Easy Carnivore Burgers
Juicy all-beef carnivore burgers with a molten cheese center, crisped in butter and topped with a fried egg. No buns, no fillers, no carbs to count. At just 1.5g net carbs and 38g protein per burger, they're ready in 20 minutes start to finish.
Head of Nutrition · June 17, 2026
Nutrition per serving
Per serving · makes 4. Values are estimates; brands vary.
These easy carnivore burgers are everything you want in a low-carb dinner: a deeply seared all-beef patty, a melty cheese center, and a crispy-edged fried egg on top, no bun or fillers required. They come together in 20 minutes and deliver serious protein with almost zero carbs.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef (80/20 for the juiciest patties)
- 1 large egg (mixed into the meat as a binder)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
- 3/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper (optional, omit for strict carnivore)
- 4 oz sharp cheddar or American cheese (4 slices, or cut into cubes for stuffing)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or beef tallow, for the skillet
- 4 large eggs, for frying and topping (optional)
- Flaky salt, for finishing
Instructions
- 1
In a large bowl, gently combine the ground beef, the binder egg, sea salt, and pepper. Mix just until incorporated; overworking makes tough patties.
- 2
Divide into 4 equal portions. For stuffed burgers, flatten each portion, press a cube of cheese into the center, and seal the meat around it into a thick patty. For classic burgers, simply shape 4 patties and reserve the cheese slices for melting on top.
- 3
Heat the butter or tallow in a heavy skillet (cast iron is ideal) over medium-high until shimmering. Add the patties and sear undisturbed for 3-4 minutes until a deep brown crust forms.
- 4
Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes for medium. If making classic burgers, lay a cheese slice on each patty during the last minute and cover briefly to melt.
- 5
While the burgers rest, fry the optional eggs in the same pan until the whites are set and edges are crisp.
- 6
Top each burger with a fried egg, finish with flaky salt, and serve hot.
Tips & notes
- For strict carnivore, skip the pepper and use plain salt only; the recipe still works beautifully with just beef, egg, cheese, and butter.
- To keep it dairy-free, omit the cheese, cook in tallow instead of butter, and rely on the fried egg and a good sear for richness; this drops net carbs to 0g.
- Leftover patties keep 3-4 days refrigerated and reheat well in a hot skillet. Cook from frozen by adding a couple of extra minutes per side.
Log this recipe in one tap
Save easy carnivore burgers to CarbMeNot and track its 1.5g net carbs against your daily budget automatically.
Frequently asked questions
- How many carbs are in easy carnivore burgers?
- Each burger has just 1.5g net carbs (1.5g total carbs, 0g fiber), 540 calories, 38g protein, and 42g fat. This recipe makes 4 servings. The only carbs come from the cheese and eggs; an all-beef, dairy-free version is effectively 0g net carbs.
- What makes a burger carnivore-friendly?
- A carnivore burger uses only animal-based ingredients: ground beef, egg, salt, and animal fats like butter or tallow, with optional cheese. There's no bun, breadcrumbs, ketchup, or vegetables, so it stays at virtually zero carbs while delivering high protein and fat.
- Do I need a bun or binder for carnivore burgers?
- No bun is needed; these are served open-faced or eaten by hand. A single egg mixed into 2 lbs of beef acts as a light binder and keeps the patties moist, but you can leave it out and still get a perfectly cohesive burger from 80/20 beef.
