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This burger bowls recipe is loaded with seasoned ground beef, lettuce, onion, tomatoes and pickles. Generously drizzle the creamy special sauce over top, and serve with crispy sweet potato fries for a family favorite weeknight meal.
This recipe is a nice change when you’re craving the flavors of a burger but want something a little different. It has all the familiar ingredients—seasoned beef, lettuce, juicy tomatoes, onions, pickles, and a creamy sauce—but served in a bowl instead of on a bun.
The crispy sweet potato fries add so much as a side to these bowls. They add a little crunch and make the meal feel hearty enough for dinner, while the special sauce ties everything together.
This is also one of those meals that’s easy to customize. Add cheddar cheese, avocado, bacon, or whatever burger toppings your family enjoys.
If you like meals served in a bowl, be sure to try my Greek Chicken Bowls with Tzatziki, Southwest Chicken Bowl with Creamy Lime Sauce, or One-Pot Chili Mac.
Why You’ll Love This Burger Bowls Recipe
- All the flavor of a classic burger: Without needing buns.
- Easy to customize: Add your favorite toppings and sauces.
- Great for meal prep: Components of this burger bowl recipe can be stored separately and assembled later.
Ingredients
Find the full list of ingredients, amounts, and instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
For the Burger Bowls
- Ground beef – The main protein in the bowls.
- Romaine lettuce – Crisp lettuce adds crunch and freshness.
- Cherry tomatoes – Bring color and freshness.
- Red onion – Adds a little bite and flavor. You could substitute white or yellow onion if you prefer
- Dill Pickles – Essential for that burger-inspired flavor. Chips or spears. You’ll also grab a little of the pickle juice from the jar for the sauce
For the Special Sauce
- Mayonnaise – Creates a creamy base. If you don’t love mayo you can use greek yogurt as well. It will be a tad tangier but just adjust seasonings to taste.
- Tomato paste – Adds rich tomato flavor. For the sauce, tomato paste will bring in the ketchup flavor to the special sauce while keeping the ingredients minimal.
- Dijon mustard – Gives the sauce depth. Will complete the flavoring combo for the special sauce. I love the depth of dijon but you could also use yellow mustard if you like. Again, just taste and adjust some seasonings if you need to.
- Pickle juice – Adds tanginess and helps tie everything together.
For the Sweet Potato Fries
- Sweet potatoes – Add a naturally sweet contrast.
- Arrowroot starch – Helps the fries crisp up. You can also use cornstarch in equal amounts as well
- Olive oil – Helps with browning and roasting.
- Seasonings – Garlic powder, salt, and pepper add flavor.
How to Make Burger Bowls with Special Sauce
Here are the step-by-step instructions for making this Burger Bowls with Special Sauce recipe. See the recipe card below for complete instructions.
Step 1: Make the Sweet Potato Fries
If you’re adding sweet potato fries, make those first (Photos 1 and 2).
Step 2: Make the Special Sauce
In a small bowl, combine the tomato paste, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, pickle juice, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir until smooth and set aside.
Step 3: Prepare the Bowl Ingredients
Halve the cherry tomatoes and chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the red onion.
Place the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook, breaking it apart as it browns.
Once no longer pink, add the sea salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Stir until evenly seasoned.
Step 4: Assemble the Bowls
Divide the romaine lettuce among four bowls.
Top each bowl with tomatoes, red onion, cooked ground beef, sweet potato fries, and sliced pickles.
Drizzle generously with the special sauce and serve.
Tips for Success
- Don’t overcrowd the fries or they won’t crisp properly.
- Store the sauce separately until ready to serve.
- Use freshly cooked fries for the best texture.
- Prep the vegetables ahead of time for faster assembly.
Recipe Tip
This burger bowls recipe with special sauce is completely customizable. Toss your favorite burger toppings in however you’d like to enjoy. If you don’t love sweet potatoes, try roasting up white potatoes instead. Also, if you don’t have time to whip up the special sauce you can easily drizzle some ranch dressing over top. Some other additions that we love are sliced avocado, grated cheese, and bacon. To make this meatless, try using your favorite bean instead of the beef. For a leaner meat you can opt for ground chicken or ground turkey.
How to Store
- For best results, store the ingredients separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To enjoy again, throw a portion of the ground beef into a pan with a drizzle of olive oil. Warm over medium heat until warmed through. You can toss the sweet potatoes fries back into the oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 until warm, or pop into the microwave for 30-45 seconds (this method will result in softened fries). You can also use an air fryer to reheat fries as well, just follow your air fryer instructions for best results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, ground turkey or ground chicken work well in this recipe.
Absolutely. Roasted potatoes make a great substitute for sweet potatoes.
Avocado, bacon, shredded cheese, and jalapeños are all great additions.
Yes, just use a dairy-free mayonnaise for the special sauce.
Dietary Notes
- This recipe is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free when prepared as written.
- If you avoid seed oils, choose a mayonnaise made with avocado oil.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
- Greek Chicken Bowls with Tzatziki
- Southwest Chicken Bowl with Creamy Lime Sauce
- Easy Taco Salad Recipe
- Chicken Fajita Wraps
- Sloppy Joe Sliders
If you make this burger bowls recipe and enjoy it, please leave a comment with a 5-star recipe rating and let me know! Thank you!
Burger Bowls with Special Sauce
Equipment
- Small bowl
Ingredients
Burger Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 cups romaine lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup red onion
- 1/2 cup sliced pickles
Special Sauce Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Crispy Sweet Potato Fries Ingredients
- 1 pound sweet potatoes, about 2 large
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons arrowroot starch, or cornstarch
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Make Sweet Potato Fries (optional): Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.
- Slice sweet potatoes into long quarter inch thick sticks (roughly). Place cut potatoes into a large bowl. Sprinkle sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder and arrowroot starch (or cornstarch) over potatoes. Toss and massage into potatoes until evenly coated. Drizzle olive oil on top and toss to coat.
- Evenly lay sweet potatoes on prepared baking sheet, in a single layer. The key here is to not overcrowd them so each can crisp up.
- Bake sweet potatoes for 18 minutes. Flip each fry after the 18 minutes, and then bake for an additional 10-12 minutes. Potatoes will be crisped and browned around the edges when done. Remove from oven and allow to cool on pan.
- While potatoes are cooking, prepare the special sauce and beef.
- Make the Special Sauce: Add tomato paste, mayonnaise, dijon, pickle juice, onion powder, garlic powder and paprika to a small bowl. Mix until combined. Set aside.
- Prep the Vegetables: Slice cherry tomatoes into halves and chop romaine lettuce into bite sized pieces. Thinly slice red onion into small slivers and then into half circles. Place each in separate bowls for assembly and set aside.
- Cook the Meat: Place ground beef in a medium-sized saucepan. Warm over medium high heat, breaking the meat up as it cooks. Once the meat is no longer pink, add sea salt, black pepper and garlic powder. Continue cooking until seasonings are evenly distributed. Remove from heat.
- Assemble the Burger Bowls: Prepare each bowl by adding about 1.5 cups of chopped romaine, 1/4 cup sliced tomatoes, 1/4 cup red onion, 3/4 cups of ground beef, a handful of sweet potato fries, and some pickles on top. Drizzle generously with the Special Sauce and enjoy!
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the fries or they won’t crisp properly.
- Store the sauce separately until ready to serve.
- Use freshly cooked fries for the best texture.
- Prep the vegetables ahead of time for faster assembly.
- For best results, store the ingredients separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Reheat the beef in a skillet or microwave. Reheat the sweet potato fries in the oven or air fryer to help maintain their texture.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
