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grinch happy meal homemade version

Grinch Happy Meal

A festive holiday-themed homemade meal featuring green-tinted burger buns, seasoned beef patties, herb-dusted crispy fries, and a peppermint vanilla shake. Ready in about 45 minutes, it is a fun and creative holiday dinner the whole family will love. Natural green coloring from spinach powder keeps it flavorless and vibrant.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Green Burger Buns
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp softened butter
  • 1 cup warm milk
  • 1 tbsp active dry yeast
  • 1 tsp spinach powder or natural green food coloring such as matcha
Burger Patties
  • 1 lb ground beef or plant-based alternative
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp paprika
  • salt and pepper to taste
Grinch Fries
  • 2 potatoes thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp fresh herbs parsley or dill
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • salt to taste
Holiday Shake
  • 2 cups vanilla ice cream
  • 0.5 cup milk
  • 0.5 tsp peppermint extract
  • green sprinkles for garnish

Method
 

Green Buns
  1. Warm the milk and mix it with yeast and sugar. Let it rest until frothy, about 5 minutes.
  2. Combine flour, salt, butter, and spinach powder in a large bowl.
  3. Pour in the milk-yeast mixture and knead until a soft, smooth dough forms.
  4. Let the dough rise in a covered bowl until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  5. Shape into 4 buns, let them rest for 15 minutes, then bake at 375°F for 15-18 minutes until cooked through.
Patties
  1. Mix ground beef with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper until just combined.
  2. Shape gently into 4 even patties without overworking the meat.
  3. Cook in a hot skillet over medium-high heat, 3-4 minutes per side, until cooked through. Add cheese in the last minute if desired.
Fries
  1. Slice potatoes thinly, then rinse and dry completely with a clean towel.
  2. Toss with cornstarch, herbs, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and oil until evenly coated.
  3. Bake at 425°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway, or air-fry at 400°F for 15 minutes until crisp.
Shake
  1. Blend vanilla ice cream, milk, and peppermint extract until smooth.
  2. Pour into glasses and finish with green sprinkles.
Assemble
  1. Place the cooked patty inside the warm green bun.
  2. Add toppings of your choice: lettuce, tomato, pickles, or any holiday-themed garnish.
  3. Serve alongside the seasoned fries and peppermint holiday shake.

Notes

Use spinach powder or matcha for natural green color with no flavor impact. Artificial green food coloring also works. Bake fries at 425°F for 20-25 minutes or air-fry at 400°F for 15 minutes for extra crispiness. Shake can be made ahead and kept in the freezer for 30 minutes before serving.