Description
This Burger Bowls recipe is a fresh, low-carb twist on the classic burger, featuring seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, fresh veggies, crumbled bacon, and shredded cheddar, all topped with a tangy, flavorful secret sauce. Ready in just 26 minutes, this dish is perfect for a quick, satisfying meal that combines all the flavors of a cheeseburger without the bun.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Burger Bowls
- 1 Tbsp. olive or avocado oil
- 1 lb. ground beef (85/15 or 90/10)
- 1 ½ tsp. paprika
- ¾ tsp. garlic powder
- ¾ tsp. onion powder
- ½ tsp. dried oregano
- ¾-1 tsp. salt (to taste)
- Romaine lettuce or spinach, chopped (about 4 cups)
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 strips cooked bacon, crumbled
- ½ cup dill pickle slices
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
For the Secret Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup ketchup or barbecue sauce
- 1 Tbsp. Dijon mustard or yellow mustard
- 2 Tbsp. pickle relish (sweet or regular)
- 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
- ¼ tsp. paprika
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Cook Meat: Heat olive or avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the meat is browned and no longer pink.
- Season the Meat: In a small bowl, combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and salt. Sprinkle this seasoning mix over the cooked ground beef and toss well to ensure even coating and flavor distribution.
- Make the Secret Sauce: While the meat is cooking, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup or barbecue sauce, Dijon or yellow mustard, pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, minced garlic, paprika, and salt in a medium bowl. Once mixed, refrigerate the sauce until ready to serve to let the flavors meld.
- Build the Salad: In a large salad bowl, layer chopped romaine lettuce or spinach, halved cherry tomatoes, crumbled cooked bacon, dill pickle slices, thinly sliced red onion, and shredded Cheddar cheese evenly on top.
- Serve: Drizzle the secret sauce generously over the assembled salad bowls. Serve immediately while the beef is warm and enjoy a delicious burger-inspired bowl without the bun.
Notes
- Use ground beef with a fat content of 85/15 or 90/10 for best flavor and juiciness.
- Adjust the amount of salt in both the meat seasoning and secret sauce to suit your taste preferences.
- The secret sauce can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a lighter version, substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt in the secret sauce.
- You can add avocado slices or substitute cheddar with another cheese like pepper jack for variation.
- This recipe is naturally low-carb and gluten-free but check your ketchup and Worcestershire sauce labels for gluten-free certification if needed.
