What the heck is this?
So you’re craving a cheeseburger but your jeans are giving you the side-eye? Enter the Bacon Cheeseburger Rice Bowl — all the juicy, cheesy, bacon-y goodness of your favorite burger, but with rice instead of a bun. It’s basically comfort food that tricks you into thinking you’re being healthy (spoiler: you kinda are). This one-bowl wonder has seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon bits, melted cheese, and all those burger fixings you love, but served over fluffy rice. My kids call it “deconstructed cheeseburger” and honestly? They’re not wrong. Even my husband, who thinks rice is just “filler food,” demolished his bowl and asked if there were seconds.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s a complete meal in one bowl — no assembly required
- Tastes like a cheeseburger but won’t leave you in a food coma
- Perfect for meal prep (seriously, it reheats like a dream)
- Uses stuff you probably already have in your fridge
- Ready in 30 minutes flat
- Way cheaper than hitting the drive-thru
The Good Stuff You’ll Need
For the Rice Base:
- 1 1/2 cups white rice (jasmine or long-grain work best)
- 2 3/4 cups beef broth (or chicken broth in a pinch)
- 1 tbsp butter
- Salt to taste
For the Burger Magic:
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend is money)
- 6 strips bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt + pepper to taste
For the Cheese Situation:
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (for extra melt factor)
For the Burger Vibes:
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup dill pickles, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp mayo
- Lettuce leaves, chopped (iceberg for that classic crunch)
Let’s Do This
Step 1: Get That Rice Right
- Rinse rice until water runs clear (trust me on this one)
- In a medium saucepan, bring beef broth and butter to a boil
- Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 18-20 minutes
- Let it sit off heat for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork
Step 2: Bacon First (Obviously)
- In a large skillet, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy
- Remove bacon, but leave about 2 tbsp of that liquid gold (bacon fat) in the pan
- Set bacon aside on paper towels
Step 3: Beef Time
- In the same skillet with bacon fat, sauté diced onion until soft (about 3-4 minutes)
- Add garlic, cook 30 seconds until fragrant
- Add ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks
- Season with Worcestershire, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper
- Cook until beef is browned and cooked through (about 6-8 minutes)
Step 4: The Assembly
- Add cooked rice to the skillet with beef (or keep separate if you’re fancy)
- Sprinkle both cheeses over everything
- Cover and let sit 2-3 minutes until cheese melts
- Stir gently to combine
Step 5: Burger Toppings Galore
- In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, mustard, and mayo
- Top each serving with crispy bacon, cherry tomatoes, pickles, red onion, and lettuce
- Drizzle with that burger sauce
- Serve immediately while the cheese is still melty
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with a side of sweet potato fries for the full burger joint experience
- Add a cold beer or a vanilla milkshake if you’re feeling nostalgic
- Want it spicier? Add some jalapeños or hot sauce to the mix
Switch It Up
- Go Turkey: Use ground turkey instead of beef for a lighter option
- Veggie Version: Swap the meat for black beans or impossible meat
- Loaded Style: Add sautéed mushrooms and bell peppers
- Breakfast Twist: Add a fried egg on top and call it brunch
Make-Ahead Tips
- Cook the rice ahead of time and store in the fridge up to 3 days
- The beef mixture keeps great in the fridge for 4 days
- Prep all your toppings in advance for quick assembly
- This actually tastes better the next day — all the flavors meld together
Questions People Actually Ask
Q: Can I use brown rice instead? A: Totally! Just cook it longer (about 45 minutes) and use more broth. The texture’s different but still delicious.
Q: What if I don’t have beef broth? A: Chicken broth works fine, or even water with a bouillon cube. The beef broth just adds that extra burger flavor.
Q: Can I make this in a rice cooker? A: Absolutely! Cook the rice in the rice cooker with broth instead of water, then mix everything together.
Q: Is this freezer-friendly? A: The beef mixture freezes great for up to 3 months. The rice gets weird frozen, so make that fresh.
Q: Can I make it dairy-free? A: Skip the cheese or use a dairy-free alternative. It’s still ridiculously good without it.
Print
Bacon Cheeseburger Rice Bowl
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4–6 servings 1x
Description
So you’re craving a cheeseburger but your jeans are giving you the side-eye? Enter the Bacon Cheeseburger Rice Bowl — all the juicy, cheesy, bacon-y goodness of your favorite burger, but with rice instead of a bun. It’s basically comfort food that tricks you into thinking you’re being healthy (spoiler: you kinda are). This one-bowl wonder has seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon bits, melted cheese, and all those burger fixings you love, but served over fluffy rice. My kids call it “deconstructed cheeseburger” and honestly? They’re not wrong. Even my husband, who thinks rice is just “filler food,” demolished his bowl and asked if there were seconds.
Ingredients
For the Rice Base:
- 1 1/2 cups white rice (jasmine or long-grain work best)
- 2 3/4 cups beef broth (or chicken broth in a pinch)
- 1 tbsp butter
- Salt to taste
For the Burger Magic:
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend is money)
- 6 strips bacon, chopped
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- Salt + pepper to taste
For the Cheese Situation:
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella (for extra melt factor)
For the Burger Vibes:
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup dill pickles, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp mayo
- Lettuce leaves, chopped (iceberg for that classic crunch)
Instructions
Step 1: Get That Rice Right
- Rinse rice until water runs clear (trust me on this one)
- In a medium saucepan, bring beef broth and butter to a boil
- Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 18-20 minutes
- Let it sit off heat for 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork
Step 2: Bacon First (Obviously)
- In a large skillet, cook chopped bacon over medium heat until crispy
- Remove bacon, but leave about 2 tbsp of that liquid gold (bacon fat) in the pan
- Set bacon aside on paper towels
Step 3: Beef Time
- In the same skillet with bacon fat, sauté diced onion until soft (about 3-4 minutes)
- Add garlic, cook 30 seconds until fragrant
- Add ground beef, breaking it up as it cooks
- Season with Worcestershire, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper
- Cook until beef is browned and cooked through (about 6-8 minutes)
Step 4: The Assembly
- Add cooked rice to the skillet with beef (or keep separate if you’re fancy)
- Sprinkle both cheeses over everything
- Cover and let sit 2-3 minutes until cheese melts
- Stir gently to combine
Step 5: Burger Toppings Galore
- In a small bowl, whisk together ketchup, mustard, and mayo
- Top each serving with crispy bacon, cherry tomatoes, pickles, red onion, and lettuce
- Drizzle with that burger sauce
- Serve immediately while the cheese is still melty
Notes
- Serve with a side of sweet potato fries for the full burger joint experience
- Add a cold beer or a vanilla milkshake if you’re feeling nostalgic
- Want it spicier? Add some jalapeños or hot sauce to the mix
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~520 kcal
- Fat: ~24g
- Carbohydrates: ~42g
- Protein: ~28g