Super Simple Weeknight Burgers with a Delicious Spice Rub! (Whole30 and Paleo)

Burgers!

They are super easy, there are a variety of ways to make them, and my husband loves them - so they are a staple over here - especially when I did not plan our dinners and I have ground beef in the fridge.

Does this happen to anyone else?! It's 6pm and no one knows what's for dinner but you have a fridge full of food...you want something healthy that tastes good, but you don't want to put a lot of work or thought into it....

99% of the time when that happens we end up with plates like this in under 30 minutes. This week, I googled "burger seasoning" prior to making them - and was delighted with CopyKat's "Best Homemade Burger Seasoning recipe. I modified it slightly and removed the brown sugar - if you are on Whole30 you will also want to do this. I try to keep the "added sugars" out of the majority of my diet except for intentional occasions - but that doesn't mean you have to!

Here's how I made this super easy plate, in under 30 minutes (did I mention it's paleo, Whole30 compliant, dairy and gluten free?) All that means to me in a nutshell - is that it's made with nutrient dense, REAL food ingredients, minimizing the inflammatory and problematic food groups that some of us have trouble with.

Tip: Whenever I'm searching for a healthy recipe, those terms above are what I search - and know that I will get something "clean," actually healthy and usually delicious!

(For us - this makes 3-4 servings)

INGREDIENTS:

• Organic Baby Carrots (or any veggies sliced!)

• 1 lb. grass-fed organic ground beef (I use 85%/10%, if you have leaner you may need a little oil in your cooking pan)

• Cumin, Chili Powder, salt, pepper

• Avocado oil (sub preferred cooking fat)

• parchment paper

• mushrooms and onions (use what you have, or skip)

• 1 bag frozen broccoli - I use frozen to save time, but fresh is even extra excellent

SPICE RUB

Modified from CopyKat's "Best Homemade Burger Seasoning recipe.

• 2 tablespoons paprika

• 4 tablespoons ground black pepper

• 2 teaspoons salt

• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder

• 1/2 tablespoon onion powder

• 1 teaspoon cumin

RECIPE:

1. Wash bag of organic baby carrots, pat dry and toss with salt, pepper, cumin and chili powder and avocado oil - put into into air fryer. Cooked at 375 for 20 ish minutes, tossing throughout. (you can also roast these although they take a little longer)

While carrots are cooking...

2. Make burger seasoning from above recipe. Separate ground beef into 4 patties of equal thickness, season on both sides. Set aside. Save any remaining seasoning in airtight container.

3. Turned oven to 400, Covered 2 sheet pans with parchment, and evenly spread out sliced mushrooms and onions on one, and frozen broccoli on the other.

4. Put broccoli in for 10 ish minutes until defrosted, tossed with 1 T (ish) avocado oil, salt and pepper and put back in for 10-15 minutes, tossing as needed. Did the same with onions and peppers on their sheet pan - put in oven next to broccoli at same time. Watch both, tossed as needed.

While veggies are cooking...

5. Heat skillet or cast iron pan to medium-high, adding avocado oil as needed based on the fat content of your beef (I find I don't need it if the beef is 85/10+) but when in doubt - add it in - we're not afraid of healthy fats over here :) Cook 4-5 minutes per side, or until burger is cooked to desired temperature (we like medium rare - medium).

6. Layered on plate and ate! This is also great with my easy blender mayo/aioli + dijon + tomato paste + hot sauce, or some mashed avocado. YUM.