Asian Burgers with a Gluten-Free Option

Do you find your burgers lacking flavor? My husband loves his beef and I am always looking for new ways to prepare it. I’m not a fan of the basic burgers, enter these Asian Burgers (often called Bulgogi Burgers or Korean Burgers). I make these once a week. The great thing is they are so easy and full of amazing flavors.

I make them with butter lettuce instead of burger buns for my husband and a regular hamburger bun for my son. Everyone is happy. They can be cooked to perfection on top of the stove, no need to grill them outside.

If you want to spice up your burgers and give them a flavor-filled punch, try this delicious recipe.

Ingredients for Asian Burgers

I’ve adapted this recipe to be gluten-free and with less sugar, but you can make them with a regular bun if you choose.

Burger ingredients:

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• 1.5 pounds ground beef (I like to use grass-fed ground beef)
• 8 chopped scallions or green onions (approximately 1/2 cup)
• 1 TB Sesame oil
• 3 Tablespoons Soy sauce (or coconut aminos for gluten-free)
• 2 TB Bread crumbs (I use these gluten-free bread crumbs)
• 1/4 tsp Red pepper flakes
• 3 tsp coconut sugar (or 3 tsp brown sugar)
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 3 garlic cloves chopped

Ingredients to assemble the burgers:

• 1 head Butter lettuce (or buns if you don’t want gluten-free)
• 3 TB mayonnaise
• 1 TB Sriracha sauce (reduce if you don’t like spicy)

Steps to make Asian Burgers

Wash your butter lettuce and let it dry before you start assembling your burgers.

Pour all of the ingredients listed above in Burger Ingredients except the ground beef in a large bowl. Stir to combine. With your fingers mix in the ground beef. Form into patties, I make 1/4 lb patties for a total of 6 equal portions. Cook as you like to cook your burgers, on the grill rack, a stove-top griddle, or a skillet (I use cast iron).

This is similar to making meatloaf. You mix all of the ingredients with the beef last and don’t overmix. Cook as you like to cook your burgers, on the grill or a skillet (I use cast iron).

In a small bowl mix the spicy Sriracha sauce.

How to Serve Your Burgers (3 different ways)

Here are three ways to serve these (which I do in my family). I know it’s a high-maintenance way of eating, but we each like our own version of these Asian burgers. My son likes a regular burger and I like more veggies.

Lettuce Wrap Version – Serve each burger patty with two leaves of lettuce and a dollop of spicy mayo.

Regular Bun Version – Serve a burger on top of a regular bun with a dollop of spicy mayo.

Salad Version – I like more veggies so this juicy burger is a good way to spice up a salad. I like to add cucumbers and shredded carrots. I use more butter lettuce leaves and I chop up my burger.

If you really like Korean cuisine and Asian flavor profiles try making a kimchi mayo in place of the spicy mayo or add a bit of fresh ginger to your burger mix.

Next time you are looking to spice up your burger game try these burgers with an Asian kick, they will put those fast food burgers to shame!

If you enjoyed this recipe you might like Spicy Beef Stir Fry Without Soy Sauce or Asian Lettuce wraps.