    Why can't you just make a home made cheese burger with ground beef?

    I personally prefer chicken burgers though.
  • tapwaters
    tapwaters Posts: 428 Member
    Boca and gardein veggie patties have fewer calories and are really good.

    Sprouted rye bread often only has 60 calories a slice.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    A leaner cut of beef, with a 150 calorie roll and slice of cheese is not THAT high in calories. Pair it with a salad and you can have your burger with a side for 600-700 calories.
  • atjays
    atjays Posts: 797 Member
    You've always got lean ground beef or lean ground turkey, I like both. Cuts out a lot of the unnecessary calories from fat. I generally use a whole wheat bun but there isn't a calorie savings by using whole wheat. The calories in the bread are based on how big of a bun you use, same goes for the hamburger patty. You can easily make your own cheeseburger for 400-500 calories which should end up being a fairly healthy filling meal option. No reason to think you can't have things like this just because you're dieting.
  • 2snakeswoman
    2snakeswoman Posts: 655 Member
    Use leaner beef and thinner buns. Also reduced fat cheese if you like it. They sell extra thin buns in the bread section at my local store, and I prefer them. The standard buns are too thick and I can't taste the beef very well.
  • MichelleLea122
    MichelleLea122 Posts: 332 Member
    sxygup6hsnip.png

    Calories/ Carbs/ Fat/ Protein/ Sugar/ Fiber

    Something like this could work nicely. Under 300 calories without any additional toppings.
  • arditarose
    arditarose Posts: 15,573 Member
    MichelleLei1 wrote: »
    sxygup6hsnip.png

    Calories/ Carbs/ Fat/ Protein/ Sugar/ Fiber

    Something like this could work nicely. Under 300 calories without any additional toppings.

    Must find that bun.
  • CraigontheCoast
    CraigontheCoast Posts: 21 Member
    When I make us burgers I do them open-face, with just a bun on the bottom and plenty of veggies on top. Can usually even pick them up if I melt the cheese on top of everything to kind of seal it all together. Half the bread, with lean burgers.
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    Lets say you didnt use a light bun, thats another 80 calories for me using my favorite bread. I use the fat from the meat on non stick pan so no cooking spray for me. I also use some other low calorie spices - maybe even some siracha. My cheese might be 20 calories higher. Still only 360 using the example showed up. Taste much better than the typical fast food burgers as well which could easily be 500+ calories and packs more protein.
  • GotToBeMe11
    GotToBeMe11 Posts: 19 Member
    Surprisingly great tasting, super juicy turkey cheese burger recipe!!

    1lb ground turkey
    1/2 package Lipton Recipe Secrets(Savory Herb with Garlic) Recipe Soup & Dip Mix
    5 oz, Frozen Spinach(liquid squeezed out)
    1/2 cup Mozzarella Cheese
    Combine all ingredients, form patties & cook, grill or bake!
    Enjoy!! <3
  • MinmoInk
    MinmoInk Posts: 345 Member
    I would cut the cheese entirely, I used to love cheeseburgers so much but I switched to hamburgers since... Well I want to taste the juicy beef more anyway! I like to do it with some delicious mustard and onion and maybe a touch of ketchup with a nice relish or pickle! Burgers are awesome
  • Meganthedogmom
    Meganthedogmom Posts: 1,639 Member
    I agree with the above posted about cutting the cheese. Also, I make turkey burgers rather than beef. They are AMAZING and better than any restaurant burger I've ever had. If I want to cut more calories, I do a lettuce wrap. I don't miss the cheese at all, and that's saying a lot because I would marry cheese if it were a person.

    I suggest cutting up onions to add to the meat mixture, plus Worcestershire and mccormick's Montreal steak seasoning.
  • lorrpb
    lorrpb Posts: 11,463 Member
    I use whole wheat Sandwich Thins instead of a bun or thick bread.
  • H_Ock12
    H_Ock12 Posts: 1,152 Member
    Ground chicken and ground turkey make for great burgers! You can put it atop a piece of whole grain bread and top with cheese for a patty melt.
  • 6502programmer
    6502programmer Posts: 515 Member
    I like the chicken breast substitution at Red Robin.. I get two of them on my sandwich instead of a burger patty, and that thing does NOT leave me wanting.
  • CassidyScaglione
    CassidyScaglione Posts: 673 Member
    Have half a cheeseburger!
  • RoseTheWarrior
    RoseTheWarrior Posts: 2,035 Member
    CassidyScaglione wrote: »
    Have half a cheeseburger!

