Quick Look at the Best Burger Bowls Recipe EVER
- Ready In: under 45 minutes!
- Serves: 4
- Main Ingredients: ground beef, lettuce, caramelized onions, bacon, tomatoes, pickles and the BEST special sauce!
- Protein: over 25g of protein per serving!
- Dietary Info: dairy-free, gluten-free, Whole30/Paleo, easy weeknight
- Serving Suggestion: the homemade special sauce is a MUST!
- Why You’ll Love It: All the best burger flavors but hold the bun for this incredible weeknight dinner! You have probably seen a burger bowl before, but this one is made with quick caramelized onions and crispy bacon bits. Both work together to really bring this healthy burger bowl to the next level!
Share and summarize this recipe:
Key Ingredients + Substitutions
Be sure to see the recipe card below for a full listing of ingredients, instructions, and estimated nutritional information.
- Ground Beef – feel free to swap it out for a more lean ground turkey or ground chicken!
- Special Sauce – the recipe card includes our special sauce for burgers that only takes a few minutes to make and can be prepped ahead of time – so good!
- Butter Lettuce – highly recommend this crisp lettuce, but any type of lettuce or greens mixture would be delicious.
- Caramelized Onions – the perfect topping that can’t be skipped. They have so much great flavor!
How To Make Burger Bowls
Step 1 – Mix up the special sauce and set aside.
Step 2 – Cook the caramelized onions in a large skillet. Transfer to a plate & set aside.
Step 3 – Brown the ground beef with seasonings in the same skillet.
Step 4 – Build the bowls with equal amounts of beef, caramelized onions, and the other ingredients.
Best Way To Serve Burger Bowls
A generous pour of the burger special sauce is a must! Or try our big mac sauce, if that is more your thing. Otherwise, feel free to play around with the toppings. If there are certain toppings that you love on a homemade burger recipe, then the odds are good that you will love it on this too!
Love the Flavors of a Classic Big Mac?
Then you have to try our healthy big mac salad! All the flavors of the fast food classic, but made at home with real, simple ingredients.
Burger Bowl FAQs
It is basically all the elements of a classic hamburger but deconstructed in a bowl. There is no hamburger bun, making a delicious low-carb option.
A classic burger sauce is always good or try a big mac sauce for those classic fast food flavors.
In this recipe we kept it simple with onion powder, garlic powder, salt & pepper, but feel free to use a homemade burger seasoning for even more flavor.
Yes, both the meat and onions can be cooked ahead of time and stored in the fridge until ready to reheat and serve. All the other toppings can be chopped, the burger sauce made, and stored in the fridge too.
Other Homemade Burger Recipes You Might Like
Made this recipe and loved it?!
We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
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Ingredients
Special Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon dill pickles, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pickle juice
- 1/2 teaspoon soy sauce, sub coconut aminos
- 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, more if you desire after tasting
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
Caramelized Onion:
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large sweet yellow onion, sliced
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Burger Bowls:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2-4 cups butter lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2-4 slices purple onion
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and roughly chopped
- 8 burger pickles
- optional: 1 avocado, sliced
Instructions
- Make Special Sauce: Combine ingredients in a small bowl; Stir to combine. Set aside until the remaining ingredients are ready.
- Caramelized Onions: Bring a large cast iron skillet to medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil and move it around so that the entire pan is coated. Add onions and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. Move onions around the pan and bring heat down to medium heat once onions start to cook down. Continue cooking onions for 15-30 minutes, turning heat down as necessary, until they start to turn golden brown. Transfer to a plate and set aside until the rest of the meal is ready.
- Cook Beef: Bring the large cast iron skillet back to a medium high heat. Add 1 pound lean ground beef, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper. Break apart and move around the pan to full brown the ground beef. Pour off any excess grease. Taste and adjust any seasonings, as desired.
- Build Bowls: Divide the lettuce, tomatoes, purple onion, bacon, pickles, and avocado between bowls. Then divide the cooked hamburger and caramelized onions between the bowls.
- Serve: Top with as much Special Sauce as you want and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Paleo Mayo: here is a homemade version of paleo mayo we love!
- Whole30/Paleo: check your ingredients in your mayo, ketchup, and pickles!
- Storage: leftover burger bowl ingredients can be kept in separate airtight containers in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
Originally published April 22, 2021.
Rebecca Healy says
My husband and I are always looking for a healthy, quick, yummy dinner during the week and this bowl was it! It’s in our regular rotation.
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Rebecca! Thanks for taking the time to come back and leave a review + rating!
Vicki Harvey says
So good!!
Alyssa says
This recipe has become a staple in my house. Sometimes I even make it with ground turkey and a fried egg on top. In all honesty it is almost better then a real burger!
Erin says
So glad to hear that, Alyssa!
Sarah says
Couldn’t decide between making this Burger Bowl, or having a bun less burger…so glad I opted for the bowl! Very delicious! Anxious to try some other Wooden Skillet recipes!
Angela Cogan says
Made this Burger Bowl tonight. It was very good & the sauce is amazing! Our toppings included bacon, tomato, avocado, pickles, caramelized onion & shredded non-dairy cheese. Will definitely make this again. My 13yr old even devoured the entire thing.
Erin says
Glad you enjoyed it, Angela!
Kaylyn says
The onions are so good and he sauce is delicious. I love a good burger salad! Thank you, Erin!
Erin says
So glad you enjoyed this one, Kaylyn!
Carla Grimm says
Such a good salad / I make this all the time!! The sauce is to die for!
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Carla! Thanks for coming back to leave a review!
Jen says
I’m not sure if this has been asked, what kind of ketchup do you use? I’m assuming a whole 30 or paleo approved one?
Erin says
I am in love with the Primal Kitchen ketchup (which is also paleo/Whole30) – its my favorite!
Mel says
Holy Moly!! We loved this! We just used the lettuce we already had (romaine) and I had leftover patties from a few nights prior. We also added some pepperoncinnis (sp?). Whole family approved. Saved this recipe for next time. Good job!
Erin says
So glad you enjoyed it! And thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review – I appreciate it!
Amanda says
So easy. So delicious. The sauce is simple to make!
Christine says
9/8/21 – delicious, I have tried a few burger bowls but your sauce and ground beef flavors are the best. Will definitely make again
Erin says
so glad you enjoyed it, Christine!
Kaylyn says
I made this for dinner tonight and it was so yummy! The sauce is delicious. My husband commented three times on how good the meal was!
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Kaylyn!
Heather Ward says
This recipe was amazing! So easy and delicious. We all loved the special sauce!
This is definitely going into the rotation. Also, passing on the my college age son who needs healthy recipes for apartment living!
Erin says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Casey says
This recipe is so easy and delicious! Love the special sauce!
Erin says
Yay!! Glad you enjoyed it, Casey! Thanks for taking the time to leave feedback – I really appreciate it!
Sarah says
So good, easy, and customizable, it’s our new favorite way to eat burgers! We toss a few french fries in there too 🙂
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Sarah! Looove the addition of french fries!! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review – I really appreciate it!
Ashley says
So delicious and easy! The kids loved it. Definitely adding to our list!
Erin says
So happy to hear that, Ashley! My family has been loving this recipe too – thanks so much for taking the time to come back and leave a review and feedback – I really appreciate it!