Easy Hamburger Bowls

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Today, I want to share one of my favorite lunchtime meals with you. Imagine all the deliciousness of a juicy hamburger served up conveniently in a bowl. Well, that’s exactly what these easy hamburger bowls are, and they’re 100% DELICIOUS.

No need for a bun here – we’re keeping it light and fresh with a base of crisp romaine lettuce, topped with savory seasoned ground beef, creamy avocado, zesty red onion, and a drizzle of irresistible sauce. Trust me you guys, this is better (and way easier) than any burger!

A hamburger bowl with dressing on top and a fork leaning up on the bowl.

Here’s The List Of Ingredients

For The Sauce

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise (avocado mayonnaise is a great choice)
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • A pinch red pepper flakes
  • A pinch sea salt

For The Bowls

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 3 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 heads romaine lettuce 
  • 1/2 avocado 
  • 1/4 red onion 
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheese
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Here’s How To Make These Easy Hamburger Bowls

  1. Prepare the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup of mayonnaise (avocado mayo is a great option), 2 tablespoons of ketchup, 2 teaspoons of honey, 1 tablespoon of dill pickle relish, 2 teaspoons of onion powder, a pinch of red pepper flakes, and a pinch of sea salt until smooth. Set aside.
  1. Cook the Ground Beef: In a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, brown 1 pound of lean ground beef until fully cooked. While cooking, sprinkle 3 teaspoons of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of sea salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper over the meat. Drain off any excess fat if necessary.
  1. Prepare the Base: Wash and roughly chop 2 heads of romaine lettuce. Divide the lettuce evenly among serving bowls, creating a bed for the rest of the ingredients.
  2. Assemble the Bowls Add 1/4 of the cooked and seasoned ground beef to each bowl, on top of the bed of lettuce. Top the ground beef with sliced red onion, sliced avocado, and a sprinkle of shredded cheese (any kind you prefer).
  1. Drizzle with Sauce: Give the sauce a quick stir, then drizzle it generously over each assembled bowl, allowing it to cascade over the toppings.
  2. Serve and Enjoy: Serve the Easy Hamburger Bowls immediately, allowing everyone to enjoy the delicious flavors and customize their bowls with additional toppings if desired.
  • Be sure to check out the full ingredient list and recipe instructions below.
Hamburger bowls sitting with two forks and a blue napkin.

Awesome Additions

And, the best part about these easy hamburger bowls is that they’re completely customizable. This recipe provides the perfect starting point.

Get creative with your toppings – add some diced or cherry tomatoes, crispy bacon bits, pickle slices, or even some fresh jalapeños for an extra kick. Not a fan of lettuce? Just swap it out for spinach or kale. Try different cheeses or even a couple of cheeses mixed together (yum!).

You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken instead of beef if you prefer. See what I mean? The possibilities are endless.

A bowl of lettuce, hamburger, and onions topped with avocado and dressing.

Hamburger Bowls Make Great Meal Prep

And the convenience factor? It’s off the charts. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week ahead or whipping up a quick dinner after a long day, these hamburger bowls are the perfect solution.

Plus, they’re great for feeding a crowd – simply set out a variety of toppings and let everyone build their own bowl just how they like it.

Tips

  • If you’re meal prepping several bowls at once, layer the ingredients strategically. Place the lettuce at the bottom of each container, followed by a portion of cooked and cooled ground beef (warm meat will wilt the lettuce), then the toppings (such as onion, avocado, and cheese). Store the sauce in a separate container or small dressing cup to add just before serving.
  • Pre-portioning the ingredients ensures that each bowl has the perfect balance of flavors and nutrients. Use measuring cups or a food scale to divide the ground beef and toppings evenly among the containers.
  • I usually eat these bowls cold, but if you prefer warm hamburger bowls, keep the ground beef separate and microwave it before assembling the bowl.
  • Keep things interesting by prepping a variety of toppings. Don’t be afraid to change it up and try different combinations.
Two prepared hamburger bowls sitting with a blue napkin and two forks.

