Burger Bowl recipe with cheese, drizzled in a special sauce

This loaded Burger Bowl recipe has everything you love about a classic cheeseburger in bowl form! Crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, crunchy pickles, and shredded cheese – plus golden, crispy fries, all tossed with a creamy, flavor-packed burger sauce!

There is literally nothing I love more than a loaded burger! I happen to think I have the best grilled burger recipe, but sometimes, and especially during the work week, I’d rather keep things simple with a cheese burger bowl. You’re still getting all those classic, crave-worthy burger flavors, just in bowl form for an easy dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes. Drizzle everything with a special burger bowl sauce and it’s over-the-top delicious.

This burger bowl recipe is also perfect for meal prep (I love them for lunches!). I like to serve mine with homemade French fries for that full burger experience, but you could swap in sweet potato fries or skip them altogether if you’re watching your starch intake, or keep low-carb.

ingredients in this burger bowl recipe

These deconstructed burger bowls are completely customizable with your favorite burger toppings. They’re gluten-free, grain-free and perfect for meal prep.

Burger Meat:

• ground beef: I use 85/15 for flavor, but you can use a 93/7 blend.
• yellow onion: to add flavor and aromatics to the ground meat.
• olive oil: to sauté onions.
• spices: garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.

Toppings for Burger Bowls:

Use any of your favorite burger toppings here! Sautéed onions, mushrooms, or even bacon would all be delicious additions. Here’s what I usually add to my burger bowls:

• Lettuce: Iceberg gives these bowls that classic Big Mac vibe, but I almost always have romaine on hand. Use whichever lettuce you love!
• Tomatoes: Diced Roma tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes both work great.
• Pickles: You can make a quick batch of refrigerator pickles, but for an easy weeknight dinner, store-bought is the way to go.
• Cheese: Shredded cheddar for that classic cheeseburger flavor. Leave it off if you’re dairy-free. The sauce adds plenty of flavor.
• French fries: Optional, but SO good in these bowls! Use regular or sweet potato fries. Make your own air fryer French fries or grab a bag of frozen fries to keep things easy.
• Burger sauce: My homemade special sauce ties everything together and gives these bowls that classic burger-joint flavor.

Special Burger Bowl Sauce

Instead of tossing these burger bowls with a traditional dressing, we make a quick homemade burger sauce that you can prep ahead and keep in the fridge until you’re ready to drizzle. It’s creamy, tangy, and ties everything together!

I’ve made these bowls without the sauce a few times, and trust me, the burger sauce is what takes them to the next level.It’s 100% worth the extra few minutes! Plus, it’s just as good for dipping fries or serving with my classic beef burger patties or grilled turkey burgers.

For the burger bowl sauce:

• Mayonnaise: The creamy base that gives the sauce that classic, rich burger flavor.
• Ketchup: Adds a touch of sweetness and that signature “burger joint” taste (think: Big Mac Bowls)
• Mustard (Dijon or yellow): Dijon adds a little depth, while yellow keeps it classic; use what you love.
• Pickle juice: The secret ingredient! It thins the sauce and adds a bright, tangy kick.
• Worcestershire sauce: Brings a subtle savory, umami depth that makes the sauce feel extra special.
• Dried spices (garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt & pepper): The same seasoning used for the burger meat, which helps everything taste cohesive and super flavorful.

How to make this burger bowl recipe

A quick tip: I like to sear the ground beef in larger chunks before breaking it apart. This gives the beef those browned, slightly crispy edges and more of a burger patty texture for that classic cheeseburger flavor!

How to Meal Prep, Store & Reheat Burger Bowls

Assembled bowls are best enjoyed fresh, but if needed, they’ll keep for about 1 day. Stored separately, the components will last 3-4 days.

• TO STORE: Store everything separately, like you would a salad, to keep the textures fresh. Keep the lettuce, toppings, cooked beef, fries, and burger sauce in individual airtight containers in the fridge.
• TO REHEAT: Reheat the ground beef and fries (if using) in a skillet, air fryer, or microwave until warmed through and crispy. Then assemble your bowl with the fresh toppings and finish with a drizzle of burger sauce.

watch how to make hamburger bowls

Burger Bowls with cheese, drizzled in a special sauce

This loaded Burger Bowl recipe has everything you love about a classic cheeseburger in bowl form! Crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, crunchy pickles, and shredded cheese – plus golden, crispy fries, all tossed with a creamy, flavor-packed burger sauce!

5 from 1 vote

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 591kcal

Author: Nichole Crews

Ingredients

Burger Bowls

• 1.5 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, diced
• 1 lb ground beef, 85/15 or 93/7 - can also use ground turkey or plant-based crumbles
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 head lettuce, shredded - can use iceberg or romaine
• 2-3 small roma tomatoes, diced - can also use cherry tomatoes, halved
• pickle chips or spears, chopped - homemade or store-bought
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese - about 2 tbsp per bowl
• 2 cups French fries - homemade fries or frozen cooked to package directions can also use sweet potato fries
• burger sauce, to drizzle

Burger Sauce

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard – or yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon pickle juice
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Burger Sauce

• To a jar, add all ingredients and mix well to combine. Can be made in advance and stored in the refrigerator in a jar with an airtight lid.

Burger Bowl

• If serving with French fries, prepare these first.
• Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté until translucent, about 5-7 minutes.
• Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking up the meat with a spatula, add spices and Worcestershire and brown until cooked through. Drain and discard any excess liquid and grease.
• Assemble bowls with a layer of shredded iceberg lettuce, 3-4 ounces of ground beef, diced tomatoes, pickles, cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup of fries.
• Drizzle with burger sauce and mix well. Dig in and enjoy!

Notes

To get that true burger texture you’d normally get in a bun, we want bigger, crispy pieces of ground beef rather than finely minced crumbles. As you break up the meat, keep the chunks a little larger and resist the urge to over-stir. Let them sit and brown for an extra 1–2 minutes so you get that deep, caramelized crust on the outside.

nutrition info is for 4oz of 85/15 beef, with about 1-ounce shredded cheddar and about 1 heaping teaspoon of homemade burger sauce.

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 591kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 32g | Fiber: 5g

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