Sometimes you just want a good ol’ burger but without the carb-y bun. Am I right?! These Burger Bowls are the answer and will satisfy any burger craving and then some!
Gather all your favourite burger toppings because we’re making Loaded Burger Bowls! This is comfort food at it’s finest and the absolute perfect way to still get your hamburger fix but without the high carb count. Low Carb and Keto dieters rejoice! It’s got alllllll the goods you’d normally find in a classic burger but of course, with no bread in sight. But don’t worry… these Burger Bowls are so delicious and loaded with toppings, you won’t even miss it. Sliced pickles, red onions, diced tomatoes, grated cheddar cheese, crispy bacon and a perfectly seasoned homemade beef patty sit on a bed of chopped crisp lettuce. As if that doesn’t sound delicious enough, these Burger Bowls team up with the best creamy homemade burger sauce that seriously sends them over the edge. YES, you CAN have your burger and eat it, too! 😉
I loooooove me a good burger. Whether it’s these Hidden Zucchini Turkey Burgers or these Low FODMAP Spinach and Artichoke Millet Burgers, I can never say no to a comforting and satisfying burger. I just love all the crisp and fresh toppings, the deliciously tasty sauces and all the endless combinations or ways to enjoy a burger. These Burger Bowls being one of them.
As you could probably already tell from a few of my latest posts like this Philly Cheesesteak Casserole, this 15 minute Egg Roll in A Bowl or this creamy Cauliflower “Mac” and Cheese, I wasn’t about to let being on the Keto Diet stop me from eating some of my favourite carb filled foods! And, to be honest, I’ve actually been having fun trying to think of ways we could still enjoy these much loved foods but without the high carb count.
Sure, you can always throw your burger patty into some whole lettuce leaves and have that be the bun. And I ain’t ever opposed to that one, either. But when you just don’t feel like getting your hands dirty or you’re in the mood for loading it up with ALL OF THE TOPPINGS (aka, me, ALWAYS) Burger Bowls just seem like the perfect fit. No messy hands. Loaded (and I mean LOADED) with all your classic burger toppings. A deliciously creamy homemade secret burger sauce to tie it altogether. And the best, guilt free, low carb, keto friendly way to enjoy a burger. I mean, what more could you ask for? (If your answer is fries, you smartass, you… then try these ones, dammit).
LOADED BURGER BOWLS INGREDIENTS
What comes to mind when you think of the toppings that go on a classic burger? Is it the crisp red onion slices, the juicy thick tomato, the sliced dill pickles or the crisp leaf lettuce? Or is it the mandatory ketchup, mustard or mayo that together, I’m sure we can all agree, make the perfect harmony? Cause we don’t leave anything out in these Burger Bowls – they’ve got it ALL. Let’s talk about the components in a little more detail down below!
- Lettuce: The base of these Burger Bowls and gives you the ‘ok’ to also refer to them as salads, if you prefer. Fresh and crisp is best in this recipe and will honestly make such a difference as opposed to using a wilting bunch. I used leaf lettuce but you can use whatever kind of lettuce you have on hand. Romaine, iceberg or butterhead lettuce make great alternatives. Kale, spinach and arugula are also great bases for this Burger Bowl recipe. Of course, you can always combine any of the above to make a tasty base.
- Tomatoes: Adds a nice juicy acidity to the Burger Bowls. I used a regular Beefsteak Tomato but you can use roma, cherry or grape tomatoes instead, if you prefer.
- Red Onion: Adds a nice, fresh and almost spicy bite to these Burger Bowls. Red onion, IMHO, is the most classic onion to put on burgers but you can use white, yellow, or even green onions instead, if you prefer. For even more flavour and a little bit of an adventurous twist, try it with pickled red onions instead.
- Pickles: Adds the perfect zesty crunch and tang to these Burger Bowls. I know pickles are just one of those things – you either love them or hate them – and if you happen to fall into the later (we can’t be friends), just omit them. I love using good ol’ dill pickles for this recipe as I find they add the best flavour and are the most classic.
- Ketchup: This classic burger condiment is added to the creamy sauce that gets drizzled onto the Burger Bowls. For a bit of sweetness and acidity. If following a Keto Diet, be sure to use the sugar free version.
- Mustard: Another popular burger condiment. Adds a sharp smoothness to the sauce. I used regular yellow mustard but dijon or spicy would also taste great.
- Mayonnaise: The perfect balance for the rest of the ingredients and the base of our delicious burger bowl sauce. Makes it creamy, thick and delicious. If you’re feeling extra fancy, skip the store bought mayo and try using my Homemade Mayonnaise instead.
- Sriracha: Adds a little bit of heat to the creamy sauce. Add more or less depending on your preference or omit completely, if preferred.
- Pickle Juice: For extra flavour, zest and tang in the sauce. Also helps to smooth it out slightly so that it’s pourable!
- Bacon: Did I forget to mention that these Burger Bowls are deluxe?! Bacon adds extra flavour, crunch and umami to the dish. Feel free to omit it, if you wish. RECIPE NOTE: I keep the bacon in whole slices but you can always crumble it in instead, if you prefer.
- Cheddar Cheese: Bacon Cheeseburger bowls, y’all. It doesn’t get much better than this! Feel free to switch things up a bit and use a different kind of cheese. Monterey Jack, swiss or blue cheese are great alternatives.
- Ground Beef: Keeping things traditional, ground beef if the base of our burger patties! However, feel free to change things up a bit and use ground turkey, chicken, pork, bison or lamb instead.
