When grilling season arrives in New York, the first thing I crave is a juicy burger topped with cheddar and onions. It’s a classic for a reason and delivers everything you want in a burger. If you want to step up your burger game this year you will want to use premium ingredients like grass fed beef. Luckily, quality ingredients are becoming readily available because the people have spoken.
Why You Should Eat Grass Fed Beef
There are mounds of content and we suggest you do your research to understand the difference between grass fed, grass finished and organic beef. With the rise of protein rich diets like Keto, Paleo, Carnivore & Whole30, knowing where your beef comes from has become the topic du jour.
Grass fed beef is said to contain higher nutritional value, particular in the healthy fats category that can benefit your overall diet. Grass finished beef is truly a healthier option in the beef category but is comes at a higher cost. Can you really put a price on fuel for your body though?
Where to Buy Grass Finished Beef
With subscription box companies on the rise, it is now easier to have pastured raised poultry and grass finished beef delivered right to your door. Companies like Butcher Box and US Wellness Meats are our picks for companies you can trust. In the freezer section you can look for brands like Tribali Foods.
Whole Foods beef is guaranteed to have no antibiotics — ever, no supplemental growth hormones, no animal byproducts in feed and raised on pasture or range for at least 2/3 of the animal’s life so they are likely not grass finished.
Trader Joe’s carries Organic 85/15 Ground Beef that comes from organically raised cattle that are never given antibiotics or artificial growth hormones. The cattle are 100% grass fed, grazing on wide-open pastures. Their diet of natural grasses and vegetation contributes to full-flavored, well-marbled beef that’s rich in healthful Omega-3 fatty acids.
Raising cattle organically, on grass, is a significantly more expensive endeavor than raising them via conventional methods. If you’ve ever wondered why organic, grass-fed meat is more costly than conventional beef, this is why. It requires more space, more time, and more labor.
My family currently gets its grass fed and finished beef from a local CSA which we used to cook up these grilled onion cheddar grass fed burgers.
Cheddar Cheese Please
There are a ton of options out there for cheese and I also like to get mine from the farm. In a pinch I will also use Trader Joe’s New Zealand Organic Cheddar Cheese slices or their New Zealand Grass Fed Sharp Cheddar which can easily be sliced or shredded.
One of my latest finds is Yancey’s Fancy, New York’s Artisan Cheese which I was lucky enough to be paired with at the NY Marketplace & Brewery District.
Hamburger Buns You Can Feel Good About
Carbs are necessary, (right?) to pull off an epic grass fed burger but with so many bread options it’s impossible to choose a healthier option. Sometimes, around these parts we just go bun-less. A side of grilled sweet potato wedges will do the trick.
For those of you looking for a healthier alternative we recommend Sesame Sprouted Grain Burger Buns from Food for Life. They are high in fiber, non-gmo and vegan.
If you’re like my Dad and just want to get the job done, a Martin’s Potato Roll is something that can’t be beat. Their sliced potato rolls are always a hit and have no high fructose corn syrup, no artificial dyes and are also non-gmo.
Sweet, Spicy or Garlic Onion Sauce
The choice is yours! For today’s recipe we used Big Lou’s Garlic Onion Sauce. With the sharpness of the cheddar, the sweetness of the onions, the depth of flavor from the garlic, it makes this onion cheddar burger a step above the rest.
We’d love to hear what types of ingredients you use for maximum cheese burger satisfaction. Leave us a comment or connect with us on social media.
Grass Fed Burger Ingredients
- 1lb Grass Fed Ground Beef
- 1 to 2 ounces of Sharp Cheddar Cheese (grated or sliced)
- Hamburger buns (or go bun-less and use sweet potato wedges)
- 3 heaping tablespoons of Big Lou’s Garlic Onion Sauce
- Celtic Grey Salt to Taste
How to Make a Grilled Onion Cheddar Grass Fed Burger
Pre-heat your grill to 450 degrees. While the grill is warming up divide your grass fed beef into 3 equal patties. Season on both sides with Celtic Grey Salt.
Place a pot on your stove or grill side burner and warm up your Big Lou’s Onion Sauce. We think it brings out the flavor.
When the grill is hot enough, place burgers on the grill and cover. Flip burgers after 4 minutes.
Place your buns on the second rack of your grill face down to toast them.
With about 2 minutes to go, place cheese on the burgers and let it melt.
Place buns on the plate, remove burgers from the grill and place in the hamburger buns. Spoon Big Lou’s Garlic Onion Sauce on top and serve!
