Basil-Glazed Beef Burger with Crisp Lettuce and Pickled Cucumber
Juicy grass-fed beef patties brushed with fresh basil olive oil, served atop baby greens with tangy pickled cucumbers for a refreshing, satisfying meal. This American-inspired beef recipe (whole30), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs ground beef, baby spinach, cucumber for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a Whole30 week and pairs well with roasted sweet potato or a simple olive-oil salad. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 12 oz ground beef
- 4 oz baby spinach
- 1/2 cup cucumber
- 1/4 cup red onion
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh basil
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
The instant-read thermometer we’d check this meat with → Best Instant-Read Thermometers for 2026: Fast, Accurate Picks Under $100
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup sliced cucumber, 1/4 cup sliced red onion, 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, and 1/4 tsp sea salt. Let sit for 15 minutes while preparing patties.
- Step 2: Season 12 oz ground beef with 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1/8 tsp black pepper, and 1/4 tsp garlic powder. Form into two 1/2-inch thick patties and cook in a skillet over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 160°F.
- Step 3: While cooking, mix 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil with 2 tbsp chopped fresh basil. Brush half the mixture over cooked patties.
- Step 4: Divide 4 oz baby spinach between two plates. Place a patty on each bed of spinach and top with the pickled cucumber mixture. Drizzle remaining basil olive oil over the top.









