Meatball Parmesan Burgers {low carb option}

5 from 1 vote
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#SundaySupper is firing up the grill for the over thirty of the biggest, baddest burgers and dogs. Hamburgers and hot dogs are synonymous with summer, but sometimes you are craving classic Italian comfort food. Grab a ciabatta roll or a couple portobella mushrooms (for a gluten free and low carb option) because there’s no need to heat up your kitchen to enjoy these seasoned, saucy, and cheesy Meatball Parmesan Burgers.

Meatball Parmesan Burgers

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Meatball Parmesan Burgers - transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese. | cupcakesandkalechips.com

As you may or may not know, depending on how long you’ve been reading the blog, I have a gluten allergy. Nobody else in my family does, and I’m not so sensitive that I have to worry about cross-contamination, which is why I don’t have an exclusively gluten free blog. I still make muffins and cookies and such for my kids.

Honestly, other than feeling like a pain in the butt when we go out to eat with friends or extended family who aren’t used to what I can and cannot have, it’s not really a big deal to me, and I don’t miss many things. I’ve never been biggest pasta eater, and I actually prefer zoodles and spaghetti squash now, though there is some darn good gluten free pasta when I am in the mood. I’ve found a few places where I can get decent gluten free pizza and a few recipes to make it myself that fill the void. Skipping the bread basket leaves me room for even tastier stuff. I’ll choose my morning oatmeal over muffins and pastries anyday. And give me ice cream cake over regular cake, thank you very much.

Sometimes, though, I crave a burger. Doesn’t seem like an issue with gluten, right? I mean, it’s beef.

Well yeah, I could stick a knife and a fork into my patty and eat it like a steak, and I do that most of the time. But sometimes I just want to wrap my hands around a big burger, bun and all. There’s something satisfying and comforting about it. Sadly, most gluten free rolls don’t stand up to a really good, thick burger that is super juicy and oozing with cheese, so I will say, that is one thing that I do truly miss.

However, this is not a bad alternative for those looking for a gluten free or low carb option…

Meatball Parmesan Burgers - transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese on a portobella mushroom "bun" to make them low carb and gluten free. | cupcakesandkalechips.com

Especially when your burger tastes like meatballs!! That portobella bun was actually quite delicious especially since it was cooked on the grill alongside those burgers. Of course, you can use Gluten Free Hamburger Buns. But for those of you who aren’t gluten free, I’d suggest a nice ciabatta roll…

Meatball Parmesan Burgers - transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese. | cupcakesandkalechips.com

Especially when you are making these Meatball Parmesan Burgers. It’s everything you love about a meatball sub, only you don’t have to roll a million little balls or turn on your oven to heat up your kitchen in the blazing hot summer. Just flavor up your ground beef as you would your favorite meatballs – I simple used garlic, parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper – and make patties instead of balls. A little indentation in the middle of the patty keeps it from expanding too much in the middle and leaves a nice little crevice to sneak in some sauce before covering with cheese for the last couple minutes of grilling.

Meatball Parmesan Burgers - transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese. | cupcakesandkalechips.com

Pile it high with lettuce and tomato on that ciabatta or grilled mushrooms, slather on some more sauce if you wish, and you have a burger that’ll make any Italian nonna proud!

Meatball Parmesan Burgers - transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese. | cupcakesandkalechips.com

Even if nonna has decided to go low carb or gluten free herself 🙂

Meatball Parmesan Burgers - transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese on a portobella mushroom "bun" to make them low carb and gluten free. | cupcakesandkalechips.com

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Meatball Parmesan Burgers - transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese. | cupcakesandkalechips.com

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5 from 1 vote

Meatball Parmesan Burgers {with a low carb option}

Transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese. Serve it on a portobella mushroom "bun" to make them low carb and gluten free.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes
Total: 27 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 clove garlic minced or crushed
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
  • 2 Tablespoons minced fresh parsley
  • 6 Tablespoons tomato sauce plus aditional for serving, if desired
  • 6 slices mozzarella cheese
  • 6 ciabatta rolls or twelve "slider" size portobello mushrooms, stems and gills removed, rubbed with about a teaspoon of olive oil and sprinkled with a bit of kosher salt
  • romaine lettuce
  • 3 roma tomatoes sliced

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the beef, garlic, salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, and parsley. Gently mix together until thoroughly combined. Divide into six equal-sized balls and press into patties. Using your thumb, make an indentation into the middle of each patty.
  • Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Grill for 5-6 minutes per side to desired doneness. For the last couple minutes of grilling, flip to have the side with the indentation up, and top with a tablespoon of tomato sauce and a slice of mozzarella cheese.
  • If you are using portobello buns, grill the mushrooms alongside the burgers or roast in a 450°F oven for about 10 minutes, or until tender.
  • Place burgers on rolls or mushroom caps and top with romaine lettuce and sliced tomatoes. Serve with additional tomato sauce, if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Meatball Parmesan Burgers {with a low carb option}
Amount Per Serving (1 burger)
Calories 463 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Fat 16g25%
Saturated Fat 8g40%
Cholesterol 121mg40%
Sodium 960mg40%
Potassium 682mg19%
Carbohydrates 29g10%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 1g1%
Protein 46g92%
Vitamin A 690IU14%
Vitamin C 7.3mg9%
Calcium 262mg26%
Iron 4.1mg23%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Categories:

Enjoy this Meatball Parmesan Burgers recipe!

Meatball Parmesan Burgers - transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese. | cupcakesandkalechips.com

Or the Low Carb Meatball Parmesan Burgers Recipe!

Meatball Parmesan Burgers recipe-8213

Here are some more of my favorite hamburgers and hot dogs…

Merlot-Onion-Burger-4-title.jpgPeruvian Turkey Burger with Aji Sauce recipe-7177 titleBuffalo Blue Cheese and Bacon Hot Dogs recipe-2809 title

Plus the rest of the #SundaySupper menu…

All American Burgers & Dogs

Cluck Burgers

Worldly Burgers & Dogs

Where’s the Beef Burgers

Where’s the Bun Burger

Dessert Burger

How to

Meatball Parmesan Burgers - transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese on a portobella mushroom "bun" to make them low carb and gluten free. | cupcakesandkalechips.com

Meatball Parmesan Burgers - transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese. | cupcakesandkalechips.com

Meatball Parmesan Burgers - transform the classic Italian comfort food recipe into a juicy hamburger topped with tomato sauce and cheese on a portobella mushroom "bun" to make them low carb and gluten free. | cupcakesandkalechips.com

14 Comments
  1. Hi Brianne!! That looks so good! And the mushroom bun! I usually forgo the bun and use a lettuce wrap. We would love for you to share this at our Dishing It & Digging It Link Party!

  2. Looks delicious! For the last several years, I was told to avoid gluten, but that my testing for celiac was negative. Just within the last two years, I was definitely diagnosed with celiac. So I always tell people to err on the side of 100% gluten free, even if you are just “gluten sensitive.” (Easier said than done, I realize!) Your photos are awesome, and I want that burger! #HomeMattersParty

  3. This looks so delicious! Any low-carb option that looks this good is worth a shot if you ask me! Can’t wait to give it a try. Thanks for the recipe!

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