Burger Bowl with Secret Sauce and Cheddar
By Emma Collins
Prep
15 min
Cook
15 min
Total
30 min
Servings
4
Level
Easy
These burger bowls are convenient meal-prep options that can be served for lunch or dinner at home. Bowls can be assembled fresh for service with lettuce and seasoned beef topped with a creamy pickle-containing sauce (cold is best).
I cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat for 5 to 7 minutes or until browned, then drain fat from the skillet before adding other ingredients. Cooking for one more minute allows the mixture to absorb flavors from Worcestershire sauce and other dry spices without drying out the beef. Too much beef in a skillet steams instead of browns, leaving the beef pale.
Sauce is made in small bowls and mixed while the skillet heats. I mix the sauce until smooth. I like to eat the sauce cold. Dill pickle relish mimics the taste of a regular burger. White vinegar offsets the taste of mayonnaise in the sauce. I prefer to put more sauce on the beef than on the lettuce. Cherry tomatoes and red onions are other ingredients that prevent this dish from tasting like a salad.
For serving, I divide shredded lettuce among four bowls and add beef, tomato, red onion, pickles, and cheddar cheese. The toppings are served cold, with hot beef. This is how I like to serve a burger bowl. Add sliced avocado if you have it on hand.
Why this recipe works
- One pound of beef serves four. This information can make meal planning for several lunches or dinners easier.
- The beef is browned within 5 to 7 minutes and needs just 1 extra minute to cook with the seasonings.
- Chop the vegetables while the skillet is busy to save time later when filling the bowls.
- You can use regular ketchup instead of sugar-free ketchup in the sauce if you don't have sugar-free ketchup at home.
- Toast sesame seeds for crunch or add toppings such as bacon, mushrooms, sautéed onions, and fried eggs.
Ingredients
- •1 lb 85/15 ground beef
- •1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- •1 tsp garlic powder
- •½ tsp onion powder
- •½ tsp salt
- •¼ tsp black pepper
- •½ cup mayonnaise
- •2 tbsp sugar-free ketchup (regular ketchup also works)
- •1 tbsp dill pickle relish
- •1 tsp white vinegar
- •½ tsp paprika
- •4 cups romaine or iceberg lettuce (chopped)
- •1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- •½ red onion (thinly sliced)
- •½ cup dill pickles (sliced or chopped)
- •1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- •avocado (sliced or diced)
Instructions
- 1
Whisk the mayonnaise, sugar-free ketchup, dill pickle relish, white vinegar, and paprika in a small bowl until smooth. Set the sauce aside.
- 2
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, break it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
- 3
Stir the Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper into the beef. Cook for 1 more minute, until fragrant and well seasoned.
- 4
Divide the chopped lettuce among four bowls. Top with the seasoned beef, cherry tomatoes, red onion, dill pickles, and shredded cheddar cheese. Drizzle with the secret sauce and serve immediately.
FAQ
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
550
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