Burger Bowls

🌟 Recipe Highlights

• Just like a regular burger, but low on carbs – All the best parts of a burger, just served in a bowl instead of a bun.
• Super customizable – Pick your favorite toppings and make it your own.
• Great for meal prep – You can store the ingredients in a meal prep bowl and they will stay fresh and flavorful for several days.
• No grill needed – Just a skillet and you're good to go.
• Better than takeout – Fresher, cleaner, and made just how you like it.

For the Burger Meat:

• Lean ground beef – You can also use ground turkey or chicken if you prefer.
• Spice Mix of onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika – Adds that classic burger flavor. (If you don’t like any of the spices,f eel free to omit them or decrease the amount to suit your taste)
• Dried thyme – Gives the beef a subtle herby touch.
• Salt and Black pepper – Season the beef according to your taste

For the Burger Sauce:

• Mayonnaise – This is the creamy base of the sauce. You can substitute Greek yogurt for a lighter version.
• Ketchup- It adds a touch of sweetness and pairs well with the mayonnaise and mustard to create the classic burger sauce flavor
• Yellow mustard – You can use Dijon mustard  for a sharper flavor
• Pickle juice & Chopped dill pickles – If you don’t like pickles, you can omit them, however, I highly recommend using them as they are the key to that classic burger flavor.
• Apple cider vinegar - You can also use lemon juice or white wine vinegar.
• Sugar – Balances out the acidity. You can also add maple or honey. Adjust the amount according to your taste.
• Spice mix (paprika, onion powder, garlic powder) – Adds depth and ties it all together. If there is some spice that you don’t have or don’t like, feel free to omit it.

For the Bowls:

• Romaine lettuce – You can also use Iceberg Lettuce.
• Cherry tomatoes–  Use regular tomatoes if you don’t have cherry tomatoes at hand.
• Cumbled, cooked bacon –  It gives the burger that smoky & salty flavor. For a leaner bowl, you can omit the bacon or use turkey bacon.
• Pickles- I’m a big fan of pickles, and I think that a burger without pickles is not a burger; however, if you are not a fan of pickles, simply omit them or use fresh cucumber or pickled onion.
• Red onion- You can also use yellow onion, spring onion, or pickled red onion.
• Avocado –Balances out the saltiness of the bacon and cooked beef, and the acidity of the pickles and the tomatoes. 

🥣 How to Make This Recipe

Step 1: Cook the Beef

Heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and all the spices. Cook, breaking it up as it browns, until no pink remains. If your beef is on the fattier side, drain any excess grease

Step 2: Make the Sauce

While the beef cooks, mix all the burger sauce ingredients in a small bowl. Stir until smooth and creamy.

Step 3: Build Your Bowls

Start with a bed of romaine lettuce. Add the cherry tomatoes, bacon, pickles, red onion, and avocado. Spoon the warm beef over everything and finish with a generous drizzle of the burger sauce.

📖 Topping Variations

• Cheesy Burger Bowl – Add shredded cheddar or crumbled feta on top.
• Spicy Burger Bowl – Throw in some sliced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce.
• Southwest Style – Add black beans, corn, and a lime crema instead of the burger sauce.
• Egg it up – Add a fried or poached egg on top for some extra protein.

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Drain excess fat – Especially if you're using beef with more than 15% fat. It keeps the bowl from feeling greasy.
• Don’t skip the sauce – It brings the whole bowl together.
• Avocado timing – If prepping ahead, slice the avocado just before serving to keep it fresh.

📔 Storage & Meal Prep Instructions

Meal Prep Friendly:
These bowls are perfect for prepping ahead. Cook the ground beef and let it cool completely. Divide the ingredients (except avocado) into separate containers—ideally using two-compartment containers to keep everything fresh.

Keep the burger sauce in a small jar or condiment cup. When you're ready to eat, warm the beef, slice up some avocado, and assemble your bowl. Finish with a drizzle of sauce and enjoy!

Storage Tips:
Once everything is mixed, it’s best eaten fresh. But if you keep the components separate, they’ll stay good in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

📖 More Burger recipes

• Vegan Lentil Burgers
• Easy Tuna Burgers