Name: Easy Burger Bowl Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons ketchup; 1 tablespoon pickle juice; 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon onion powder; 800 gramm lean beef mince (approximately 28 ounces or as much you need for 4 people.); 1 tablespoon olive oil; 8 large lettuce leaves of your choice; 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes; 2 pickled cucumbers sliced; 1 ripe avocado, sliced; 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese; 1 teaspoon sweet paprika; 1/2 teaspoon smoked sweet paprika; 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon sea salt; 1/4 teaspoon onion powder; 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

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Hectic weeknights don’t have to mean fast food! This easy Burger Bowl (or Big Mac Salad as you might call it) is your new best friend. It’s bursting with all the delicious flavors you crave in a burger but in a healthier, easier-to-eat bowl format. Plus, it comes together in just 20 minutes – perfect for those busy weeknights.

The post has extra tips to make sure the recipe comes out amazing on your first try. If you're in a rush, use the link above to jump to the recipe card at the end! 👩‍🍳🔝

a deconstructed burger bowl. Crispy fries with cooked ground beef served with avocado slices, cherry tomatoes, pickles and sauce.

Ingredients

Here is what we need to make this easy burger bowl

A NOTE ABOUT THE MEAT: This recipe is all about flexibility! You can use pre-made burger patties from the store and simply crumble them while cooking. Use ground turkey or ground chicken for a lighter option. If using plain ground beef, as I did, you can season it to your liking (see my spice mix recipe in the recipe card).

Find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below ⬇️

Homemade burger sauce

This isn’t your average burger sauce! Just like our homemade bang bang sauce, this sauce is a secret weapon that takes this bowl over the top. The best part? It’s incredibly easy to make.

Ingredients needed to make burger sauce.

Simply whisk together all the ingredients in a small bowl or jar, until they’re smooth and creamy. Taste and adjust the seasonings as you like. Refrigerate until needed.

Let’s make the burger bowl

Cook the Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef (or your chosen protein) and break it up with a wooden spoon or spatula as it cooks. Season generously with salt and pepper (see my spices suggestion in the recipe card below) until browned throughout. Drain any excess grease.
Assemble the Deconstructed Burger Bowl: Divide the lettuce (chopped butter lettuce or romaine lettuce work great) between the bowls. Top with the cooked burger meat, cherry tomatoes halved or quartered, thinly sliced or diced red onion, and any other burger toppings your heart desires.
Add the Special Sauce: Drizzle delicious special sauce over each bowl and enjoy!

🧑‍🍳 🧒 CALLING ALL MINI CHEFS: Let your little ones be sous chefs and help assemble their own Burger Bowls. Prepare little bowls filled with various toppings like chopped tomatoes, shredded cheese, and sliced pickles. They’ll have so much fun creating their own mini bowls.

Add your favorite burger toppings

The beauty of this recipe is its customization! Just like you wouldn’t order the same burger every time, your Burger Bowl can be easily customized. We used classic Big Mac burger toppings like red onion, creamy avocado, melty cheddar cheese, tangy dill pickles, juicy cherry tomatoes, on a bed of crisp romaine lettuce. But that’s just us! Here are some ideas you might want to try:

Add a layer of crispy bacon for a smoky, salty punch.
Try sliced cucumbers, sauteed mushrooms, or grilled zucchini slices.
Jalapeños, sriracha mayo, or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes will add a spicy kick.

The possibilities are endless! Get creative and have fun building your perfect Burger Bowl.

assembled burger bowl ready to be enjoyed.

The note about crispy fries

In my opinion, no burger experience is complete without a side of crispy fries, and our Big Mac Salad is no exception! I kept things simple with store-bought pub-style fries, but if you got a little extra time make a batch of classic french fries from scratch. Or try our crispy sweet potato slices for a healthier version

More easy weeknight dinners for the whole family!

Have you tried this recipe? If so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could leave a star rating and share your thoughts in a comment. Your feedback means a lot to me, and it can also help others who are interested in trying it out. Thank you! 🌟👩‍🍳