    I agree with this. Hubby and I do this.
  • caileag26
    caileag26 Posts: 29 Member
    I use lean ground beef and skip the bread. I put my burger on a salad and use ketchup as dressing then sprinkle it with parmasean for some cheese flavor. Sounds weird but works for me!
  • AmyMahan2016
    AmyMahan2016 Posts: 13 Member
    edited March 2016
    I use 93/7 lean ground beef and lean ground turkey mix, kraft fat free cheedar, fresh garlic to taste, cayenne pepper and onion powder. I use sara lee delightful Multigrain bread. You get 2 slices for 90 calories!
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    Cheeseburger sounds to me like a rather low calorie option for a meal actually, without any weird substitutions. Get lean meat, do not use a ton of cheese sauce and you will be fine.
  • veggiecanner
    veggiecanner Posts: 137 Member
    i skip the bread,
  • improvedchristine
    improvedchristine Posts: 39 Member
    i use lean ground turkey and I make my burgers and all sandwiches open faced. half the calories on the bread
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    Speaking of lean burgers, we don't usually have lean meat available but once I was able to get some and the burgers were dry and lacked this juicy satisfying bite. Any tips so I don't end up making something underwhelming out of a very expensive product in the future?

    To OP: I usually find it best to "bank" or "rearrange" calories for a decent burger with a decent bread. If something is only slightly lower in calories, why risk unsatisfying substitutions when you can have the real thing, albeit less often? Most decent and nicely sized burgers are about 500-600 calories. A low fat version would be around 300-350 calories or something. It's easy to come up with 250 extra calories from saving elsewhere or exercising extra for a couple of days.
  • mlinci
    mlinci Posts: 402 Member
    I think just skipping the fries and substituting them for a salad makes it a decent meal choice. You can go for a smaller amount of a strong cheese to maximise on flavour - last time I made mine, I used about 25g of extra strong cheddar.
    I also had a healthy coleslaw on the side (I mixed a couple of spoonfuls of deli coleslaw with much more shredded cabbage, carrots, peppers and lemon juice for about 100 calories per massive serving). It was wonderful with the burger.
  • flrancho
    flrancho Posts: 271 Member
    A lot of times I will use ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground sirloin. I do sometimes buy frozen veggie patties and give grilled Portobello mushroom caps and used those as the "burger".

    I believe I usually use Arnold or Nature's Own whole wheat burger/sandwich buns. They're not low calorie, but I do feel they're healthier than white burger buns.
  • mamadon
    mamadon Posts: 1,422 Member
    We found these precooked hamburger patties at Costco. They were actually pretty amazing for frozen precooked patties. I think their called Angus choice beef patties. Their 280 calories
    Patty: 280
    Franz hamburger bun: 130
    Ketchup: 20
    Cheese slice: 40
    Total: 470.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    Because lean beef can be so dry, I mix it with finely chopped mushroom and it gives moisture without taking away from the meaty flavor.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    arditarose wrote: »
    MichelleLei1 wrote: »
    sxygup6hsnip.png

    Calories/ Carbs/ Fat/ Protein/ Sugar/ Fiber

    Something like this could work nicely. Under 300 calories without any additional toppings.

    Must find that bun.

    I've NEVER found those buns.

    But yeah, I use 90% beef (leaner and it's not as satisfying for me), just one slice of 2% American cheese (50 calories), and a bit of ketchup and mayo.

    Although yeah I don't buy hamburger buns anymore, and I just need to find a way to make mine lower calories (guessing I need to flatten the dough so they are thin but still big enough for a burger)... I haven't had a burger in a while.
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    Queenmunchy wrote: »
    Because lean beef can be so dry, I mix it with finely chopped mushroom and it gives moisture without taking away from the meaty flavor.

    Yum that sounds like something I would like to try.
  • frankiesgirl21
    frankiesgirl21 Posts: 235 Member
    RoseTheWarrior wrote: »
    CassidyScaglione wrote: »
    Have half a cheeseburger!

    I agree with this. Hubby and I do this.

    Me and mine too with soup or salad.....

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