- Spices: The only thing the burger patties need is some spice to become flavorful and delicious. Use whatever spice combination you prefer or use the ones I chose: Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
HOW TO MAKE BURGER BOWLS (KEY TIPS)
- Cut all the veggies into similar bite size pieces. The best way to eat these Burger Bowls is to get a little bit of everything in one bite. The only way to achieve this is to ensure that all the veggies are cut into small enough pieces so they don’t overpower any of the other ingredients.
- These Burger Bowls call for one pound of ground beef. When split amongst two patties, some people may find it too much. Feel free to make four smaller patties instead of two, if you prefer. You can always freeze the extra patties for a later date. That being said though, I found the half pound patties perfect for these Burger Bowls! EXTRA TIP: However many patties you decide to make, ensure you make them the same size so they cook up evenly and in the same amount of time! RECIPE NOTE: If you don’t want to make the ground beef into patties, just brown it in a skillet with the seasonings instead. Crumbled ground beef is just as good as burger patties in this recipe.
- Mix the spices in a bowl before adding them to the ground beef to mix. You want to be careful not to work the meat too much so if the spices are premixed before adding them in, you won’t have to work too hard to incorporate them.
- Don’t overwork the meat or the burgers will be dense and dry. Just mix until the spiced are just incorporated throughout.
- Make a thumb imprint in the middle of the raw burger patties creating a sort of dimple. This will help them cook up evenly in the pan.
- Use the same pan you fried the bacon in to cook the beef patties and reserve at least one tablespoon of bacon grease to do so. This will add extra flavour to the patties as they cook making extra delicious!
- Keep an eye on the burger patties as they cook up in the pan. They won’t take long and can burn easily. RECIPE NOTE: You don’t have to use a skillet to cook these patties. Feel free to grill, broil or air fry them until desired doneness instead.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Burger Bowls are definitely best eaten fresh! You can chop all the veggies up and make the creamy burger sauce a little in advance if you want. But definitely don’t assemble the bowls until you’re ready to eat them, especially with the sauce or it’ll become soggy.
First of all, if you anticipate leftovers, go easy on the sauce! Leftovers will get a little soggy but trust me, they’ll still be delicious. Simply toss in more of the creamy sauce when ready to eat again. Store leftovers in an airtight container and eat within a day.
This recipe for Burger Bowls makes 2 servings and the nutritional information is calculated based on 1/2 a pound of ground beef per bowl. It’s only an estimate and is calculated using Nutritionix. There are 7 net grams of carbs per Burger Bowl – however, that is if you use all the sauce between the two bowls. I had a bit of sauce leftover!
This creamy sauce is a great addition to many meals! Use it as a dipping sauce for these french fries or potato wedges, these oven baked chicken drumsticks, crispy chicken wings or this air fried chicken breast. You can also drizzle it onto anything from this broccoli and bacon salad, ground beef taco salad or this shrimp and veggie stir fry.
If you don’t want to use the creamy sauce found in the recipe card down below, try this 5 minute Garlic Aioli Recipe instead!
BURGER BOWLS
Sometimes you just want a good ol' burger but without the carb-y bun. Am I right?! These Burger Bowls are the answer and will satisfy any burger craving and then some!
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef*
- 1/2 head Leaf Lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup Cheddar Cheese, grated
- 4 slices Bacon
- 1 Tomato, diced
- 1/2 cup Red Onion, sliced
- 2 Dill Pickles, sliced into thin rounds
- 4 tbsp Mayonnaise, homemade or store bought*
- 2 tbsp Ketchup (Sugar Free, if Keto)
- 2 tbsp Mustard
- 1 tbsp Pickle Juice
- 1 tsp Sriracha
- 1/2 tsp each Italian Seasoning, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika and Salt
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
- Add all the spices to a bowl and stir to combine.
- Add the ground beef to a bowl, then add the spice mix. Use your hands to work the spices into the meat until they're evenly dispersed and well combined. However, be careful not to overwork the meat.
- Form the meat into either 2 or 4 even size patties (see notes). Using your thumb, press a little dimple into the center of each for even cooking.
- Cook the bacon in a skillet to your desired doneness. Remove from the skillet but reserve 1 tbsp of the bacon grease.
- Add the burger patties to the skillet with the bacon grease and cook the patties over medium heat until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Keep a close eye to ensure nothing burns.
- Meanwhile, add the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, sriracha and pickle juice to a bowl. Stir to combine.
- Assemble the burger bowls: Start by dividing the lettuce between two bowls. Top with the sliced pickles, diced tomatoes, sliced red onion, grated cheddar cheese and bacon slices (I like to put them in their own separate piles all around the bowl but you can do this however you like). Add the cooked beef patty on top. Drizzle with as much of the homemade creamy burger sauce your heart desires! ENJOY!
Notes
1 pound of Ground Beef might be a little much for some if only making 2 patties/bowls. I found it to be the perfect amount, however, feel free to make 4 patties instead and freeze two for later use.
Find my deliciously creamy Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe HERE.
Try this recipe with my Simply Delicious Ground Beef Burgers instead!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1257Total Fat: 89gSaturated Fat: 32gTrans Fat: 2gUnsaturated Fat: 48gCholesterol: 292mgSodium: 2343mgCarbohydrates: 27gNet Carbohydrates: 7gFiber: 7gSugar: 13gProtein: 87g
Nutrition is only an estimate and calculated using Nutritionix.
TRY THIS RECIPE WITH MY SIMPLY DELICIOUS GROUND BEEF BURGERS OR MY HIDDEN ZUCCHINI TURKEY BURGERS INSTEAD!
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