It’s time to make delicious homemade burgers! This gluten free burger recipe is not only easy to make, but also free from eggs, breadcrumbs, and other major allergens. I’ll also share a low histamine version of these gluten-free burgers for you to enjoy.
Allergy Status
Free From: Wheat/Gluten, Dairy, Egg, Soy, Tree Nut (including Coconut), Peanut, Fish, Shellfish, Sesame, Top 9 Allergens, Alliums, Apple, Avocado, Banana, Beans & Lentils, Berries, Buckwheat, Carrot, Cinnamon, Citrus, Cooking Oil/Added Fats, Cruciferous, Garlic, Legume, Lupin, Mushroom, Mustard, Nightshade, Oat, Onion, Pea & Pea Protein, Potato (Nightshade Variety), Rice, Seeds, Stone Fruits, Strawberry, Squash & Gourd, Sweet Potato & Yam, Tapioca/Cassava/Yuca/Manioc, Tomato, Yeast
Friendly To: EOE, Paleo
Compatible With: Cane/Refined Sugar Free, Celery Free, Latex Cross Reactive Free, Poultry Free, Top 14 Free, AIP Paleo, GAPs, Low Histamine, SCD
Cane/Refined Sugar Free: Make sure your bacon ends are right for you. In a pinch, you can use regular bacon instead.
AIP Paleo: Use meats that are safe for you. You may need to swap the bacon for fresh ground pork and a selection of seasonings such as extra salt and thyme.
Low Histamine: Use the Low Histamine Ingredients List below.
GAPs & SCD: Use safe meats, and swap the maple sugar for a legal sweetener of your choosing. I suggest sticking with a granulated sweetener.
Celery Free, Top 14 Free, Latex Free: Make the low histamine version of this recipe. Most commercial bacon contains celery. Use the standard ingredients if you have a safe bacon.
Poultry Free: Swap the ground turkey for ground rabbit.
Needed Tools
To make this delicious recipe as pictured, you’ll need a few specific tools:
- Indoor Grill Pan (or a proper grill, this is the one I have)
- Meat Thermometer (this is the instant-read thermometer I have)
- Baking Sheet (for freezing leftovers)
- Parchment Paper (for freezing leftovers)
- Large Bowl OR Food Processor (see instructions)
Bacon Smash Burger Ingredients
- 670g Organic Ground Turkey (24 ounces/1.5lb)
- 450g Bacon Ends/Lardons of Choice (16 ounces/1lb)
- 8 TBSP Organic Maple Sugar
- 3 TBSP Organic Dried Parsley
- 8 drops Liquid Smoke (this is the brand I use)
- 3/4 tsp Sea Salt
Low Histamine Burger Ingredients
To make the low histamine version of this recipe, you’ll tweak the main ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- 670g Organic Ground Turkey (24 oz./1.5lb)
- 450g Ground Pork (16 ounces/1lb)
- 8 – 10 TBSP Organic Maple Sugar
- 3 TBSP Organic Dried Parsley
- 1 TBSP Organic Dried Marjoram
- 2 tsp Organic Ground Paprika
- 1.5 – 2.5 tsp Sea Salt
If you need more awesome low histamine recipes, check out my Low Histamine Cookbook here. It also comes with video tutorials and additional resources.
Important Ingredient Notes
Meat: The type of meat you use to make this burger is flexible. The goal is to use a combination that will produce a great gluten free burger. You’ll want to avoid using two super lean meats as they may not produce juicy burgers and can dry out easily.
If you can’t have turkey, swap for chicken or rabbit. These are both lean meats that will work well. When making changes to this recipe, notice that the meats aren’t equal portions. That’s to keep the fat content at a desirable ratio.
Fat Content: In both the bacon burger and low histamine burger, you’ll notice the use of a pork product. That’s because the bacon and ground pork are going to bring a nice amount of fat to the blend to help you create the perfect burgers.
However, if you can’t have pork, you can swap it for ground beef that has a fat content of at least 15% (up to 20% is great). Bison, lamb, and even buffalo would also work, however, you may need to add fat to your meat blend (tallow, etc.).
Change up the Flavour Profile
Different spices can give your homemade gluten-free burger a whole new feel, which is great when you manage a restricted diet. I find that the more options you have, the less restricted you feel, and the easier it is to manage (mentally). Here are just a few suggestions on how you can change up this gluten free burger recipe:
- Add alliums such as garlic powder, onion powder, or even caramelized onions.
- Make it spicy with cayenne pepper or chili powder.
- Add more flavours by including mushroom powder or something as simple as black pepper (or gains of paradise if you can’t have peppercorns).
