Protein Style Burger Recipe

Form patties

Place the ground meat in a bowl. Sprinkle salt, black pepper, garlic powder and onion powder over the meat. Gently mix with your hands until just combined—do not overwork. Divide into 4 equal portions and shape into thin patties about 3.5–4 inches wide and roughly 1/2 inch thick; they will shrink while cooking. Make a shallow dimple in the center of each patty with your thumb to promote even cooking.

Preheat pan or grill

Heat a cast-iron skillet or heavy nonstick pan over medium-high heat until very hot (about 3–5 minutes). If using a grill, preheat to medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon neutral oil or butter to the pan and let it shimmer.

Cook patties

Add patties to the hot pan leaving space between each. Cook without pressing for 3–4 minutes until a deep brown crust forms on the bottom. Flip and cook another 2–3 minutes for medium (adjust 1–2 minutes more or less for doneness preference). If using cheese, place a slice on each patty during the last minute of cooking and cover the pan briefly to melt.

Rest

Transfer cooked patties to a plate and let rest 2–3 minutes while you prepare wraps and sauce. Resting helps retain juices.

While the patties cook, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, dill pickle relish, hot sauce (if using), and black pepper in a small bowl until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning—add more ketchup for sweetness, mustard for tang, or relish for brightness. Keep refrigerated if not using immediately.

Rinse and pat dry the lettuce leaves. Choose the largest, most intact leaves for wrapping. Lay 1–2 leaves flat and spread about 1 tablespoon of sauce in the center of the leaves.

Place a cooked patty on top of the sauced lettuce, then add a couple of thin tomato slices, a few slices of red onion (if using), and 1–2 pickle slices. Add another small dollop of sauce on top of the toppings if desired.

Fold the lettuce around the patty to form a secure wrap—fold up the bottom, then fold both sides over. Serve immediately, while the burger is warm, with any remaining sauce on the side.