Low-Calorie Cheeseburgers for Freezer Storage

Steps

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1. 1
   Place 1.1 kg of extra lean ground beef in a bowl. Tare a scale and portion out 60 g of meat at a time, rolling each into a ball. Repeat until you have 18 meatballs total.
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2. 2
   Cut 3 to 4 squares of parchment paper, each about the size of a large hand. These will help flatten the patties in the pan.
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3. 3
   Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add 4 g of oil. Using the parchment paper, place one meatball into the pan. Gently press it flat with a spatula. Sprinkle salt on top, sear for 1 minute, flip, and sear for another minute. Remove to a plate. Repeat until all 18 patties are cooked.
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4. 4
   Add 16 g of oil to the pan and heat over medium. Add the sliced onions and a generous pinch of salt. Stir occasionally, adding a splash of water if parts begin to scorch. Continue cooking for about 15 minutes until the onions are deeply caramelized and brown. Transfer to a plate.
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5. 5
   Add 4 g of oil to the pan and heat over medium-high. Place two buns at a time and toast, turning occasionally, for about 1 minute until golden. Remove and immediately place one slice of American cheese on each bun half. Repeat until all 9 buns are toasted and topped.
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6. 6
   Combine the sauce ingredients: 60 g light mayonnaise, 60 g zero-sugar ketchup, 30 g mustard, 1 g garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. Stir until creamy and orange. Transfer to a squeeze bottle and refrigerate.
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7. 7
   Place the bottom bun on parchment paper. Layer with one patty, a spoonful of caramelized onions, the second patty, and the top bun. Wrap the burger first in parchment paper, then in aluminum foil. Repeat for all 9 burgers.
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8. 8
   Store the wrapped burgers in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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9. 9
   To reheat: Option 1 – defrost in the refrigerator for 12 hours, then microwave at full power for 1 minute. Option 2 – microwave directly from frozen at 50% power for 4–5 minutes, flipping every 90 seconds.
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10. 10
    After microwaving, add sauce and optional fresh toppings such as tomato and lettuce. Serve.
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