Burger Bowl Recipe with Special Sauce (Big Mac In a Bowl)

This burger bowl recipe with special sauce is my way of making a homemade big mac in a bowl. It combines juicy ground beef with crisp lettuce, crunchy vegetables, and a sprinkle of melted cheddar cheese, all brought together with a tangy special sauce. It’s a delicious and satisfying healthy meal that’s perfect for lunch or dinner. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to make and tastes great leftover.

My Version of Big Mac In a Bowl

I started making burger bowls when I wanted a healthier option of a big mac that still satisfied my craving for the iconic fast food burger. So this recipe is basically a big mac salad, but I add my own twist to make it even more delicious.

My burger bowls special sauce is made from scratch with a few secret ingredients that make the flavor out of this world good. Mixed with the ground beef, lettuce, and best burger toppings, I could eat this for lunch or dinner every day!

Plus, this is a healthy burger bowl since it's made with no bun and a ton of fresh veggies. What I love most about this recipe is its versatility. You can mix and match the veggies and cheese to create any flavor you want. Serve the bowl with these keto french fries for the ultimate low carb meal!

And since it's all made in one bowl, cleanup is a breeze. That's why this is my go-to recipe for busy days when I want a healthy meal that tastes amazing! 

Ingredients

Now, you'll need a lot of ingredients for the big mac salad burger bowls, but all of them play a crucial part in getting the best flavor. So don't skip out on any ingredients!

Here’s what you’ll need to make the bowls:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 lb ground beef
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 romaine lettuce, thinly sliced
• 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 large tomato, cubed
• ¼ cup pickles, chopped
• ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated

And for the special sauce:

• ⅓ cup mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 2 tablespoon pickle brine
• 1 teaspoon sweet relish
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

How to Make Healthy Burger Bowls

Step 1: Cook the Ground Beef

To cook the beef, add olive oil to a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. As soon as it's hot, add the ground beef and cook for 3-4 minutes until browned.

Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper and mix. Drain any excess grease and set the cooked beef aside.

Step 2: Prep the Veggies

While the beef is cooking, slice the lettuce and red onion, cube the tomato, chop the pickles, and grate the cheddar cheese.

Step 3: Make the Sauce

In a bowl, whisk together all the sauce ingredients. That will be the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle brine, sweet relish, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.

Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed, but for what it's worth, I think it's always perfect as is.

Step 4: Assemble the Burger Bowl

To assemble the bowls, start with a layer of shredded romaine lettuce at the bottom.

Top with the seasoned ground beef, red onions, tomatoes, pickles, and shredded cheddar cheese. Drizzle the homemade sauce over the top and serve immediately.

Expert Tips To Follow

1. Use Lean Ground Beef: For healthy burger bowls, use 90/10 lean ground beef to reduce the amount of grease and fat. This helps keep the dish lighter and healthier while still providing that classic burger flavor.
2. Prep the Veggies Ahead of Time: To make assembly even quicker, prep the veggies the day before. You can store them in the refrigerator for up to 2 days, so when it’s time to eat, all you need to do is cook the ground beef and put everything together.
3. Add Extra Toppings: Don’t be afraid to add your favorite burger toppings! Avocado slices, crumbled bacon, or sautéed mushrooms are great additions that will add more flavor to the bowl.
4. Make It Keto-Friendly: If you’re following a keto diet, you can easily make this dish keto-friendly by using sugar-free ketchup in the sauce and swapping out any other ingredients that may contain added sugars, and skip the tomatoes and any other veggies that are high in carbs.

How to Store Leftover Burger Bowls

If you have leftovers, store the components of this recipe separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for a few days. You'll want to keep the sauce in a sealed jar or container. I always make extras to meal prep for the beginning of the week.

When ready to eat, I like eating the bowls cold, but you can reheat the beef in a pan over medium heat for a few minutes until it's warm. 

More Healthy Recipes

• Keto chicken nuggets
• Baked chicken tenders
• Chicken lettuce wraps
• Grilled chicken sandwich