Buffalo Sauce Burger
with celery and carrot sticks
These burgers, with a creamy, savory, spicy (or not) sauce, were a request from a number of community members this year. Whether you toss them on the grill or cook indoors, they feel like a fun way to kick off summer!
Smarts: If you made last week's meal plan you may have celery left over to slice and serve on the side. Otherwise, feel free to just use carrot sticks.
Ingredients
- Celery (opt) - 2 stalks, sliced into sticks for dipping
- Carrots - 8 oz, sliced into sticks for dipping
- Beef, ground - 1 1/2 lbs
- Worcestershire sauce - 2 tsp
- Salt - 1/2 tsp
- Black pepper - 1/4 tsp
- Onions, medium and red - 1/2, thinly sliced
- Oil, cooking - 1 Tbsp + 1 Tbsp
- Hamburger buns - 4
- Spinach, baby - 1 oz (sub any lettuce leaves)
- Cheese, blue - 2 oz, crumbled (sub feta or goat cheese)
- Green onions - 1 stalk, chopped, green and white parts combined
- Yogurt, plain or Greek - 1/2 cup
- Mayonnaise - 2 Tbsp
- Hot sauce of choice - 2 tsp, more to taste
Nutrition Facts
Prep
- Make buffalo blue cheese sauce - Crumble cheese and chop green onions. Combine cheese, green onions (white and green parts), yogurt, and mayonnaise. Add hot sauce until sauce is spiced to your liking. The sauce should be easy to spread, so if it is very thick, thin it with some water. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Celery / Carrots - Slice into sticks and combine. If prepping ahead, soak them in cold water in the fridge to help them stay crisp. (Can be done up to 4 days ahead)
- Make burgers - Use hands to combine beef with Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper. Form into 1" / 2.5 cm thick patties and make a depression in the center with your thumb (this will prevent them from rounding in the middle as they cook). Cover and refrigerate if not making right away. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
- Onions - Thinly slice.
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Make
- If making burgers on the grill: Heat grill to 500F / 260C degrees. Brush grill grates with first portion of cooking oil and then grill patties for 2 minutes on each side over direct heat (i.e., over the flames). Move patties to indirect heat, close the grill, and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes for medium-rare, 3 to 4 minutes for medium, and 5 to 6 minutes for well-done. Brush buns with second portion of cooking oil and toast on grill for the last 2 to 3 minutes.
- If making burgers on stovetop: Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush pan with first portion of cooking oil and then place patties on heated oil. Cook patties for 2 minutes on each side. Then lower heat to medium and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes for medium-rare, 3 to 4 minutes for medium, and 5 to 6 minutes for well-done. Brush buns with second portion of cooking oil and place, cut-side down, in skillet or pan. Toast until golden brown.
- Spread the tops and bottoms of buns with half the buffalo blue cheese sauce (reserve the other half). Place some spinach leaves and then a burger patty on each of the bottom buns. Finish with a slice of onion. Close burgers with the top bun.
- Serve burgers with celery and carrot sticks and the remaining buffalo blue cheese sauce for dipping. Enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Reviews
Ratings
28 reviews
This was all really bland - both the burger and the sauce. Used goat cheese, that may have contributed to the flavor loss.
0 HelpfulSauce was great. Feels indulgent, but not too unhealthy given that it's mostly yogurt. Would be good on turkey burgers if you wanted a healthier option. Served with sauteed onions and salad on the side instead of the raw carrots/celery.
0 HelpfulI could not get enough of the sauce! Did 4 taste tests to get it to the perfect spice level/ flavor. :) we had a ton of sauce left over.... not complaining- maybe we'll make burgers again soon.
0 HelpfulWhen I first whipped the sauce together per the recipe, it didnt taste hot enough for me, so I doubled the hot sauce...WAY to hot. Take my advice and go easy on it...the sauce will come together with a little time. Otherwise tasty recipe. Served the carrots with homemade greek yogurt ranch dip
0 Helpful