Fully Loaded Burger Bowl with Special Sauce Recipe
A fully loaded burger bowl with juicy ground beef, fresh veggies, creamy guacamole, and a tangy special sauce. This recipe offers a low-carb alternative to traditional burgers with all the flavors you love served in a bowl, perfect for an easy and satisfying meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Carb
Ingredients
For the Burgers
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 4 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil or melted refined coconut oil
For the Special Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup or 1 tablespoon coconut aminos (if on Whole30)
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)
- 1 pinch salt (more or less to taste)
For the Quick Guacamole
- 2 medium avocados, pit removed and peeled
- ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice (juice from approximately half of 1 lemon)
- ½ teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)
For the Bowls (All Optional)
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 2 small heads romaine lettuce, leaves only, roughly chopped (approximately 8-9 cups total)
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved (or grape tomatoes, halved)
- ½ cup pickle chips plus more to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Burger Mixture: In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 pound lean ground beef, 4 teaspoons garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Use your hands or a wooden spoon to mix thoroughly until well combined. Set aside.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once warm, add 1 teaspoon avocado oil and swirl or tilt the pan to coat the surface evenly. When the oil is hot and shimmering, add the ground beef mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, until the beef is browned and crumbled. While the beef cooks, proceed to prepare the guacamole and special sauce.
- Make the Special Sauce: In a second medium mixing bowl, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup (or coconut aminos for Whole30), 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish, 2 teaspoons dried minced onion, a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Set aside until ready to serve.
- Prepare the Guacamole: In a small mixing bowl, add 2 medium peeled avocados, ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon salt. Use a fork to mash everything together until smooth and well combined. Set aside.
- Sauté the Red Onions: After cooking the beef, transfer it to a bowl or plate and set aside. Return the skillet to medium heat. Add 1 cup thinly sliced red onions in a single layer (cook in batches if needed to prevent overcrowding). Cook the onions until lightly charred on one side, then flip and char on the other side. Transfer the sautéed onions to a separate bowl and repeat until all onions are cooked.
- Assemble the Burger Bowls: Divide roughly chopped romaine lettuce from 2 small heads evenly among four serving bowls. Place an equal portion of the cooked ground beef in the center of each bowl on top of the lettuce. Arrange cherry tomatoes, pickle chips, sautéed red onions, guacamole, and any other desired toppings around the beef. Generously drizzle the special sauce over the bowls and serve immediately with extra sauce available.
Notes
- May substitute refined coconut oil in place of avocado oil for cooking beef.
- For a Whole30-compliant sauce, use coconut aminos instead of maple syrup.
- Adjust salt and spice levels in the special sauce and guacamole to suit your taste.
- Burger bowls are a flexible, low-carb alternative and can be customized with any preferred burger toppings.
- Using lean ground beef keeps the dish healthier without compromising flavor.
