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Home | Recipes | Burger Bowls with Special Sauce

Burger Bowls with Special Sauce

Published on August 8, 2024 by Stephanie Kay

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Turn burger night into a healthy feast with these deconstructed burger bowls with special sauce. Ready in 30 minutes, this recipe is perfect for a quick and easy dinner.

Loaded burger bowls with special sauce with a fork on a white background.

If you like burgers, but you’re trying to eat more veggies, a burger bowl or “burger salad” is a fun way to do it. The combination of juicy ground beef, crispy bacon, and special burger sauce helps to satisfy a burger craving while increasing your veggie intake at the same time.

While I designed this loaded burger bowl recipe to cook the ground beef from scratch, this recipe is a great way to use up leftover burgers. Just chop or break the cooked burgers into bite-size pieces, warm them up, and add them to your favorite salad with a generous drizzle of special sauce as a dressing.

Two ground beef burger bowls with special sauce drizzled on top and a side fries.

Why You’ll Love Them

  • Quick and Easy – Ready in less than 30 minutes, this recipe is great for a weeknight dinner.
  • High in Protein – The combination of juicy ground beef and bacon each burger bowl contains 34 grams of protein.
  • Full of Flavor – The homemade special sauce adds a punch of flavor to every bite.
Ingredients for loaded burger bowls; ground beef, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, pickles, and special sauce.

Ingredients + Substitutions

  • Ground Beef – To add some protein. I used lean ground beef, but you can use regular ground beef, or use ground turkey or chicken if preferred.
  • Bacon – To add some more protein and ensure the bowls are fully loaded. You can use traditional pork bacon or turkey bacon if preferred.
  • Lettuce – To add some veggies and make the bowls. I used romaine lettuce, but iceberg lettuce, mixed greens, spinach, or kale would also work.
  • Tomatoes – To add some more veggies. I use cherry tomatoes, but grape tomatoes or diced whole tomatoes will also work.
  • Red Onion – To add some color and crunch.
  • Pickles – To add some saltiness. I used bread and butter pickles, but you can use any sliced pickles you like.
  • Mayonnaise – To make the special sauce. If you don’t like mayonnaise, you can use plain Greek yogurt instead.
  • Tomato Paste – To add to the special burger sauce. You can use ketchup if preferred, see the notes section of the recipe card for details.
  • Mustard – To flavor the special sauce. Regular yellow mustard is recommended, but Dijon mustard will also work.
  • Spices – Some garlic powder to season the burgers and some smoked paprika to flavor the special sauce.

Dietary Adaptions

To Make them Gluten-Free: No adaptations are needed, this recipe is gluten-free.

To Make them Dairy-Free: No adaptations are needed, this recipe is dairy-free.

Small white bowl filled with special sauce.

How to Make Loaded Burger Bowls

  1. Make the special sauce. In a small bowl, add the mayonnaise, tomato paste, mustard, minced pickles, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder, and whisk to combine.
  2. Cook the ground beef. In a large skillet, warm the olive oil on medium-high heat, add the ground beef, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, and cook for 7-8 minutes, breaking the meat up with a wooden spoon or spatula, until cooked through.
  3. Prep the veggies. Chop the lettuce, slice the tomatoes, and thinly slice the red onion.
  4. Assemble the bowls. Once the beef is cooked, divide the lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and pickles evenly across 4 bowls, top with cooked ground beef, crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, and top with sauce.
  5. Serve and enjoy! The bowls can be served immediately or cooled and stored in the fridge.

You can find the detailed instructions in the recipe card below.

Bowl with lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, with a bowl of ground beef, bowl of fries, and a bowl of special burger sauce.

Red’s Nutrition Tip

I made this recipe with ground beef but you could certainly make it with ground chicken or turkey if preferred. The nutritional values of beef and chicken are much closer than most people think, especially lean ground beef, however, you can make the swap if you want to reduce the fat or calorie content.

Serving Suggestions

These bowls are a great source of protein, fat, and fiber, and can be enjoyed as is as a healthy meal. If you want to make it a more balanced meal, you can add some complex carbohydrates by adding some roasted potatoes to the bowls, serving them with a side of sweet potato fries, or a side of crusty bread.

You can also adapt the recipe to suit your own diet needs and health goals, for instance:

  • To make them higher in protein, increase the amount of ground beef, add an extra slice of bacon, and/or top your bowl with a fried egg.
  • To make them lower in fat, swap the ground beef for lean ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken, the bacon for turkey bacon, and the mayonnaise for 0% plain Greek yogurt.
  • To add more fiber, add some high-fiber vegetables to the bowls, such as broccoli, kale, cooked sweet potatoes, or brown rice.
Close up of beef burger bowl with shredded cheese, pickles, and special sauce on top.

Storage + Reheating

To Refrigerate: The cooked ground beef and cooked bacon can be stored in separate airtight containers in the fridge for up to 5 days. The special sauce can be stored in a separate origin container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

To Freeze: The cooked ground beef and cooked bacon can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 months.

