Deconstructed Burger Bowls (Printable View)
Seasoned ground beef over crisp romaine with tomatoes, pickles, cheddar, and tangy burger sauce.
# Ingredient List:
→ Burger Bowl Base
01 - 1 lb ground beef (80/20 blend recommended)
02 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
→ Salad Base
06 - 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1/2 cup diced red onion
09 - 1/2 cup sliced dill pickles
10 - 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
→ Burger Sauce
11 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
12 - 2 tablespoons ketchup
13 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
14 - 1 tablespoon sweet relish
15 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
16 - 1 teaspoon white vinegar
→ Optional Toppings
17 - Crispy bacon, crumbled
18 - Sliced avocado
19 - Jalapeño slices
20 - Toasted sesame seeds
# How to Make It:
01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a spatula, until fully browned and no pink remains, about 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - While the beef cooks, divide the chopped romaine lettuce among 4 serving bowls. Top each with cherry tomatoes, diced red onion, sliced pickles, and shredded cheddar cheese.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, sweet relish, smoked paprika, and white vinegar until smooth and well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
04 - Divide the cooked ground beef evenly among the 4 prepared salad bowls, layering it over the vegetables and cheese.
05 - Generously spoon the burger sauce over each bowl, ensuring even coverage across the top.
06 - Finish with any desired optional toppings such as crumbled bacon, sliced avocado, jalapeño slices, or toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately while the beef is still warm.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- All the messy glory of a burger with none of the bun crumbling or cheese sliding off onto your shirt.
- It comes together in about half an hour which is faster than any delivery app could ever dream of reaching your door.
- Cleanup is basically one skillet and a whisk so your sink will thank you by morning.
02 -
- Do not skip draining the beef or your bowls will swim in grease and the lettuce will wilt into sadness before you finish.
- Let the beef cool for just two minutes before piling it on so the cheese melts gently without turning the lettuce to mush.
03 -
- Toasting a handful of sesame seeds in the dry skillet before cooking the beef adds a subtle nuttiness that nobody expects but everyone loves.
- The sauce tastes even better on day two so always make extra and hide it in the back of the fridge for yourself.