- Take it in an Italian direction by cutting the maple in half and adding Italian seasoning.
- Give your burger more BBQ flavours by adding ancho chili, cumin, and other BBQ spices you enjoy.
Directions for Cooking Your Gluten Free Burger Recipe
Combine all of the ingredients in your food process using the ‘on’ setting, not the pulse setting. Process for 30 seconds or until a nice meat dough has formed. If you’re making the low histamine version, you can mix by hand in a large mixing bowl instead.
When bacon is involved, it’s important to use your food processor to ensure it’s well broken down and fully combined with the other meat and spices.
Heat a grill pan (or your grill) on high heat. For these burgers, I use this indoor grill pan that works on the stove top. Use a large cookie dough scooper or ice cream scooper and scoop meat on to your hot grill pan. Right away, use a large spatula to smash the meat scoop into a thin patty. You could take the time to shape and form patties for a perfect burger look, but it’s not necessary.
Tip: If you don’t have a burger press like this one, use 2 spatulas. The meat mix is a bit sticky. I smash the burger down, then use the second spatula to remove the meat from the spatula and flip it over. Continue to hold your spatula in the smash position to make sure your patty holds its shape.
Cook your burger the way you normally would, flipping when necessary. If your patty is pretty thin, your cook time is usually about 3-4 minutes per side. Once your burger has cooked completely, it’s ready to serve. Repeat until you run out of meat mix.
To ensure your burgers are safe to serve, the internal temperature needs to be 165f/74c. That’s it. You’re ready to serve and have awesome burgers that are free from major allergens, but not lacking in flavour.
What Makes It a Smash Burger?
When it comes to a regular burger versus a smash burger, rather than form patties from the meat (like a traditional burger), you start with a hot pan (which you should be doing anyway), and place a scoop (not a pre-formed patty) of your burger mix down. Using a large metal spatula, you smash the scoops into thin round patties. If you’ve ever been to In-n-Out Burger, their patties are pretty thin and resemble smash burgers.
You’ll want to apply pressure on your smash burger for a bit to ensure it holds its thin shape well. Beyond that, there’s no other huge difference between a burger and a smash burger. Some people prefer a thin smash burger style rather than a thick juicy burger.
I’ll also add, when it comes to seasonings and such, smash burgers tend to be a lot more simple. It’s rare that you’ll see eggs, breadcrumbs, and other ingredients you may find in a burger. Smash burgers tend to be a lot more “purist” for lack of a better word. Knowing that, make sure you’re using high-quality ground beef, pork, turkey, and so on when making them. You’ll really be able to taste the difference.
Burger Storage
Once you’ve cooked your burgers, you can store them in the fridge for 5 days, or freeze them for several months. Here’s how I like to freeze burgers:
- Allow the burger patties to cool.
- Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
- Place down a single layer of burger patties.
- Top with a piece of parchment paper.
- Place down another layer of burger patties (it’s OK if the sides are touching but you want to separate layers to prevent sticking)
- Put the whole tray in the freezer.
- Once the burgers are frozen solid, transfer them to a freezer bag (you can also use an airtight container you prefer)
To thaw a frozen burger, pull out as many patties as you’d like and thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, heat on medium-high heat on your stove until it’s hot, then eat. You want to avoid overcooking the burgers once you thaw them to prevent them from drying out.
My kids like to thaw burger patties then eat them straight with a dip (no bun etc., just a patty for dipping).
Burger Bun Suggestions
If you’re on the hunt for a gluten-free bun, here are a few brands to investigate. I can’t vouch for any, as these aren’t products my kids ate growing up. I can tell you, I haven’t heard great things about the Udi’s gluten free burger buns.
- Canyon Bakehouse Burger Buns
- O’Doughs Burger Buns
- Rotella’s Gluten Free Burger Buns (this brand is more likely to be found at food service stores)
- Little Northern Bakehouse Gluten Free Burger Buns (one of my kids likes their bread slices, but never had the buns)
- Schär GF Burger Buns (I’ve heard good things about the brand in general)
- Kinnikinnick GF Burger Buns (my kids have had some of their other products and enjoy them)
You could also try the Against the Grain Gluten Free Bread Rolls or Kim & Jake’s Gluten Free Rolls. If all else fails, you can always go with a simple lettuce wrap. One of my kids really enjoys eating homemade burgers with crisp romaine as the bun.