These easy hamburger bowls are the ultimate quick lunch or weeknight dinner hack that’s as delicious as it is versatile. With tender seasoned beef, crisp veggies, creamy avocado, and a flavorful sauce, these bowls are sure to become a staple in your house. Give them a try today and prepare to be amazed – happy cooking, my friends.

A hamburger bowl with dressing on top and a fork leaning up next to it.

Easy Hamburger Bowls

By: Kristine Underwood
These easy hamburger bowls have all the deliciousness of a juicy hamburger, but are served up conveniently in a bowl. A bed of crisp romaine lettuce, topped with savory seasoned ground beef, creamy avocado, zesty red onion, and a drizzle of irresistible sauce.
5 from 6 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Course Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 4 bowls
Calories 584 kcal

ingredients
 
 

For the sauce

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise (avocado mayonnaise is a great choice)
  • 2 TBS ketchup
  • 2 tsp honey
  • 1 TBS dill pickle relish
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • pinch sea salt

For the bowls

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 3 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 2 heads romaine lettuce (rough chopped)
  • 1/2 avocado (sliced or cubed)
  • 1/4 red onion (sliced thin)
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheese (any kind)

INSTRUCTIONS

For the bowls

  • In a large cast iron skillet, brown meat over medium heat. Sprinkle garlic powder, sea salt, and pepper over meat while cooking. Drain off excess fat if there is any when finished cooking.
    1 lb lean ground beef, 3 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp sea salt, 1/2 tsp pepper

For the sauce

  • While the beef is cooking add the mayonnaise, ketchup, honey, dill pickle relish, onion powder, red pepper flakes, and sea salt to a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
    1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 TBS ketchup, 2 tsp honey, 1 TBS dill pickle relish, 2 tsp onion powder, pinch red pepper flakes, pinch sea salt

To assemble the bowls

  • Wash and roughly chop up 2 heads of romaine lettuce.
    2 heads romaine lettuce
  • Layer the lettuce in the bottom of the bowls.
  • Add 1/4 of the cooked and seasoned meat to each bowl on top of the lettuce.
  • Top with sliced red onion, sliced avocado, and shredded cheese.
    1/2 avocado, 1/4 red onion, 1/4 cup shredded cheese
  • Drizzle the sauce over the top of each bowl.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 4 bowlsCalories: 584kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 28gFat: 44gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 14gMonounsaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 1016mgPotassium: 1316mgFiber: 9gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 27411IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 171mgIron: 6mg
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Recipe Rating




12 Comments

  1. These bowls are so quick and easy, I don’t know how I lunched without them. They’re are so great for grab-and-go!5 stars

    1. I love to hear it, Megan! I totally agree, it’s a regular for me too. And I’m always blown away by how much it tastes like a burger. So good! Thanks for the review – I appreciate it!

  2. Love these bowls. Such an easy lunchtime idea and they’re so good! Thanks for sharing!

    1. I’m glad to hear it, Angela! Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed the bowls!

  3. This was a great gluten free alternative to a traditional burger – even the kids didn’t fuss eating these hamburger bowls!5 stars

    1. Thank you so much, Lauren! Yes, definitely so – glad even the kids liked them!

  4. I always have ground beef in my freezer, so I’m always trying new recipes. These bowls are incredible! I’ll be making these regularly.5 stars

    1. Me too Tayler! I love it and I’m the same way. When I find a good recipe, I stick with it. Thanks so much for the review!

  5. Stephanie says:

    Yum! These hamburger bowls are just what we needed for our lunch. The dish is not overly filling (sans the bun!), perfectly spiced and the dressing makes it even more special.5 stars

  6. This was delicious! Super easy to make and the sauce was wonderful!5 stars

    1. Hi Justine! Thank you so much! I’m really glad to hear you enjoyed the bowls!