With this Low Carb Lucy Burger, you’ll get all the Jucy Lucy flavor without regret. Made with JENNIE-O® Lean Turkey Burger Patties, wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves and topped with a slice of tomato, smoky grilled red onions, and my homemade burger sauce just to add a bit of a kick.
THIS RECIPE IS SPONSORED BY JENNIE-O®
If you aren’t from the Twin Cities, you may be wondering what a Juicy Lucy is. Very simply, it is a hamburger stuffed with cheese that’s grilled. Most spectacular is the ooey gooey cheese that oozes out with each heavenly bite.
When I lived in Minneapolis, I learned that there was a hotly contested rivalry between two local restaurants, Matt’s Bar and the 5-8 Club, for the title of inventor of the Juicy Lucy. Obviously, a food battle has my name on it, so I had to try both, and they were both delicious and lived up to the name EXTRA JUICY. I might have left Minneapolis, but I never forgot about those burgers, and this recipe is my summer of the infamous Juicy Lucy Burger.
A traditional juicy Lucy is made of seasoned ground beef, American cheese, pickles, and a buttered bun but this carb-conscious version is made of seasoned lean ground turkey, American cheese, tomato, and a lettuce bun.
Key Ingredients
- JENNIE-O® Lean Turkey Burger Patties. Ground turkey is a healthier alternative to ground beef with fewer calories and fat while still delicious and full of flavor.
- Cheese. American cheese has a special place for me. It’s creamy and satisfying and always melts so smooth.
- Spices. We will be using a blend with the following spices: Kosher salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, and cumin.
- Burger Sauce. A simple mixture of mayo, chipotle chiles, mustard, pickle juice, white wine vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, and freshly ground black pepper. Y’all, it’s seriously delicious, so I don’t recommend leaving it out.
How to Make Low Carb Lucy Burger
To make this mouth-watering Lucy Burger, you will need to prepare the
- Mix Burger Seasoning: Add garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and cumin to a small bowl and whisk until combined.
- Prep Cheese: stack four slices of cheese on top and cut in quarters. Leave the remaining 4 slices whole.
- Prep Patties: place 1 JENNIE-O® Lean Turkey Burger patty on a piece of parchment paper. Press patty until it is thin ¼ inch thick. Season each side with ¼ teaspoon of the seasoning blend. Repeat this step for all remaining patties. To one patty, add 1 full slice of cheese; fold back the corners leaving a small clear margin of meat. Top the slice of cheese with 4 of the quartered cheese squares. Add a second patty over top and seal the edges of the two patties together. Make sure that the edge is smooth and that there are no openings of cheese poking through. Repeat this process for the remaining patties. Place patties on a sheet pan and transfer to the freezer for at least 20-30 minutes before grilling. Before grilling lightly, brush patties with olive oil.
- Grill Patties: Prepare a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat at about 450 degrees F. Just before placing the burgers on the grill, brush the grill with vegetable oil. Grill patties covered, about 6 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. Let burgers rest for 2 minutes, assemble the burgers, and add your favorite burger toppings.
- Mix Burger Sauce: Add all ingredients to a food processor and process for 10 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are the answers to some of the most common questions about this stuffed burger:
What is a Low Carb Lucy Burger?
In this Low Carb Lucy Burger recipe, these burgers are made JENNIE-O® Lean Turkey Burger Patties rather than beef, so they’re lower in fat and high in protein. It’s a fresh and healthy variation of a Jucy Lucy or Juicy Lucy Burger, a stuffed burger with cheese inside the meat instead of on top, resulting in a gooey melted cheese center. I also substituted the high carb burger bun with fresh crisp lettuce.
Can I prepare the patties ahead of time?
Yes, once the patties are stuffed, you can keep them covered in the refrigerated for up to 24 hours before cooking.
If you choose to grill the stuffed patties ahead of time, they will stay fresh for 3 days in the refrigerator, but the best way to enjoy these delicious low carb lucy burgers is fresh off the grill.
What’s the best kind of cheese to stuff burgers with?
There are many different options when it comes to cheeses for burgers. For the best results, use American or cheddar-style because they melt beautifully and have just enough saltiness without being too overpowering!
Can you make the Low Carb Lucy Burger with other proteins?
Of course! Low Carb Lucy Burger can be made with ground beef, chicken, or plant-based protein pattie. JENNIE-O® Lean Turkey Burger Patties because it is a healthier alternative to ground beef that is still juicy and flavorful.
More Mouthwatering Burger Recipes
- Black Bean Burger Recipe by Shanika Graham-White
- Pimento Cheese Stuffed Sliders
- Fresh Salmon Burgers With Whipped Feta
Now it’s your turn!
If you enjoy the recipe, please share it with your friends and family! And don’t forget to give me some five-star love down below. If you have any comments or questions, leave them below, and I’ll be sure to get back to you as soon as possible.
Low Carb Lucy Burger
Equipment
- Chef’s Knife
- Cutting Board
- Measuring Tools
- Bowl Set
- Food processor – small – 3 cup
- Cast Iron Grill Pan – 12 inch
- Parchment Paper
- Metal Tongs
Ingredients
Juicy Lucy Turkey Burger
- 2 lbs JENNIE-O® Lean Turkey Burger Patties
- ¾ teaspoons garlic powder
- ¾ teaspoons onion powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoons black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 8 slices American cheese cut, divided
- Iceberg lettuce or compliant burger buns
- Lettuce, sliced tomato, sliced onions, pickles, your favorite burger toppings
Burger Sauce [Optional]
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2 chipotle chiles, from canned chiles in adobo sauce
- 2 teaspoons mustard
- 2 teaspoons pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ kosher salt
- ¼ black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
Instructions
- Mix Burger Seasoning: Add garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and cumin to small bowl and whisk until combined.
- Prep Cheese: stack four slices of cheese on top and cut in quarters. Leave the remaining 4 slices whole.
- Prep Patties: place 1 JENNIE-O® Lean Turkey Burger patty on a piece of parchment paper. Press patty until it is thin ¼ inch thick. Season each side with ¼ teaspoon of the seasoning blend. Repeat this step for all remaining patties.
- To one patty, add 1 full slice of cheese; fold back the corners leaving a small clear margin of meat. Top the slice of cheese with 4 of the quartered cheese squares. Add a second patty over top and seal the edges of the two patties together. Make sure that the edge is smooth and that there are no openings of cheese poking through. Repeat this process for the remaining patties. Place patties on a sheet pan and transfer to the freezer for at least 20-30 minutes before grilling. Before grilling lightly brush patties with olive oil.
- Grill Patties: Prepare a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat at about 450 degrees F. Just before placing the burgers on the grill, brush the grill with vegetable oil.Grill patties covered, about 6 minutes per side or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees F. Let burgers rest for 2 minutes then assemble the burgers and add your favorite burger toppings.
- Mix Burger Sauce: Add all ingredients to a food processor and process for 10 seconds.
