These Whole30 Out-N-In Burger Bites are a family favorite. Inspired by a famous California burger shop known for its simple, delicious burgers and fries, this recipe recreates those classic flavors at home in a Whole30-friendly, Paleo, and gluten-free format. My oldest son worked at that burger chain, so the flavors here are authentic and kid-approved.
Why You’ll Love These Whole30 Out-N-In Burger Bites
They’re fun to serve for dinner or as a finger-food appetizer. Build your own mini burgers with toppings like onion, tomato, lettuce, avocado, or bacon, and dip them in the special sauce. The bites are Whole30, Paleo, Keto-friendly, dairy-free, nut-free, and can be made egg-free by swapping the mayo. You can bake them in the oven or cook them in an air fryer, and they’re ready in about 30 minutes with roughly 20 minutes of hands-on prep.
Budget-friendly
This recipe is part of a collection of budget Whole30 family meals designed to feed a large household affordably. The example meal—Out-N-In Bites served with breaded potato wedges and fruit—can feed a family for under $20. The approximate cost breakdown for the entree and sides comes to about $19.96 total, or roughly $2.85 per serving.
- Out-N-In Bites = $14.84
- Ground beef, 2.25 pounds = $10.28
- Veggies = $2.06
- Homemade secret sauce = $2.16
- Breaded Potato Wedges (double batch) = $3.50
- Russet potatoes = $1.42
- Eggs = $0.52
- Compatible flour = $1.20
- Seasonings = $0.36
- Fruit, 2 pounds on sale = $1.98
Make it a Meal
These burger bites pair well with many sides. Some favorites are:
- Garlic Fries or Curly Fries
- Broccoli Salad or Kale Salad
- Paleo Fruit Salad
Ingredients
The recipe uses everyday ingredients you can find at most grocery stores.
- Ground beef – A lean 93% ground beef works well, but choose the leanness that fits your taste and budget.
- Salt – Regular table salt is fine.
- Black pepper – Freshly ground if possible.
- Toppings – Iceberg or romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and onion are recommended. Avocado and bacon are great optional additions.
Special Sauce Ingredients
- Mayo – Use a compatible mayo for Whole30 or make a quick homemade mayo.
- Ketchup – Choose a Whole30-compatible ketchup if following the program.
- Date paste – Adds natural sweetness when using unsweetened ketchup; it’s simply dates blended with hot water.
- Pickle – Finely chopped pickles add essential tang—confirm they are compatible with your diet plan.
- White distilled vinegar
- Paprika
- Salt
This recipe is featured in the cookbook Whole Food for Your Family, which contains 100+ budget- and family-friendly recipes.
Out-N-In Burger Bites
Ingredients
Burger Bites
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Toothpicks (about 28)
- 1 large yellow onion
- 4 medium Roma tomatoes
- 1 head iceberg lettuce
For the Special Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayo (see notes for homemade option)
- 3 tablespoons ketchup (Whole30-compatible if needed)
- 8 large dates (for date paste, only if using unsweetened ketchup)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped pickle
- 1 1/2 teaspoons white distilled vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Make date paste (optional): Combine dates and 1/2 cup hot water in a blender or food processor. Let sit 1 minute, then blend until smooth. Store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- Make the sauce: In a small bowl, mix mayo, ketchup, 3 tablespoons date paste (if using), chopped pickle, vinegar, paprika, and salt. Chill until ready to serve. Extra sauce keeps up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
- Prepare to bake: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment and place a cooling rack inside if available.
- Form the bites: Shape the ground beef into about 28 balls (roughly 1 tablespoon each). Handle the meat as little as possible to keep the bites tender. Arrange them on the rack or parchment and season with salt and pepper. Bake 15 minutes, until no longer pink inside.
- Air fryer option: Cook in a single layer at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes.
- Serve: Present the bites on toothpicks with sliced toppings and the special sauce for dipping.
Notes
See the mayo and date paste recipes for homemade, budget-friendly options. To make the recipe egg-free, use a vegan mayo alternative.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 488 kcal; Carbohydrates: 13 g; Protein: 22 g; Fat: 38 g; Saturated Fat: 10 g; Sodium: 941 mg; Fiber: 1 g; Sugar: 11 g.
