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Easy Burger Bowl in a blue and white bowl on a rattan placemat
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Easy Burger Bowl Recipe

These easy Burger Bowls are loaded with juicy seasoned ground beef, crisp romaine, tomatoes, cheddar, pickles, onion and creamy Big Mac Sauce. The beef is seared as mini patties before being broken apart for crispy burger-style edges, and the whole dinner is ready in just 20 minutes.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Author: Kellie
Cost: $14

Equipment

Ingredients

For the Burger Meat

  • 1 pound ground beef preferably 80/20 or 85/15
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil if needed

For the Burger Bowls

  • 2 large heads romaine lettuce chopped
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup bread and butter pickles chopped or sliced
  • 1/4 cup finely diced red onion or sweet onion
  • 1 avocado diced, optional
  • 1/4 cup crispy onions optional
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • Big Mac Sauce or special sauce for drizzling

Instructions

  • Add the ground beef to a bowl with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce. Gently mix just until combined, being careful not to overwork the beef.
  • Divide the seasoned beef into 8–10 small, loosely formed patties. They don’t need to be perfectly shaped.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. If you’re using lean ground beef, add the neutral oil. Arrange the patties in the hot skillet and cook without moving them for 2–3 minutes, until a deep brown crust forms underneath.
  • Flip the patties and cook for another minute. Use a spatula to break the beef into bite-sized pieces, then continue cooking for another 3–4 minutes or until cooked through with crispy browned edges.
  • Divide the chopped romaine between four bowls. Top with the burger beef, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, pickles, onion, avocado and crispy onions, if using.
  • Drizzle generously with Big Mac Sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For the best burger flavor, let the mini patties develop a deep brown crust before breaking them apart.
  • Avoid overworking or tightly packing the ground beef so it stays tender.
  • If using very lean ground beef, add a little neutral oil to help the meat brown.
  • Romaine can be swapped for shredded iceberg lettuce for more of a classic Big Mac Bowl flavor.
  • Cheddar can be replaced with American, Colby Jack or pepper jack cheese.
  • Dill pickles can be used instead of bread and butter pickles.
  • For meal prep, store the beef separately from the lettuce, toppings and sauce.
  • Assemble just before serving.
  • Cooked beef can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days.
  • Add bacon, jalapeños, banana peppers, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions or relish to customize your bowl.

Nutrition

Calories: 485kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 1066mg | Potassium: 1586mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 27965IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 359mg | Iron: 7mg