Whether you’re trying keto or just want a tasty salad option for dinner, this healthy cheeseburger bowl recipe wins all round and is sure to be a hit with all the family. Succulent burger pieces on a bed of salad and pickles sprinkled with sharp grated cheddar and drizzled with a creamy mayo sauce. It’s so satisfying that you won’t miss the burger bun at all.
To make this dish you can make your own homemade burgers from minced beef, salt and pepper or use shop bought (I won’t tell anyone).
It’s then mostly an assembly job of chopping and arranging ingredients in a bowl. You just have to cook the burgers under a grill or in a frying pan.
I love this dish and now choose to have it instead of the traditional burger with a bun. I find it is a lighter dish and more interesting to eat. You can have a few sweet potato fries on the side if you want to add in some extra fibre and carbs.
Why you should cook this
- Very quick and easy to prepare and can be part of your meal prep routine
- Keto friendly – low carb
- Provides a healthy dose of vegetables
- Gluten free
Cheeseburger Bowl Recipe: Variations
- To make this vegetarian, substitute the burgers with your favourite veggie burgers.
- Add some fried onions for a more authentic cheese burger flavour.
- This dish is delicious served with rice. It will still be gluten free, but will not longer be keto friendly.
Troubleshooting and FAQs
Why are my burgers dry and chewy?
- If you’ve made your own burger you may have overworked the mixture, squeezing it together for too long and making it too dense.
- You may be using beef mince that is too lean – try to choose one with a fat percentage of 10% or more for a more succulent texture.
- You may have cooked the burger for too long. As the burger cooks, it loses its juice and can become dry if left too long in the pan or under the grill.
- It is better to start cooking with a thinner patty. This means that it will cook quickly and stay juicy.
Squash your patties before putting in the pan to make sure they cook as quickly as possible and avoid the risk of them drying out.
Why are my burgers falling apart?
- You may be using beef that is too lean. Try switching to minced beef with a higher fat content.
- You may have added too many other ingredients to your burger. It’s best to keep the patty simple – just beef salt and pepper is all that is needed. Adding chopped herbs and onions or something watery like worcestershire sauce can cause the patty to crumble.
- The meat mixture may not have been worked enough. Try squeezing it together for slightly longer, form the meat into a ball then flatten the ball into a thin patty.
How unhealthy is a cheeseburger?
- Foods high in saturated fat are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. Beef and cheese contain saturated fat, so while these ingredients can be part of a healthy diet they should be eaten in moderation.
- As long as you’re not eating a diet made primarily of cheeseburgers then you can enjoy them occasionally and not worry. If you’re concerned about the saturated fat content of the dish, try using a lower fat content beef and using slightly less cheese.
How many calories are in a cheeseburger bowl?
- There are around 400 to 500 calories in a cheeseburger bowl. To lower the calorie content you can use less cheese or mayo.
Cheeseburger Bowl Recipe: Ingredients
- Lettuce – use a mixed bag of leaves for plenty of interest or go really traditional and use an iceberg lettuce for extra crunch
- Tomato – lovely ripe tomatoes of any kind are great
- Cucumber – this add a crunch too
- Pickled gherkins – the pickles add a nice sweet and sour flavour to the dish but leave them out if you don’t like them
- Avocado – I love the silky creaminess that avocado brings and its packed with healthy fat and fibre
- Burgers (homemade or shop bought)
- Grated cheddar cheese – a sharp cheddar works well in this dish
- Mayonnaise – for a creamy tang
- Ketchup or Sriracha sauce (optional) – ketchup contains lots of sugar so if you’re trying keto, it’s best to avoid this sauce. For extra kick use sriracha but this also has sugar in it.
How to make the Cheeseburger Bowl
1. Cook the burgers – Fry the burgers in a pan over a medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until cooked through. If you prefer you can cook the burgers under a medium grill instead.
2. Chop the Salad – cut the lettuce, cucumber, avocado, pickles and tomato into bite sized pieces and arrange in a bowl.
3. Slice the burgers – cut the burgers into bitesize slices and arrange them on top of the salad.
4. Add the toppings – Sprinkle generously with the grated cheddar, then squeeze over some mayonnaise and ketchup or Sriracha sauce. Serve immediately.
Cheeseburger Bowl
Ingredients
- 4 handfuls lettuce (mixed leaf or iceberg)
- 1/3 cucumber
- 4 medium sized tomatoes
- 1 large avocado
- 4 medium sized pickled gherkins
- 4 burger patties
- 100 g cheddar cheese
- 4 tbsp mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup or Sriracha Sauce Optional
Instructions
- Start by cooking your burgers either in a pan over a medium heat or under a pre-heated medium grill. Cook on each side for around 4 minutes or until just cooked through.
- While the burgers are cooking, chop your lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, avocado and pickles into bite sized pieces and arrange in 4 bowls.
- Slice the cooked burgers into bite sized pieces and place on top of each salad.
- Next, divide the cheese into 4 and sprinkle over the burger and salad.
- Then, squeeze over the mayonnaise and ketchup or Sriracha if using.
- Serve immediately.
Leave a Reply