My burger bowl is a simple but tasty twist on the classic hamburger. I make them with seasoned ground beef, colorful fresh veggies, and a creamy homemade sauce to top it off and they’re just as satisfying as the real thing!
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My Easy Burger Bowl Recipe
The first time I made a burger bowl, I had actually planned to make traditional burgers –– bun and all! I had all of the burger ingredients in my shopping cart, but for some reason, I must’ve skipped the bread aisle. I didn’t realize I was missing the buns until I had already made it home, and there wasn’t enough time for me to go back and get them.
Of course, I was so bummed out. My daughter, Leah, could see that I was disappointed, so she jokingly asked if I really needed buns to make burgers. Couldn’t I toss the other ingredients in a bowl, salad style? I laughed about it for a minute before realizing that she was absolutely right! A burger in a bowl, it would be!
To my surprise, my husband, Ben, loved his deconstructed burger so much, he said he didn’t even miss the buns. My son, Connor, enjoyed his bowl just like a loaded burger, using every topping I had out. This may have been my family’s first time making these bowls, but it wouldn’t be the last!
Looking for more tasty bowl recipes? Try my southwest bowl, my sweet potato buddha bowl, or my instant pot chicken taco bowls! Or, for more delicious burger recipes, try my juicy air fryer hamburgers or oven baked burgers!
Hamburger Bowl Ingredients
- Ground beef – Browned in the pan instead of formed into patties!
- Montreal steak seasoning – For added smoky and savory beef flavor with a little bit of spice.
- Romaine lettuce – I use this as the first layer of the bowl to add volume!
- Purple onion – Brings a crisp, peppery taste while also adding a splash of color.
- Cherry tomatoes – Light, refreshing, and add color and dimension.
- Dill pickle chips – For some texture and distinct flavor. My husband refuses to eat a burger without pickles, so same with my bowls.
- Fresh dill – I use this optional ingredient as a garnish to enhance the appearance and taste.
- Mayo – The creamy base of the homemade dressing.
- Ketchup – Brings just the right amount of sweetness.
- Yellow mustard – For bold flavor and even more color
- Pickle juice – Adds brightness and balance to the other condiments. Plus, it highlights the pickle chips even further!
How to Make a Burger Bowl
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Wash, dry, and chop the romaine. Chop the onion, and slice the cherry tomatoes.
STEP TWO: Season the ground beef with the Montreal steak seasoning, then brown it in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain any grease from the pan, and add more seasoning to taste.
STEP THREE: Next, begin preparing the dressing. In a small bowl, combine the mayo, ketchup, mustard, and pickle juice. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of chopped fresh dill if desired, then stir to combine.
STEP FOUR: Assemble the bowls, starting with 1½ cups of romaine at the bottom. Then add the desired amount of onions, tomatoes, dill pickles, and seasoned ground beef. If desired, add more fresh dill as a garnish.
STEP FIVE: Drizzle 1 to 2 tablespoons of the burger sauce per bowl. Serve and enjoy!
Tips for the Best Burger Bowls
- Seasoning the ground beef generously is how I maximize the flavor in each bowl!
- Let the ground beef sit untouched for 2 to 3 minutes when it first hits the hot pan. This is my top tip for getting beautifully browned beef.
- I like to use wide, shallow bowls so that I can lay out all of the toppings next to each other instead of layering them one by one.
- Whisk the condiments thoroughly to emulsify the ingredients and ensure everything combines evenly.
- Don’t skip the dill! While using dill as a garnish and adding it to the homemade dressing is optional, I think it really enhances the flavor and appearance of the bowl.
Burger in a Bowl Variations and Substitutions
- When I don’t have Montreal steak seasoning on hand, I make my own spice blend with smoked paprika, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- To kick up the heat, I like to add sliced jalapenos or mix some cayenne or red pepper flakes into the burger spread.
- For a change in flavor, use my smash burger sauce or Big Mac sauce as a dressing instead!
- Sprinkling in some cheese turns this recipe from a hamburger bowl to a cheeseburger bowl! Cheddar, pepper jack, and feta are some of my favorites!
- For a sweeter twist, I swap out the raw onions and use caramelized onions instead.
- Putting out other toppings like mushrooms, spinach, bacon, and avocado is my favorite way to customize the recipe and meet everyone’s taste preferences, from classic to healthy.
Burger Bowl FAQs
Can I make this burger bowl recipe ahead of time?
I often cook the ground beef and chop up all of the veggies ahead of time, but I always wait to assemble the bowl until right before eating it. Mixing everything together too soon leaves me with a bowl of soggy ingredients, and this recipe tastes best when it’s fresh!
How should I store leftover hamburger bowls?
When there are leftover ingredients that haven’t been combined yet, I store each ingredient in a separate container in the refrigerator. If I have already mixed my bowl, I transfer it to an airtight container before moving it to the refrigerator. It will usually keep for 1 to 2 days before it starts to get too soggy.
More Healthy Recipes
- Grilled chicken tenders
- Yogurt fruit dip
- Chicken cutlets
- Turkey avocado sandwich
- Air fryer chicken breasts
Easy Burger Bowl
Ingredients
Burger Bowl Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1-2 tablespoons Montreal Steak Seasoning or favorite burger seasoning
- 6 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- ½ purple onion chopped
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- dill pickle chips
- fresh dill optional
Burger sauce Ingredients (makes ½ cup of sauce):
- ¼ cup mayo
- 2 tablespoon + 2 teaspoon ketchup
- ½ tablespoon + 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
- ½ tablespoon pickle juice
Instructions
- Prep the vegetables: wash, dry and chop the romaine. Chop the onion, and slice the cherry tomatoes.
- Season the ground beef and then brown it in a large skillet on medium heat. Drain any grease from the pan. Taste and add more seasoning if desired.
- Prepare the dressing: in a small bowl combine the mayo, ketchup, mustard and pickle juice. If you would like fresh dill then chop 1-2 teaspoons of fresh dill into the sauce.
- Prepare the bowl. Each bowl gets 1 – ½ cups of romaine, and the desired amount of onions, tomatoes and dill pickles. If desired add more fresh dill.
- Drizzle 1 to 2 tablespoons of sauce per bowl, more if desired.
Notes
- Season the ground beef generously for maximum flavor.
- Let the ground beef sit untouched for 2 to 3 minutes when it first hits the hot pan to get beautifully browned beef.
- Use wide, shallow bowls to lay out all of the toppings next to each other instead of layering them one by one.
- Whisk the condiments thoroughly to emulsify the ingredients and ensure everything combines evenly.
- Don’t skip the dill! While using dill as a garnish and adding it to the homemade dressing is optional, I think it really enhances the flavor and appearance of the bowl.
- It can be prepped ahead of time, but wait to add all the ingredients together, especially the dressing on top of the salad, until you’re ready to eat to keep everything fresh tasting.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days.
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
