Most of the burger recipes on Meal Planning Mommies are fun and unique takes on the burger, but today’s recipe is different.

It’s just a plain regular burger…only better.

Better tasting and better for you, these Better Beef Burgers are sure to put a smile on the faces of those you make them for, and for just 5 WW FreeStyle Smart Points per burger!

What makes these burgers better?

The ingredients that make these burgers better for you are wheat germ (sort of like breadcrumbs only with more nutrients), nonfat Greek yogurt, and egg. The ingredients that make these burgers taste better are simple: optional onions, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, salt, oregano, and thyme.

Why is wheat germ good for you?

Wheat germ is a great source of vegetable proteins, along with fiber and healthy fats. It’s also a good source of magnesium, zinc, thiamine, folate, potassium, and phosphorus. Wheat germ is also very high in vitamin E, an essential nutrient with antioxidant properties.

Here is what all of this means for you:

Better Beef Burgers with Cheese?

Melted cheese on a burger is the best, isn’t it? Because there are so many different kinds of toppings you might choose to use on a burger, I decided to just keep this recipe simple. I love all kinds of things on my burgers (onion, mayonnaise, ketchup, tomato, lettuce, spinach, pickles, cheese, A-1 steak sauce, BBQ sauce…anything is fair game!). My husband and kids, on the other hand, are much less complicated and always ask for just cheese.

One burger patty with a bun is 5 WW FreeStyle Smart Points, for those counting. If you add cheese, simply calculate the points for the amount/kind of cheese you are using.

About the onions.

While we are on the topic of what to put on burgers, let’s talk real quickly about an optional ingredient IN these burgers…ONIONS. I love them. I understand not everyone does. My official food taste testers (A.K.A. my kids) shared their opinions, as they usually do. They said that these burgers tasted more like White Castle sliders when I added onion in them. Include the minced onions, or not. Either way, you will still have great burgers.

More great burger recipes.

If you are up for lots of new flavors and tastes when it comes to your burgers, like I am, you may be interested in some new burger recipes. If this is you, you’re in luck! We have lots of burger and sandwich recipes on Meal Planning Mommies. Here are a few of my favorites:

• Juicy Pub-Style Turkey Burgers – 7 Green, 5 Blue, and 5 Purple points (my new personal favorite!)
• Kickin’ Southwest Burgers – 6 Green, 5 Blue, and 5 Purple points
• Blue Cheese Stuffed Teriyaki Burgers – 8 Green, 8 Blue, and 8 Purple points
• Pizza Burgers – 8 Green, 8 Blue, and 8 Purple points
• Blue Cheese Chicken Burgers – 7 Green, 5 Blue, and 5 Purple points

Just in time for grilling season!

Are you ready to fire up the grill? You can make these burgers with or without a grill. You can prepare these on the grill, in a grill pan, or in a skillet!

Here is what you need:

1 pound 95% lean ground beef
1/3 cup wheat germ
1/4 cup 1% lowfat milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons nonfat Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons minced onion, optional
1 teaspoon liquid smoke
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/8 teaspoon ground thyme
Cooking spray
6 light hamburger buns
Optional toppings: cheese slices, lettuce, pickles, red onion slices, tomato, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise

Here is what you do:

In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the cooking spray and buns.

Using damp hands, shape beef mixture into 6 patties that are about 1/3 cup each. Flatten until they are a little bigger than the size of the buns.

Grill patties on a grill, in a grill pan, or in a large skillet, set to medium-high heat and sprayed with cooking spray, for 3-5 minutes on both sides, or until the burger is cooked all the way through.

If using cheese (for extra points), top the burgers with the cheese and allow to melt during the last two minutes of cooking time. If not using cheese, skip to the next step.

Place each burger patty on a bun and top with favorite toppings.

Makes 6 burgers.
One burger (with bun and without cheese or other toppings) is 6 Green, 5 Blue, and 5 Purple WW SP.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Better Beef Burgers

6 Green, 5 Blue, and 5 Purple WW SP per burger (without cheese or toppings)

Makes: 6 burgers

Calories: 171

Author: Alisha Hughes

Ingredients

• 1 pound 95% lean ground beef
• 1/3 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup 1% lowfat milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons nonfat Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons minced onion, optional
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon ground thyme
• Cooking spray
• 6 light hamburger buns
• Optional toppings: cheese slices, lettuce, pickles, red onion slices, tomato, ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise

Instructions

• In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients except the cooking spray and buns.
• Using damp hands, shape beef mixture into 6 patties that are about 1/3 cup each. Flatten until they are a little bigger than the size of the buns.
• Grill patties on a grill, in a grill pan, or in a large skillet, set to medium-high heat and sprayed with cooking spray, for 3-5 minutes on both sides, or until the burger is cooked all the way through.
• If using cheese, top the burgers with the cheese and allow to melt during the last two minutes of cooking time. If not using cheese, skip to the next step.
• Place each burger patty on a bun and top with favorite toppings.