Tasty Sides
There are SO many sides you can serve with this gluten-free burger recipe. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- French Fries
- Sweet Potato Fries
- Oven Roasted Zucchini Slices
- Maple & Soy Sauce Glazed Carrots
- Crisp Romaine Salad (you could top with ranch or Caesar dressing which would pair so well with your burger)
- Tater Tots
- Pan Seared Gnocchi
- Fruit Slices or Fruit Salad
- Grilled Corn (or other grilled vegetables)
Toppings for Your Burgers
Smash burgers can be completely customized to dazzle your taste buds. In fact, you could make the burgers the same every time you make them, then change up the toppings and have a whole different experience. Here are just a few of hundreds, if not thousands of topping ideas:
- Pickles (not just cucumber, but bet, carrot, and so on)
- Caramelized White Onions (one of my kids’ favorite toppings)
- Sliced Red Onions
- Slice of Cheese (dairy or dairy free)
- Fresh Herbs or Micro Greens
- Peanut Sauce
- Spicy Sauces
- BBQ Sauce
- Sliced Tomatoes
- Onion Rings or Fried Eggplant Slices
- Nomato Sauce (for those who can’t have tomatoes, peppers, etc.)
- Homemade Cashew Cheese
- Cream Cheese + Pepper Jelly
I could go on, but hopefully something here sounds exciting to you. Essentially, you can pair this gluten-free burger recipe with just about any topping without risking the ingredients clashing.
More Gluten Free & Allergy Friendly Burger Recipes
- Hawaiian Chicken Burgers (my whole family says these are one of the best burgers they’ve ever eaten)
- Mushroom Turkey Burgers (Top 9 Free Hamburger Recipe)
- Allium Free Lamb Bacon Burger Recipe (great for burgers and doubles as a faux sausage)
- Gluten Free, Vegan Black Bean Veggie Burger Recipe (I’m told this is a super delicious recipe)
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Answering Your Gluten Free Burger Recipe Questions
Could I add gluten free breadcrumbs to this recipe for better results?
I wouldn’t suggest adding gluten free breadcrumbs to this recipe. As is, this gluten free burger recipe is a huge fan favourite. Adding breadcrumbs runs the risk of creating a drier texture, and also making it more difficult to form patties if you add too much.
Would minced beef work in place of the ground pork?
When making these hamburger patties, yes, you can use minced beef in place of the ground pork. However, and this is a big point, beef mince isn’t the same thing as ground beef. How they’re made and the cooked mouthfeel are different.
If you grew up with beef mince and enjoy it, I think the swap could work (especially if you use the food processor preparation method). If you’re new to minced beef, I’d suggest swapping the pork for ground beef instead.
Could I cook the smashed hamburger patties in my air fryer?
Each cooking method is going to yield different results. If you want an authentic, restaurant style smash burger experience, no, you shouldn’t cook these in your air fryer. On the other hand, if you don’t really care about the experience, or it’s a busy weeknight and you want a hands off cooking method, you can totally use your air fryer.
If you cook the burger patties in your air fryer, you need to form them first (roll and press down). At this point, you’re kind of cooking a large meatball in your air fryer, but at the end of the day, I don’t think it’s a huge deal. The final texture will absolutely be different, so make sure you manage your expectations. And be sure to add toppings you enjoy.
Would this recipe work with ground chicken instead of ground turkey?
Yes, you can swap the turkey for ground chicken in a 1:1 ratio. Since they’re both lean meats, this will be fine, and be sure to keep the other ingredients the same.
Can I make these gluten free smash burgers in a frying pan?
You can cook your gluten free smash burgers in a frying pan, however, the smashing process is harder if you only have spatulas. What you’ll want to get is something like this, where there’s a handle on top of the spatula/meat press and it’s easy to press down.
Without a tool like that, you’re going to try to smash over the lip of a pan and you won’t get a great smash on your burger patties. Now, does that mean the burgers are bad? No, absolutely not. Just different, so be sure to manage your expectations.
Also know that a frying pan won’t produce the grill marks. If that’s important to you, stick with the indoor grill pan or proper grill for cooking.
Should I freeze the hamburger patties with wax paper?
Personally, I’m not a huge fan of wax paper and suggest parchment paper instead. That’s not to say that it won’t work, however, I’ve had nothing but success with parchment paper. Up above in the article, I’ve detailed how you can use parchment paper when freezing the patties.
Can I freeze uncooked burger patties?
Technically, yes, you could freeze uncooked burger patties. However, I don’t suggest freezing uncooked patties since this is a smash burger style. I think it’s easier to make the recipe, cook all of the patties, then freeze leftover cooked meat.
However, if you’re short on time for cooking, go for it. Be sure to completely thaw the meat before cooking, as you won’t want to cook the patties from frozen.
What’s the best gluten free beer to pair with this burger?
As someone who doesn’t drink, I can’t say. However, Urban Taste Bud has info on gluten free beer you may find helpful. Good luck with a delicious pairing!
