Loaded Burger Bowl
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This loaded burger bowl takes elements of your favorite hamburger and breaks it into an easy to assemble, healthy-ish bowl for a quick and easy dinner. I use a base of romaine lettuce layered with roasted sweet potatoes, beef, pickles, onion, avocado and a special burger sauce inspired by my favorite West Coast burger chain. Cooking the ground beef with a bit of Worcestershire sauce adds great flavor! While this bowl is easily made gluten-free, make sure the Worcestershire sauce is also gluten free (not all brands are gluten free). If this is your kind of meal, you have to check out this NYC lamb truck halal platter or this brown rice, black bean and sweet potato bowl.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy. The elements of this bowl come together quickly for a weeknight meal.
- Meal prep. This recipe is easy to prepare for a few days worth of lunches or dinners. Easily scale it up or down.
Key Ingredients in This Recipe
- Spread – This sauce is very similar to Thousand Island dressing and modeled after West Coast burger chain In-N-Out’s burger sauce. The spread is made from a combination of mayo, ketchup, relish, red onion, vinegar and a touch of sugar.
- Ground beef – I use a blend of 80% lean/ 20% fat ground beef. The fat adds flavor though it can be swapped for a leaner cut. Fresh is best, try asking your butcher to grind it for you. Don’t overcook your beef!
- Worcestershire – Worcestershire is made from a mix of vinegar, molasses, anchovies, garlic, tamarind extract and chili pepper. The fermented condiment adds a quick depth of flavor to the cooked ground beef. While this bowl is easily made gluten-free make sure the Worcestershire sauce is also gluten free (not all brands are gluten free), if needed omit it.
- Sweet potato – Cut a sweet potato into sticks and simply roasting or air frying them adds a more filling element to the bowl. Frozen fries can easily be used as a shortcut.
- Romaine lettuce – The base of this bowl is thinly sliced hearts of romaine for a bit of crunch.
- Avocado – A bit of avocado adds a creamy element that complements the rich ground beef.
- Tomato – Grape tomatoes are a small juicy variety of tomato that add a burst of flavor.
- Red onion – Diced red onion is added to the cooked ground beef as well as served raw over the top of the bowl for a punchier flavor.
- Pickles – I chop up some tangy bread and butter pickles and serve them over the bowl for a hint of acid to balance the sweetness of the sweet potato.
A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How to Make a Loaded Burger Bowl
Add all ingredients to a small mixing bowl and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
Heat oven to 400ºF (200ºC). Arrange the sweet potatoes on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and cook until crispy, tossing half way through cooking, about 20 minutes.
Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium heat, add the oil to the pan and heat through. Next, add the ground beef and ¼ cup (30g) of the onion and cook, stirring occasionally and using a wooden spoon to break up the meat, until the beef is browned, about 6 minutes. Sprinkle with the Worcestershire sauce and season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside until ready to serve.
Divide lettuce among serving bowls. Top each with sweet potato fries, ground beef, tomatoes and avocado. Drizzle the sauce over the top, followed by adding the red onion and pickles. Serve immediately.
Swaps and substitutions
- To turn the hamburger bowl into a cheeseburger bowl, add a sprinkle of your favorite shredded cheese like Cheddar, Monterey Jack or pepper jack.
- Swap the base of the bowl for another green like baby spinach or green leaf lettuce.
- To skip the cutting and opt for a shortcut, use frozen sweet potato or regular fries.
- Use another ground protein like chicken or turkey in place of the beef for a leaner option.
A few more toppings to try
Get creative with your toppings! There is plenty of room for experimentation with burger bowls:
- Crumbled bacon
- Shredded carrots
- Shredded cheese
- Grilled veggies like mushrooms or zucchini
- Sautéed mushrooms
How to Cook Sweet Potato Fries in the Air Fryer
Heat air fryer to 400ºF (200ºC). Arrange fries in the air fryer and cook, turning half way through cooking until crispy, about 15 to 18 minutes.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Yes it’s great for meal prepping! Prep all components (meat, veggies, sauce) and store separately. Assemble just before serving for best texture.
An 80/20 blend offers the best flavor and juiciness. Leaner beef works too, but may be drier.
Definitely. Ground chicken or turkey are great lean alternatives – just be sure to season well and avoid overcooking.
Yes! Heat air fryer to 400ºF (200ºC). Arrange fries in the air fryer and cook, turning half way through cooking until crispy, about 15 to 18 minutes.
Loaded Burger Bowl
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Ingredients:
For the spread:
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons minced red onion
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon granulated sugar
For the bowl:
- 1 medium sweet potato, cut into ¼” sticks
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Kosher salt, as needed
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Freshly ground black pepper, as needed
- 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 medium hass avocado, pitted, peeled and diced
- ½ cup diced red onion, divided
- ¼ cup chopped bread and butter pickles
Instructions:
For the spread:
- Add all ingredients to a small mixing bowl and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
For the bowl:
- Heat oven to 400ºF (200ºC). Arrange the sweet potatoes on a sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and cook until crispy, tossing half way through cooking, about 20 minutes.
- Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium heat, add the oil to the pan and heat through. Add the ground beef and ¼ cup (30g) of the onion and cook, stirring occasionally and using a wooden spoon to break up the meat, until the beef is browned, about 6 minutes. Sprinkle with the Worcestershire sauce and season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside until ready to serve.
- Divide lettuce among serving bowls. Top each with sweet potato fries, ground beef, tomatoes and avocado. Drizzle the sauce over the top, followed by adding the red onion and pickles. Serve immediately.
Notes:
- To turn the hamburger bowl into a cheeseburger bowl, add a sprinkle of your favorite shredded cheese like Cheddar, Monterey Jack or pepper jack.
- Swap the base of the bowl for another green like baby spinach or green leaf lettuce.
Nutrition:
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Great idea – combining burgers and salads!