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These 50/50 burgers blend equal parts grass-fed ground beef and pasture-raised ground pork for patties that stay juicy from grill pan to bun. Minced jalapeño, turmeric, and a whisper of chipotle run through the meat, and a knob of butter melted on top finishes each patty. Piled onto homemade Paleo Bread with lettuce, tomato, and bacon, they are the burger night upgrade.
Pro Tips
- Pound the patties between your palms rather than pressing them with a spatula while they cook — handling the meat less keeps the texture tender.
- Bacon fat in the grill pan is the secret to that diner-style crust. Save drippings from a batch of Bakin' Bacon and keep them in a jar in the fridge.
- The melted butter step at the end is not optional garnish: covering the pan lets it baste the patty as it melts, keeping the pork-beef mix moist.
- Make the Paleo Bread buns in 3 1/4-inch biscuit cutters so they rise to proper burger height and hold the toppings without collapsing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why mix beef and pork for burgers?
Pork brings fat and sweetness that keeps the leaner grass-fed beef from drying out on the grill pan, while the beef gives the patty its savory backbone.
How many burgers does this recipe make?
The meat mixture forms 8 palm-sized patties, enough for 4 hearty double-stack servings or 8 singles depending on the crowd.
Can I grill these 50/50 burgers outdoors?
Absolutely — cook over medium-high direct heat and add the butter during the last minute with the lid closed. The higher fat content means flare-ups, so keep the zones in mind.
How spicy are these burgers?
The jalapeño and chipotle give gentle warmth rather than serious heat. For a milder version, seed the jalapeño before mincing; for more fire, leave the seeds in.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
Method
- First prepare Paleo Bread without cinnamon and top with sesame seeds before transferring the tray to the oven. To prepare your bread in the shape of a bun, bake the mixture in a 3 1/4-inch diameter stainless steel biscuit cutter. The bun will rise while baking.
- Add ground beef, ground pork, minced garlic, minced jalapeño, turmeric, sea salt, and ground chipotle red pepper in a large mixing bowl.
- Remove your rings from your hands and dig in.
- Combine the mixture well with both hands. Grab a handful of meat from the bowl, approximately the size of your palm, and pound the meat between your hands to form into patties. Create 8 different patties using the meat mixture. Melt 2 tablespoons of bacon fat in a 10 1/2-inch square cast iron grill pan over medium-high heat.
- Once bacon fat is melted and pan is hot, add 4 burgers to the pan. Use a spatula to press down on each patty.
- Cook for 4 minutes, flip and again press down using the spatula and cook 2-3 minutes.
- Place 1/2 tablespoon of butter on top of each patty, cover with a lid, reduce heat to medium and serve once butter is melted.
- Add remaining patties and repeat steps above until done. Prepare burgers on Paleo Bread with lettuce, a slice of onion, tomato, bacon and serve.
- Enjoy!
