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–+ servings

Bacon Cheeseburger Carrot Fries with "Special Sauce"

We devour it two ways: either as a large meaty-cheesy scoop of loaded fries right off the baking sheet, or as a generous mound on a toasted whole-grain bun for the full bacon-cheeseburger experience.
Yield: 4 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

Ingredients
 

Special Sauce

  • ¼ cup ketchup*
  • ¼ cup low-fat mayonnaise

Fries

  • 1 pound carrots sliced into thin, into fry-like sticks**
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Burgers and Toppings

  • 8 ounces ground turkey, 90 to 93% lean
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 strips turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • ¾ cup shredded 2% reduced-fat mild or sharp cheddar cheese, mild or sharp
  • 8 pickle chips

Options for serving

  • ½ tomato, sliced
  • ½ red onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 whole-grain buns***, split and toasted
Ingredient Details to Know
*For a spicy sauce mix 2 tablespoons sriracha with 2 tablespoons of the ketchup.
** I like to use regular carrots versus baby carrots, and if you buy a 2-pound bag, slice them all up. They’re so delicious, you’ll be happy you have more carrots for the base!
***If you follow a gluten-free diet, leave out the bun or choose a gluten-free bun.

Instructions
 

FOR THE SAUCE:

  • In a small bowl, combine the ketchup and mayonnaise and set aside.

FOR THE FRIES:

  • Preheat the oven to 425˚F.
  • Lay the carrots on a baking sheet in a single layer. Liberally coat with nonstick oil spray and sprinkle on the salt. Roast for about 25 minutes, until some of the edges start to burn.
  • Switch on the broiler and finish the fries for 1 to 2 minutes to further crisp them up, watching closely to make sure they don’t become overly burnt. (If your carrots don’t crisp, this dish is still delicious.)

FOR THE BURGER TOPPING:

  • Mist a large skillet with nonstick oil spray. Add the ground turkey, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and a pinch of black pepper. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking the turkey apart into small crumbles, until it’s cooked through and slightly browned. Transfer to a bowl and cover to keep warm.
  • Remove the fries from the oven and top with the crumbled turkey and bacon. Sprinkle the cheese over the top. Place back in the broiler for about 3 minutes, until the cheese is melted, watching closely so it doesn’t burn.
  • Remove the fries from the oven, place the pickle chips on top, and garnish with the tomatoes and red onion, if desired. Pipe on the special sauce. Using a spatula, serve on plates or place the loaded fries on toasted buns.

Notes

*Add 30 calories for each tablespoon of special sauce
Author: Joy Bauer, MS, RDN, CDN
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition Information per serving

Calories: 200Carbohydrates: 13gProtein: 24gTotal Fat: 7g— Unsaturated Fat: 4.5g— Saturated Fat: 2.5gCholesterol: 60mgSodium: 650mgPotassium: 378mgFiber: 3gTotal Sugar: 6g— Natural Sugar: 6g— Added Sugar: 0gVitamin A: 18944IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 240mgIron: 1.1mg
Nutrition information is calculated using a leading industry software. That being said, brands can vary, and there may be slight fluctuations in the numbers.