Hamburger Bowls
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These easy hamburger bowls have all the flavours of a cheeseburger, but without the bun! Crisp romaine is topped with savoury ground beef, juicy tomatoes, shredded cheese, bacon, pickles and a creamy special sauce that ties it all together. Satisfy your burger craving with this quick, nourishing meal!
Why you’ll love this recipe
My kids and husband unanimously agreed this burger bowl recipe had to be shared with all of you. We think you’ll love it because it’s
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need to make these cheeseburger bowls. See the recipe card below for full details.
- Lean ground beef – we like to use beef for these burger bowls, but ground turkey, ground chicken or a vegan ground “meat” will also work!
- Flavour boosters for the meat – Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and salt. If you are making this gluten free, check that your brand of Worcestershire sauce doesn’t contain gluten.
- Romaine lettuce – the base of the bowls. You can use whatever salad greens you have on hand, like iceberg lettuce or baby spinach.
- Toppings – cooked and crumbled bacon or bacon bits, tomato, shredded cheddar cheese, sweet or dill pickles; you can customize each bowl with any of your favourite burger toppings! Some other options are sliced red onion, crispy fried onions, sautéed mushrooms or pickled jalapeños.
- Mayonnaise – the base of the sauce. For a lightened up, higher protein option, you can swap out half of the mayo for plain Greek yogurt (I use a half-and-half combo in my Spicy Tuna Pasta Salad and it’s so delicious!).
- White vinegar – gives nice acidity to the sauce. You can sub fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar, but note that these options will give sweeter and more subtle acidity.
- Other sauce flavourings – Dijon mustard, ketchup and garlic powder.
How to make it
If you’re making your own bacon bits from scratch, dice the bacon into half-inch pieces and cook over medium heat in a frying pan, stirring frequently. Once browned and crispy, transfer to a plate lined with paper towel to absorb the grease. Set aside. Wipe out the excess grease from the skillet.
Next, cook the beef. In the frying pan over medium-high heat, add the beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and salt. Break up the beef into bite-sized pieces as it cooks. It should take about 8-9 minutes to be fully cooked through. Remove the skillet from heat and drain excess grease, if needed. Set aside.
Then, make the homemade special sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, finely diced pickles, Dijon mustard, ketchup, white vinegar and garlic powder.
Finally, assemble the loaded burger bowls. Divide the romaine lettuce among four bowls and add the toppings. Drizzle with the sauce and serve immediately.
Tips for Success
More easy ground beef recipes
- Stuffed Pepper Skillet
- Taco Rice Casserole
- Ravioli Lasagna
- Instant Pot Hamburger Soup
- Instant Pot Taco Pasta
- Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna
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Hamburger Bowls
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Ingredients
Meat Mixture:
- 1 pound lean ground beef (can sub ground turkey or chicken, or vegan ground "meat")
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Sauce:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons finely diced pickles (can sub relish)
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Toppings:
- 5 slices cooked bacon, crumbled or sliced (can sub real bacon bits)
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 1 cup chopped tomatoes
- ½ cup sliced pickles (dill or sweet both work)
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the beef. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground beef, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and salt. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 8 to 9 minutes. Remove from heat and drain excess grease, if needed. Set aside.
- Make the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, finely diced pickles, Dijon mustard, ketchup, white vinegar, and garlic powder until smooth. Set aside.
- Assemble the bowls. Divide the romaine lettuce evenly between bowls. Top each bowl with the warm beef mixture, chopped tomatoes, sliced pickles, shredded cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon. Drizzle the prepared sauce over each bowl and serve immediately.
Notes
- Prep ahead: the beef, sauce, lettuce and other toppings can all be prepped ahead of time. Store separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator until ready to assemble and serve.
- For gluten free: double check that your brand of Worcestershire sauce is free from gluten.
- For dairy free: omit the cheese.
Nutrition Estimate
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Hey, I’m Laura!
Creator of The Recipe Well
If you’re looking for easy meals and Instant Pot recipes, you’re in the right place! I use my nutrition degree to create simple, approachable recipes that will help you find your happy place in the kitchen.
