This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy
These Burger Bowls have all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger without the bun. Seasoned ground beef, served over lettuce with your favorite burger toppings, and a special sauce, make for a quick, customizable meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
Burger bowls are a fun, easy way to enjoy everything you love about burgers in a lighter form. Juicy seasoned beef, crisp lettuce, fresh vegetables, fries, cheese, and a special sauce come together in one bowl for a meal that’s fast, satisfying, and so easy to customize.
This recipe is perfect for busy nights when you want dinner on the table quickly without sacrificing flavor. Whether you’re skipping the bun, feeding picky eaters, or just looking for something different than the usual burger night, burger bowls are a simple dinner win that everyone can enjoy.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the post for the FULL PRINTABLE recipe card.
- Ground Beef – I use lean ground beef, but you could use ground turkey as well.
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Garlic Powder
- Salt & Pepper
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Shredded Cheese
- Onions
- Tomatoes
- French Fries – they are the perfect side with a burger, so why not add them as a topping in your bowl!
- Special Sauce – you can use store bought Thousand Island dressing or make the quick Homemade Big Mac Sauce that is in the recipe card.
Burger Bowls
Ingredients
Ground Beef
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Special Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard
- 3/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- pinch white pepper
Bowls
- 8 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cup red onion , thinly sliced
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup shredded cheese
- 1/2 cup pickle slices
- 13 oz frozen French fries, cooked
Instructions
- In a skillet brown ground beef. Cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking apart until no longer pink. Drain any grease away. Season with salt, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce and pepper. Stir to combine. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.1 pound lean ground beef, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- If you are cooking your onions, you can dice them and mix them in with the raw ground beef to cook. Or in a small skillet over medium heat, cook for 5-6 minutes in a little bit of olive oil until they are softened.1/2 cup red onion
- Cook your French Fries according to the package instructions.13 oz frozen French fries
- To make the special sauce, mix everything together in a small bowl until well combined. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.1/2 cup mayo, 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish, 1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard, 3/4 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, pinch white pepper
- Assemble the bowls by dividing the lettuce between 4 bowls. Top with the meat mixture, tomatoes, cheese, pickles, onions, fries, and drizzle the sauce over the top.8 cups romaine lettuce, 1 cup grape tomatoes, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, 1/2 cup pickle slices
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How To Make Burger Bowls
- Brown Ground Beef. Add the ground beef to a large skillet and brown for 5-6 minutes, breaking apart until it is no longer pink. Drain any grease away. Season with garlic powder, salt, pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly while you assemble the bowls.
- Onions. I like these with both raw and cooked onions, it really depends on what you like. You can dice the onions and add them to the ground beef to cook. Or you can sauté them in a little oil while the beef cooks until they are soft.
- Sauce. To make the special sauce just mix everything together in a small bowl until it is well blended. You can use store bought thousand island dressing, you can use my Homemade Thousand Island dressing, or you can use one of the store bought “burger sauce” verities out there.
- French Fries. I use this instructions on my Air Fryer Frozen French Fries to get the hot and crispy. But you can make them, make Homemade Air Fryer French Fries of even just Roasted Potatoes is a good swap if you have them leftover.
- Assemble. Add your chopped lettuce to bowls, and then top with your ground beef mixture, and your favorite burger toppings. Drizzle the sauce over the top and it is ready to serve.
Recipe Tips & Suggestions
- Toppings. Get creative and use whatever you would normally put on or serve with a burger. Avocado is one of my favorite additions. But anything goes. Use sweet potatoes if you are a fan of sweet potatoes fries or waffle fries if that is your thing!
- Make Ahead. This is great to have everything read ahead of time, and just reheat when it is time to serve. You can cook the beef in a large batch and then just reheat what you need. French fries cook in the air fryer in minutes, so it can be a great last minute dinner.
- Protein. I used ground beef for these, but you can absolutely use ground turkey. I make turkey burgers all the time, and treat them the same as beef burgers, so I would do the same here.
Storage
If you have leftovers, store each item separately in an airtight container. Only actually assemble bowls that will get eaten. After you mix everything together it will get soggy and not ideal or leftovers.
