I don’t do burgers without pickles, and I really prefer not to do burgers without special sauce — aka a saucy combo of mayo, ketchup, and mustard, seasoned differently by each establishment. My special sauce secret ingredient is Bubbies pickles and a bit of brine. If you’re not doing Whole30, try using their bread and butter pickles, but if you’re completing a Whole30 or Whole7, stick to dill, which are sugar-free.
You can absolutely use ground turkey instead here, but I suggest adding more seasoning like oregano or dried thyme. The higher fat content in beef gives it a lot more natural flavor.
My photos do not have potatoes in them but I highly recommend adding them to help you stay fuller and satiated for longer. Plus, they’re delicious.
Whole30 Burger Salad with Special Sauce
Equipment
- Large nonstick skillet
- Cutting board
- Chef’s knife
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- Kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder divided
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise Whole30: be sure to use a compliant brand
- 2 tablespoons ketchup Whole30: be sure to use a compliant brand
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard Whole30: be sure to use a compliant brand
- 1/4 cup finely chopped dill pickles Whole30: be sure to use a compliant brand like my fave, Bubbies
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle brine
- 4 cups mixed greens or chopped romaine
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/3 cup dill kosher pickles Whole30: be sure to use a compliant brand like my fave, Bubbies
- 1/4 red onion thinly sliced (or pickled red onions!)
- 1 large avocado thinly sliced
- Optional: nut cheese roasted sweet potatoes or potatoes, chopped cucumber, thinly sliced fennel, any other crunchy raw vegetables that you like and have lying around!
Instructions
- If you want to add potatoes, cut into small cubes, toss with a bit of oil, salt and pepper, and roast at 425°F for 25 minutes, or until tender and browned.
- Warm a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound ground beef, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and break into small chunks (but not crumbles!), stirring until cooked through, about 4 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Make the special sauce! In a bowl, stir together 1/3 cup mayo, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1/4 cup finely chopped pickles, 1 tablespoon pickle brine, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt.
- If you want to build a platter like I did here, place 4 cups greens on a large platter and season with salt and pepper. Yes, always season your greens! Pile the burger meat, 1 pint sliced cherry tomatoes, 1/3 cup dill pickles, 1/4 thinly sliced red onion, and roasted sweet potatoes or potatoes all around / on top of the greens.
- Dig in! Serve with special sauce.
- 1 pound ground beef
- Kosher salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder divided
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise Whole30: be sure to use a compliant brand
- 2 tablespoons ketchup Whole30: be sure to use a compliant brand
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard Whole30: be sure to use a compliant brand
- 1/4 cup finely chopped dill pickles Whole30: be sure to use a compliant brand like my fave, Bubbies
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle brine
- 4 cups mixed greens or chopped romaine
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/3 cup dill kosher pickles Whole30: be sure to use a compliant brand like my fave, Bubbies
- 1/4 red onion thinly sliced (or pickled red onions!)
- 1 large avocado thinly sliced
- Optional: nut cheese roasted sweet potatoes or potatoes, chopped cucumber, thinly sliced fennel, any other crunchy raw vegetables that you like and have lying around!