Cheeseburger Salad Bowl Recipe
Craving all the flavors of a juicy cheeseburger without the bun? This Cheeseburger Salad Bowl is the perfect low-carb, high-protein alternative that doesn’t skimp on taste. Packed with seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, cherry tomatoes, pickles, red onion, shredded cheese, and a delicious burger sauce dressing, this bunless burger bowl is everything you love in a classic burger, but just lighter and fresher.
Cheeseburger Salad Bowl Ingredients
Scroll down to the recipe card to see the complete list of ingredients.
Whether you’re following a keto diet, eating low-carb, or just looking for a satisfying and easy weeknight dinner, this cheeseburger salad recipe is a flavorful and filling choice you’ll make on repeat. And these are the ingredients that you will need to make it:
Cheeseburger Salad:
- Oil. Just enough oil is added to help brown the lean ground beef while it cooks. Use your preferred oil; I love using extra virgin olive oil.
- Ground beef. Unlike a regular burger, where we use 80/20 ground beef for a juicy and flavorful patty, we’ll use lean ground beef to keep the salad on the lighter side.
- Seasonings. Add in your favorite seasonings to enhance the flavor of the lean ground beef. My favorite seasonings are usually oregano, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Lettuce. Use lettuce that will give this salad flavor and texture, like Romaine, Red, or Green lettuce.
- Tomatoes. I usually use cherry or grape tomatoes, but use your favorite type of tomatoes for this salad.
- Onion. Red onion always goes great with burgers, so that’s what I usually use. I also slice them so they are easier to pick out if you have picky eaters who prefer their burgers without them.
- Pickles. An ingredient that makes a great burger, so why not use it in this salad?
- Cheese. Shredded cheddar cheese offers a bold and tangy flavor that goes very well with the ground beef.
Burger Sauce Dressing:
- Mayonnaise. For a creamy, delicious base.
- Ketchup. It adds a sweet tomato flavor.
- Yellow mustard. For a touch of tanginess.
- Maple syrup. An optional ingredient that gives this sauce a subtle sweetness. You can also use honey, white, or brown sugar instead.
- Pickle juice or vinegar. For added acidity.
- Sweet pickle relish. It provides a sweet and tangy flavor and a delicious crunch.
- Seasonings. Use your favorite seasonings to enhance the flavor of the sauce, like onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.
How to Make a Cheeseburger Salad Bowl
Scroll down to the recipe card to see detailed step-by-step instructions.
This cheeseburger salad bowl is basically your favorite burger, but fresher and lighter. And it only takes a few minutes to make!
- Prep all of the fresh ingredients that go in the salad.
- Cook the lean ground beef with the seasonings over medium-high heat.
- While the beef is cooking, mix all of the ingredients for the burger sauce dressing.
- Assemble the individual salad bowls with the lettuce, tomatoes, onion, pickles, cheese, and cooked ground beef.
- Drizzle each bowl with the dressing before serving.
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Variations
- Add other toppings like avocado, crispy bacon, jalapeños, or other vegetables like carrots, mushrooms, or zucchini.
- Use other types of cheese, like Swiss, Provolone, or Mozzarella.
- Want to add more protein? Serve it with a fried egg on top!
- Make it with ground chicken or turkey for a lighter version.
- Serve them with Oven Baked Potato Wedges or Oven Roasted Potatoes to make them into loaded burger bowls.
👩🏻🍳 My Recommendations
✰ Cook the ground beef flat for a few minutes before breaking it apart, allowing it to develop a caramelized, flavorful crust.
✰ You can also melt slices of cheese or sprinkle the shredded cheese on top of the cooked ground beef to serve it like traditional burger patties.
✰ Use sturdy, crispy lettuce like romaine, green, or red leaf, which can hold the toppings and the dressing better. Other types of lettuce, such as butter lettuce, work well, but they tend to get soft and floppy.
✰ Soak the sliced or chopped red onion in water for a few minutes to mellow out its strong, pungent flavor before serving.
✰ This is a great recipe for meal prep! Assemble the cheeseburger bowls in separate containers along with a small container for the burger sauce dressing. Store them in the fridge until serving!
Tools Needed For Making A Cheeseburger Salad Bowl
- 12″ Stainless Steel Skillet
- Silicone Spatula Set
- Salad Spinner
- Individual Salad bowls
- Glass Prep Bowl Sets
- Mini Stainless Steel Whisk
More Delicious Salad Recipes
- KFC Coleslaw Recipe
- Easy Creamy Cucumber Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Watermelon Cucumber Salad
- Apple Walnut Salad
Did you make this recipe?
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Cheeseburger Salad Bowl
Ingredients
Cheeseburger Salad
- 1 Tbsp oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ¼ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 8 cups romaine lettuce, chopped (about 2 small heads)
- 1½ cups (300 g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup (72 g) pickles, sliced or chopped
- ½ red onion, sliced or chopped
- 1 cup (100 g) cheddar cheese, shredded
Burger Sauce Dressing
- ½ cup (115 g or 4 oz) mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp ketchup
- 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 Tbsp maple syrup or to taste* (this ingredient is optional)
- 1 tsp pickle juice or vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sweet pickle relish
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste (I use about ¼ tsp each)
Instructions
- Prep all of the fresh ingredients for the salad. Chop the lettuce, slice the tomatoes in half, slice or chop the red onion, and shred the cheese, if needed.
- Heat the oil in a large pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and seasonings to the pan, and cook until the meat is browned and fully cooked through.
- While the beef is cooking, whisk all of the ingredients for the burger sauce dressing.
- Assemble the cheeseburger salad bowls by making a bed of lettuce, then add the sliced cherry tomatoes, red onion, pickles, shredded cheese, and cooked beef. Drizzle each bowl with the burger sauce dressing before serving.
Notes
- * Substitute the maple syrup with honey or with about 1½ – 2 tsp of white or brown sugar.