To Reheat: Once thawed, the ground beef and bacon can be reheated in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

More Ground Beef Recipes:

  • Crispy Beef Bowls
  • Firecracker Beef Meal Prep Bowls
  • Meal Prep Taco Salad
Print
Loaded burger bowls with special sauce with a fork on a white background.

Burger Bowls with Special Sauce

Author: Stephanie Kay

Ready in 30 minutes with over 30 grams of protein per serving, these loaded burger bowls are perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. Plus, you can easily double or triple the recipe without much effort so they are great for serving a crowd.

  • Author: Stephanie Kay
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 4 bowls
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
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Ingredients

Burgers:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Bowls:

  • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup pickles, sliced
  • 4 slices bacon, cooked (optional)
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheese (optional)

Special Sauce:

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
  • 2 tablespoon pickles, minced
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper, as needed

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, add the mayonnaise, tomato paste, mustard, minced pickles, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder, and whisk to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed and then set it aside.
  2. In a cast iron pan or heavy bottom skillet on medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the ground beef, and sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook the beef, breaking it apart with a spatula or wooden spoon into small pieces, for 7-8 minutes or until cooked through.
  3. While the beef is cooking, prepare the veggies; chop the lettuce, and slice the tomatoes and red onion.
  4. Once the beef is cooked, assemble the bowls. Divide the lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and pickles evenly across 4 bowls, top with 1/4 of the cooked ground beef, crumbled bacon (optional), shredded cheese (optional), and top with a drizzle of special sauce.
  5. These bowls can be served immediately and any leftover ground beef and bacon can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Leftover special sauce can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Notes

To Use Ketchup: Swap the tomato paste for 2 tablespoons of ketchup.

To Use Fresh Garlic: Swap the garlic powder for 1 finely grated garlic clove.

To Use Fresh Onion: Swap the onion powder for 1 tablespoon of finely grated onion.

Did you make this recipe?

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    Comments

    1. CJ says

      November 15, 2020 at 8:08 am

      You know what I DON’T miss about hamburgers? THE BUN! It’s just a delivery mechanism for the good stuff, all of which are in Red’s Loaded Burger Bowls.

      I keep pre-portioned beef and bacon in the freezer and fridge to make prep even faster. Additions I like: sprinkle a bit of cheese on top for a “cheeseburger” bowl (you don’t need much), or use tzatziki instead of mayo which balances out nicely with the red onion for a “Greek Burger”.

      There are so many ways to change the taste of this dish it’s my “if you could only eat one thing forever” food and extremely family (and party) friendly because everyone can dress their burger bowl how they like.

      Reply
    2. Marisa says

      November 15, 2020 at 5:46 pm

      As someone who has yet to shake my McDonald’s love on my real food journey, I love that this recipe exists! It is a great way to get some of the same flavours without everything else that comes with fast food. I great summer salad!

      Reply
    3. Mary says

      December 30, 2020 at 5:30 pm

      Another family favourite, even with little kids.

      Reply
      • Sarah says

        August 18, 2021 at 11:37 am

        We absolutely loved this, even my little fussy eaters! Can’t wait to make it again.

        Reply
    4. Kathy says

      August 18, 2021 at 1:14 pm

      Still remember the first time I made this for my family. Big hit. Now make quite often!

      Reply
    5. Kendra says

      September 3, 2021 at 6:31 pm

      Delicious…that sauce is to die for!

      Reply
      • Stephanie Kay says

        September 4, 2021 at 6:04 pm

        So happy you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    6. ernie says

      May 2, 2023 at 5:02 pm

      Has become a family favourite – fast, easy, delicious and fills you up without you feeling bloated.

      Reply
      • Stephanie Kay says

        May 6, 2023 at 5:24 am

        So happy you like it, Ernie, thank you for sharing!

        Reply
    7. Julia says

      September 12, 2023 at 4:59 pm

      This is my go-to hamburger meal during the summer… easy and the dressing is delicious!!

      Reply
    8. Caroline D says

      August 10, 2024 at 7:47 am

      We have been doing the Big Mac bowl salad for quite some time. A favorite at our house. This one is a bit different but very delicious too!

      Reply
      • Stephanie Kay says

        August 12, 2024 at 7:47 am

        Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    9. Barb says

      November 5, 2024 at 5:57 pm

      This is a definite keeper. That special sauce is so yummy! One thing I really appreciate about all of these recipes is the notes sections with the options.

      Reply
    10. Denise A says

      November 5, 2024 at 6:16 pm

      Absolutely delicious! Love the recipe and will definitely be making this again. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Stephanie Kay says

        November 6, 2024 at 8:01 am

        So happy you enjoyed the, Denise. 🙂

        Reply
    11. Nancy says

      November 11, 2024 at 4:22 pm

      Burger bowls with special sauce very easy to make and delicious!!😊

      Reply
    Stephanie Kay Nutrition

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