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Enjoy a fully loaded hamburger bowl with special sauce as an easy meal for busy weeknights. It tastes like a big mac in a bowl but is made with fresh homemade ingredients in under 30 minutes!
What is a hamburger bowl? It’s everything you love about a good burger—minus the bun—served up in bowl form. These healthy burger bowls are high in protein and low in carbs, made with juicy hamburger meat, crisp romaine lettuce, and all your favorite burger toppings. Add in fresh veggies like cherry tomatoes and red onion, sprinkle on shredded cheddar cheese, and finish with a drizzle of homemade special sauce for that classic Big Mac bowl flavor.
They’re perfect for busy weeknights when you need a quick, satisfying dinner. Easy to prep and packed with delicious flavors, each person can build their own burger bowl with their favorite toppings—from grilled mushrooms to sautéed onions, avocado to favorite dill pickles. It’s a great way to keep things simple, healthy, and totally customizable for the whole family.
Why You’ll Love this Hamburger Bowl Recipe
- Family Favorite: It’s a delicious and easy dinner to add your rotation that pleases kids and adults alike.
- Quick Meal Prep: Prep the entire meal in advance for an easy lunch or dinner. You can store the cooked beef separately from the bowl ingredients and reheat the beef prior to serving. Also store the dressing in a separate container.
- Easy to Adapt: Customize easily with your favorite burger toppings or switch up proteins like ground turkey or ground chicken for healthy burger bowls.
Best Burger Bowl Toppings
- Lean Ground Beef: Juicy ground beef is flavorful when seasoned with garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce; substitute ground turkey or chicken for lighter burger bowls.
- Romaine Lettuce: Fresh lettuce provides crisp greens and a crunchy base.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Juicy and sweet, they add brightness and color to each bite.
- Red Onion: Diced for a bit of sharpness and crunch—classic in any burger salad. Try sweet onions, green onions, or sautéed onions for different layers of flavor.
- Crispy Bacon: Brings smoky, salty goodness to the bowl.
- Shredded Cheese: Use cheddar cheese, pepper jack, or Colby Jack—whatever fits your burger night mood.
- Homemade Special Sauce: Similar to big mac sauce, combining mayo, ketchup, chopped dill pickles, and pickle juice adds tangy richness.
- Other Great Topping Ideas: Avocado, dill pickles, fried egg, pickled carrots, pickled hot peppers, sauteed mushrooms, fresh herbs, or roasted sweet potatoes.
How to Make a Hamburger Bowl
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add lean ground beef, breaking into small pieces. Season with Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook until no pink remains. Drain excess grease, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese on top, and set aside.
- Make the Special Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, ketchup, chopped dill pickles, and pickle juice. Refrigerate until serving.
- Assemble the Bowls: Layer chopped romaine lettuce in large bowls or separate containers. Top with cooked ground beef, avocado slices, cherry tomatoes, crispy bacon, diced red onion, dill pickles, and optional crispy fries or croutons. Drizzle with homemade special sauce or your preferred dressing.
Variations:
- Lower Fat Version: Omit avocado and bacon to significantly reduce fat content.
- Protein Swaps: Ground turkey or ground chicken make great options for lighter bowls.
- Alternative Dressings: Thousand Island, ranch, or honey mustard dressings also pair well.
- Add Crunch: Crispy fries, sweet potato wedges, or homemade fries can enhance texture and flavor.
Storage and Meal Prep
Store leftover burger bowls separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days. Store dressing in separate containers.
I use glass tuperware for meal prep, but you can also layer the ingredients in a mason jar. When you’re ready to eat, pour everything into a large bowl, stir together all of the ingredients and serve.
Other Easy Ground Beef Recipes
Here are more easy ground beef recipes to try next!
Did you try this Burger Bowl recipe? Leave a recipe rating and review below.
Loaded Burger Bowl with Special Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 heads romaine lettuce or leaf lettuce, chopped
- 1 medium avocado
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 3 slices cooked bacon, crumbled
- 1/2 cup dill pickles, chopped or sliced
- 1/2 cup red onion, diced
- 3/4 cup shredded cheese, (your favorite burger cheese – I use colbyjack)
- 1 cup croutons, or baked french fries (optional)
For the Burger Sauce (optional)
- 1/4 cup mayo
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup dill pickles, chopped
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
Instructions
- Set a skillet on the stovetop over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up into smaller chunks. Season with Worcestershire, garlic powder, salt and pepper and cook until no pink remains. Drain any excess grease and top with 1/2 cup cheese. You can stir it in or let it melt over the beef. Set aside.
- Prepare the burger sauce by combining all of the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until well combined. Refrigerate the sauce until you're ready to serve.
- To build the bowl, place the lettuce in a large serving bowl, or divide it between 4 smaller bowls or containers. Layer on the cooked beef and remaining ingredients. Serve with the special sauce or thousand island dressing.
Notes
- Store leftovers separately for up to 2 days.
- Substitute beef with turkey or chicken if desired.
- Try other dressings like ranch or Thousand Island.
- Add homemade fries or sweet potato wedges for extra crunch.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is an absolutely delicious recipe! Such a great combination of flavors!!
The perfect lunch salad! I’ve been skipping the buns on my burgers lately so this salad is a fantastic alternative!