Description
Imagine everything you love about a juicy, loaded cheeseburger—minus the bun and the mess. Now picture it all piled into a bowl: seasoned ground beef, crispy bacon, melty cheese, crunchy lettuce, juicy tomatoes, pickles, maybe even a drizzle of burger sauce. It’s like a deconstructed Big Mac got a healthy-ish glow-up and moved into a bowl because it’s got main character energy.
Ingredients
For the Beef:
– 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or lean, your call)
– 1 tsp salt
– ½ tsp black pepper
– ½ tsp garlic powder
– ½ tsp onion powder
– 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
For the Bowls:
– 4 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
– 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
– ½ cup sliced red onion
– ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
– ½ cup dill pickle slices
– 4 slices cooked bacon, chopped
– Optional: avocado, sautéed mushrooms, jalapeños
For the Sauce (a.k.a. “Burger Sauce”):
– ½ cup mayo
– 2 tbsp ketchup
– 1 tbsp mustard
– 1 tbsp pickle juice or finely chopped pickles
– ½ tsp paprika
– Pinch of garlic powder
Instructions
Step 1: Brown that beef
In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and crumbly. Drain excess fat if needed, then stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Let it sizzle for another 2–3 minutes to soak up all that flavor.
Step 2: Mix up the sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, paprika, and garlic powder until smooth. Taste and adjust—more mustard for tang, more ketchup for sweetness.
Step 3: Build your bowl
Start with a bed of lettuce in each bowl. Top with warm ground beef, cherry tomatoes, red onion, cheese, bacon, pickles, and anything else your burger-loving heart desires. Drizzle with the burger sauce and prepare to fall in love.
Step 4: Devour
Fork in, head down, game over. These bowls are that good.
Notes
– Serve with a side of sweet potato fries or roasted zucchini
– Make mini versions for a party bar situation (DIY burger bowl night, anyone?)
– Want it even heartier? Add a scoop of cooked rice or cauliflower rice underneath
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: ~480 kcal per serving
- Fat: ~35g
- Carbohydrates: ~8g
- Protein: ~30g