This burger bowl recipe provides all the major components of a burger, including ground beef, cheese, pickles, and a special sauce, while staying quick and easy.
What Is a Burger Bowl?
A burger bowl is a cheeseburger, but instead of a bun, a salad is the base.
Your options include:
- burger patties/meat
- lettuce
- cheese
- pickles, onions
- burger sauce
This makes burger bowls quick and customizable, and ideal for low-carb, high-protein meals.
Why You’ll Love This (Weeknight-Friendly)
- Ready in about 20 minutes
- Easy to customize for different diets and toppings
- The sauce makes it taste “restaurant-level”
- This burger bowl recipe is naturally lower-carb (swap toppings to fit your needs)
Burger Sauce (Quick “Special Sauce”)
This sauce is the best part.
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp dill pickles (finely chopped) (or relish)
- 1 tsp pickle juice (optional)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika (optional)
- Black pepper to taste
Mix: Combine in a bowl and refrigerate while cooking the beef.
Ingredients for Burger Bowl (4 servings)
Beef
- 1 lb. (450g) ground beef (For best results, aim for 80/20, but lean is also fine.)
- 1 tsp salt (adjust based on taste)
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce (adds grill depth, but is not necessary)
Bowl
- 6-8 cups romaine or iceberg, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 cup cucumber, diced (optional, but adds a nice freshness)
- 1/2 cup red onion, cut into thin slices (optional, you may also sauté this)
- 1/2-1 cup shredded cheddar (or American, pepper jack, etc.)
- 1/2 cup dill pickles, cut into slices
- Optional: Other add-ons include cooked bacon, avocado, jalapeños, sesame seeds
Requirements
Tools:
- A Large skillet
- Cutting board and knife
- Mixing bowl (for sauce)
- Measuring spoons
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Create the sauce
Mix the burger sauce ingredients and let chill while finishing the rest of the dish.
Step 2: Preparing the beef
- Preheat the skillet on medium-high heat.
- Once heated, add beef and break apart.
- Add salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and pepper to season.
- Allow to cook for 7-10 minutes, or until completely browned. Use a slotted spoon to drain grease, if necessary.
- If using Sauce, stir in Worcestershire for the last 30 seconds.
Step 3: Preparing the base and toppings
Begin by chopping the lettuce base. Slice pickles and onion, cut the tomatoes and, if necessary, shred the cheese.
Step 4: Build the bowls
Divide the lettuce into 4 bowls. Add the following toppings to each bowl:
- Hot seasoned beef
- Shredded cheese (this will melt which is the best part)
- Pickles, onions, tomatoes (any additional toppings)
- A drizzle of the sauce
This is the best way to make the burger bowl recipe without the ingredients getting soggy.
Easy Variations
1) Big Mac-style
- Use shredded Iceberg lettuce
- Add more pickles and onions
- Add a few sesame seeds on top
2) Bacon cheeseburger bowl
- Add some crumbled cooked bacon
- Pepper jack cheese is a grate swap for cheddar
3) Spicy burger bowl
- Include some sliced jalapenos
- Add some hot sauce to the burger sauce
4) Turkey or Chicken
- Opt for ground turkey or chicken but add 1-2 tsp of olive oil to maintain a juicy consistency
- Use a heavier hand when seasoning as they poultry spices benefit from a bit more.
Meal Prep and Storage
For optimum freshness, store the components separately:
- Store beef in an airtight container for up to 4 days refrigerated
- Sauce is good for up to 5 days refrigerated
- Lettuce is good for 2-3 days in a dry environment
When you are ready to enjoy, reheat the beef and enjoy. Meal prepping for this is easy because of the burger bowl recipe. It is easy to feel like you are eating a hot beef and cold topping combination.
Serving Ideas
- To create a “burger night” setting, pair this dish with baked fries or potato wedges made in an air fryer
- A crunchy dill pickle spear or a side of coleslaw makes a great addition to this dish!
Troubleshooting
My bowl tastes bland
- Try a bit more salt in the beef.
- Try pickling the sauce with some pickle juice.
- A sharper cheese (try extra sharp cheddar) makes a great addition.
It feels greasy
- A leaner beef (90% lean) makes a great addition.
- Try draining the grease after browning.
- More crisp lettuce and cucumber make a great complement to balance richness.
The lettuce gets soggy.
- Serving this dish warm makes this soggy lettuce dish avoid the sauce.
- Try to avoid beef or warm beef pressed lettuce in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a burger bowl recipe dairy-free?
Yes! You can make it with a dairy free cheese, dairy free mayo, and omit the cheese all together.
Is a burger bowl low-carb?
Typically, yes! So long as you steer clear of the sugary toppings and control the sauce, it makes a great bun-free option.
What type of lettuce do you recommend?
For the greatest crunch, nothing beats the classic Iceberg. But if you’re meal prepping, opt for the sturdiness of Romaine.
Conclusion
This has changed the burger bowl game: it brings the juicy burger flavor alongside crisp toppings, all topped with a creamy, tangy sauce. It comes together in a quick, customizable fashion and comes together in a real weeknight(easy) kind of way.
