Healthy Burger Bowls with Special Sauce

These healthy burger bowls deliver all the classic flavors of a loaded burger without the bun. Juicy seasoned beef, fresh vegetables, and a creamy special sauce come together in a balanced bowl that’s hearty, satisfying, and full of flavor.

Perfect for meal prep or an easy weeknight dinner, this recipe is customizable and quick to assemble. It’s a great way to enjoy comfort food vibes while keeping things fresh and nourishing.

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe uses simple, wholesome ingredients that come together to recreate classic burger flavors in bowl form.

• 1 pound ground beef
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 4 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup chopped pickles
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Special Sauce

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon pickle relish
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika

How to Make Healthy Burger Bowls

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef.
2. Season with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
3. Cook the beef until browned and fully cooked, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
4. While the beef cooks, prepare the special sauce by whisking together all sauce ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.
5. Assemble the bowls by dividing the lettuce between serving bowls.
6. Top with cooked ground beef, tomatoes, pickles, and shredded cheese.
7. Drizzle with the special sauce just before serving.

Tips, Variations & Storage

• Swap ground beef for ground turkey or chicken if preferred.
• Add sliced avocado or red onion for extra flavor and texture.
• Serve the bowls warm or cold depending on preference.
• Store components separately in airtight containers for up to 3 days.
• Keep the sauce refrigerated and add just before serving for best texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make these bowls ahead of time?
Yes, these bowls are great for meal prep. Store the beef, vegetables, and sauce separately and assemble when ready to eat.

Is the special sauce customizable?
Absolutely. You can adjust the sweetness, tang, or creaminess by changing the amounts of ketchup, mustard, or mayo.

What greens work best for burger bowls?
Crisp lettuces like romaine or iceberg work best, but mixed greens can also be used.

Can this be made dairy-free?
Yes, simply omit the cheese or use a dairy-free alternative.

Healthy Burger Bowls with Special Sauce

These healthy burger bowls take all your favorite burger flavors and turn them into a satisfying, low‑carb bowl topped with a creamy special sauce — perfect for lunch or dinner!

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Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Servings:4 bowls

Calories:334

Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound ground beef
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• romaine lettuce chopped
• tomatoes diced
• pickles sliced
• red onion sliced
• ¼ cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon pickle juice
• 1 tablespoon dill relish
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder for sauce
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder for sauce
• ½ teaspoon paprika for sauce

Method

 

1. Heat a skillet over medium‑high heat. Add the ground beef and season with onion powder, dried oregano, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Brown the beef, breaking it up as it cooks, until fully cooked through.
2. While the beef is browning, make the special sauce: whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, pickle juice, dill relish, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika until smooth.
3. Assemble the burger bowls: divide the chopped romaine lettuce among bowls, then top with diced tomatoes, sliced pickles, red onion, and the cooked ground beef.
4. Drizzle the special sauce over the assembled bowls.
5. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Notes

These burger bowls are Whole30 compliant, Paleo‑friendly, and low‑carb. Customize with avocado, shredded cheese, or your favorite burger toppings. Store any leftover sauce in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}