Deconstructed Burger Bowl
If you love a good burger but want to skip skip the bun, this Deconstructed Burger Bowl is for you! It has everything you love about a classic burger, like juicy beef, cheddar cheese, applewood bacon, crisp lettuce, and all the best toppings, served in a bowl for a fresh, low-carb twist.
Whether you call it a Deconstructed Burger Bowl or a burger salad, it has all the best parts of a burger, minus the bun. It’s easy to make, endlessly customizable, and perfect for when you’re craving that delicious burger flavor in a fresh and satisfying way. The salad is tossed in a homemade burger sauce made with tangy yellow mustard, creamy mayo, and sweet relish.
Looking for more refreshing salads and bowls, then try Buffalo Chicken Rice Bowl, Inside Out Egg Roll Bowl, and Arugula Steak Salad with Cornbread Croutons.
Why You’ll Love This Cheeseburger Bowl
- Big burger flavor, no bun needed- All the best parts of a burger, including seasoned beef, cheddar cheese, pickles, sliced red onions, crispy bacon, and a creamy burger sauce, without the heaviness of a bun.
- Low carb- This bowl is packed with protein and healthy fats while keeping the carbs in check. It’s light and refreshing yet still hearty and satisfying, making it a complete meal that keeps you full and energized.
- Easy meal prep- Cook the beef ahead of time and store it in the fridge for quick lunches or dinners throughout the week. Just reheat, assemble and enjoy!
- Customizable- Load this bowl up with your favorite toppings! You can use the classic fixings I’ve used or get creative and add some sliced sauteed mushrooms, jalapeno peppers, or crumbled blue cheese.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Below are ingredient notes. For the complete list and quantities, please refer to the recipe card located at the bottom of the page.
Bowl
- Ground beef- I use 85/15 grass-fed, organic ground beef. You can swap for ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.
- Seasonings- I use a mixture of onion powder, garlic powder, paprika and salt and pepper to season the beef.
- Lettuce- Go for a lettuce that’s crisp and fresh, like Romaine or Iceberg. You want a lettuce that can hold up to all those toppings.
- Tomatoes- You can use cherry tomatoes, Compari tomatoes, vine-ripened or roma tomatoes.
- Avocados- Make sure they’re ripe! Ripe avocados are key for that creamy texture.
- Dill pickles- Use spears, chips, or whole pickles and chop them to your preferred size.
- Onions- Red onions have a milder flavor than yellow, but if you want to use yellow, I suggest caramelizing them for a sweet taste.
- Cheese- Nothing screams classic burger like good ol’ cheddar cheese. Feel free to swap with pepper jack, Colby, American, or crumbled blue cheese.
- Bacon- I use thick sliced applewood smoked bacon. You can also use turkey bacon as well.
- White sesame seeds- I love the classic combination of a sesame seed bun with a good burger, so I sprinkle the top with white sesame seeds to finish.
Burger Sauce
- Relish- This is what gives the sauce it’s signature flavor. I use a combination of sweet and dill pickle relish. You can use either one.
- Mayo- Olive-oil based mayo is my usual go to, but you can use any ordinary mayonnaise of your choice.
- Mustard- Nothing fancy here, just traditional yellow mustard. But you can substitute with dijon if you like.
- Vinegar- I use white vinegar, but feel free to use apple cider vinegar for a sweeter flavor.
- Spices- Garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- White sugar- Just a small amount to balance the sauce.
Step By Step Instructions – Deconstructed Burger Bowl
STEP 1: Prepare the burger sauce. First, in a small bowl, combine the mayo, ketchup, mustard, sweet relish, dill pickle relish, vinegar, sugar, and spices. Whisk until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
STEP 2: Prepare salad ingredients. Begin chopping the lettuce, and slicing the tomatoes, onions, and pickles. Then, roughly chop the cooked bacon and shred the cheese by hand or cut into small pieces.
STEP 3: Cook the ground beef. Next, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet, along with the spices. As it cooks, break it apart with a spatula. Continue cooking until the beef is fully browned and no longer pink, which should take about 5-7 minutes. Once done, drain any excess fat from the skillet.
STEP 4: Assemble the salad. Start by placing a generous handful of chopped lettuce at the bottom of a large bowl. Spoon the ground beef on top, followed by the prepared toppings. Drizzle with burger sauce over the assembled ingredients and sprinkle with white sesame seeds. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Expert Tips For The Best Burger Bowl
- Do not overcook ground beef- Overcooking the meat can lead to dryness. Cook the ground beef just until browned to retain its juiciness.
- Add french fries- Adding french fries to your burger bowl not only brings the classic flavors of a traditional burger meal but also makes the dish a little more heartier and filling. If you’re worried about carbs, don’t worry, just add a small portion.
- Choose a different burger- If you’re not a big fan of ground beef, feel free to use ground turkey, ground chicken or even your favorite veggie burger instead.
- Switch up the sauce- Not into burger sauce? No worries! Try switching things up and experimenting with other sauces and dressings, like barbecue ranch, blue cheese dressing, or avocado ranch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Consider adding classic sides like french fries, sweet potato fries, tater tots or even baby dutch gold potatoes.
To keep the lettuce crisp, allow the ground beef to cool slightly. You can also spoon the ground beef over the lettuce last before serving.
Yes, burger bowls are excellent for meal prepping. Prepare the components, such as the protein, veggies, and sauce in advance. Store them separately in airtight container in the refrigerator. Assemble the bowl just before serving.
Add other toppings like fried eggs, pickled jalapenos, or crispy fried onions. The toppings are endless so just have fun and get creative!
Absolutely! You can substitute ground beef with turkey, chicken, or a plant-based alternative like veggie patties or meatless crumbles.
Storing Leftovers
When storing your Deconstructed Burger Bowl leftovers, it’s a good idea to keep each component in its own container. This way, the cooked beef stays separate from the veggies, cheese, and sauce.
When you’re ready to eat, just pop the beef in the microwave to heat up, then assemble your burger bowl with the fresh ingredients.
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Deconstructed Burger Bowl
Ingredients
Burger Bowl
- 1 lb ground beef, 85/15
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 8 cups romaine or iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 6-8 Compari tomatoes , sliced
- 1 small red onion, sliced
- 1 cup dill pickles, sliced
- 2 ripe avocado, sliced
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 slices applewood bacon, cooked and roughly chopped
- white sesame seeds, for garnish
Special Burger Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 2 tbsp sweet relish
- 2 tbsp dill relish
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1/2 tsp white granulated sugar
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- First, in a small bowl, combine the mayo, ketchup, mustard, sweet relish, dill pickle relish, vinegar, sugar, and spices. Whisk until smooth. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Begin chopping the lettuce, and slicing the tomatoes, onions, and pickles. Then, roughly chop the cooked bacon and shred the cheese by hand or cut into small pieces.
- Next, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet, along with the spices. As it cooks, break it apart with a spatula. Continue cooking until the beef is fully browned and no longer pink, which should take about 5-7 minutes. Once done, drain any excess fat from the skillet.
- Start by placing a generous handful of chopped lettuce at the bottom of a large bowl. Spoon the ground beef on top, followed by the prepared toppings. Drizzle with burger sauce over the assembled ingredients and sprinkle with white sesame seeds. Serve immediately and enjoy!