Hearty Heritage Burger Recipe

Introducing the Hearty Heritage Burger, a nutrient dense creation from Grass Fed Cattle Co. that blends our 100% grass fed ground beef with the rich, earthy flavors of beef liver or heart. This recipe celebrates ancestral nutrition, delivering a wholesome meal that honors traditional, whole-animal eating. If you’re looking for a delicious way to consume more beef liver, look no further!

“This reformed my opinion of liver!”

Ingredients

1 lb. Grass Fed Cattle Co. Ground Beef *
2.4–3.2 oz Grass Fed Cattle Co. Beef Liver (15–20% of total mixture) or Grass Fed Cattle Co. Beef Heart
Optional Seasonings: sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, ground cloves (up to ⅛ tsp)
Optional: 1 slice of pastured bacon
Optional: 1 tablespoon grass-fed beef tallow
Optional: 1 pasture-raised egg

*Time saving tip: Purchase 4 lbs. of Grass Fed Cattle Co. Ground Beef with 1 package of liver for easy measurement! Make a bulk batch and freeze for later.

Instructions

Thaw the ground beef and liver (or heart) completely in the refrigerator.
In a food processor, blend the liver (and/or heart) with the optional bacon slice until smooth.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the blended liver (or heart) with the ground beef using your hands or a potato masher until evenly mixed.
Form the mixture into patties (3-5, depending on size preference) and refrigerate for 30–60 minutes to firm up, which helps the patties hold together, especially for grilling.
Season both sides of the patties with your choice of seasonings, if desired.
Cook the patties in a preheated cast iron skillet over medium heat or on a grill, aiming for an internal temperature of 165°F. Note: The softer texture of these patties may make pan-frying easier than grilling.
Flip the patties halfway through cooking to ensure even doneness.
Let the burgers rest for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite toppings.

Variations

Pizza Crust: Use the mixture as a base for a meat-crust pizza, following the method outlined in Grass Fed Cattle Co. Meat-Crust Pizza.
Meatballs: Use this recipe for your favorite meatball recipe. Increase the liver content to up to 30% for a nutrient packed meatball variation.
Heart or Kidney: Substitute liver with Grass Fed Cattle Co. beef heart for a milder flavor than liver. We haven’t tested the Grass Fed Cattle Co. kidney in this recipe, but please let us know if you do!
Chicken Livers: Replace beef liver with Grass Fed Cattle Co. chicken livers at the same ratio for a milder taste.
Tallow Boost: Add 1 tablespoon of grass fed beef tallow per pound of meat for extra richness. You can render your own tallow using Grass Fed Cattle Co. suet.
Egg Binder: Incorporate 1 pasture raised egg into the mixture to improve patty cohesion during cooking.

Make it a weekly goal!

Here’s a useful chart for when you want to hit your target. 4 oz. per week is a great benchmark where you’ll get the nutritional benefits while not overdoing it. Even if it doesn’t happen every single week, it’s probably still an improvement if you haven’t been a liver aficionado!