These healthy burger bowls with special sauce are the best weeknight dinner idea this summer! They are a big, fresh healthy salad filled with crispy potato chips, perfectly seasoned beef mince and all your favourite burger toppings, finished with a big drizzle of homemade burger sauce. You’re going to love this healthy twist for burger night!
I love a burger, but sometimes I want all the flavours of a burger with all the joy of a big hearty salad bowl. That’s where this burger bowl comes in. That’s right, no sad salads here! It’s basically your favourite cheeseburger and fries deconstructed into a delicious salad bowl perfect for summer weeknights.
We have crispy baked or air fried potato chips, seasoned lean beef mince, lettuce and of course pickles, all topped with a homemade special sauce. You’re going to want this recipe on repeat.
Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against bread and burger buns but it’s not always something that makes me feel the best, so this is a great option to hit the flavour cravings and still feel really good about it. Plus you can customise the toppings based on what you like and have in the fridge.
And the sauce! I am not always a big sauce person but this sauce is the ultimate dressing. Honestly, use this sauce on a regular burger as well and you will not be disappointed, it’s definitely a recipe to memorise!
👉 I also love this recipe for meal prep! Make the mince, potatoes and sauce ahead of time, store them separately, and then just heat them up and assemble the bowls fresh. The potato chips reheat perfectly in a few minutes in the air fryer.
Key Ingredients
Don’t get caught up in the length of the ingredient list for this one as we have a few moving parts and a lot of spices and condiments that are probably already in your fridge and pantry. It’s also a super customisable recipe meaning you can get creative and adjust based on what you have on hand.
Note all ingredients and their quantities are laid out in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Spices – we’re starting with a mix of my go-to spices that I always have in my pantry that are going to flavour both the potatoes and the beef mince.
- Lean beef mince – I like to use lean beef mince for this particular recipe as I am usually making it because I am looking for a healthy option. You can use any beef mince you prefer or swap for turkey mince or even a plant-based mince for a vegetarian option.
- Potatoes – I like to use washed potatoes so I can keep the skin on as I find they have more flavour. If you’re looking to keep this lower carb, then definitely look for the spud-lite potatoes at the supermarket as they are a great option.
- Toppings – now this is your burger bowl so you can get creative with your toppings but keeping this as a simple deconstructed cheeseburger style, I like shredded lettuce, a little dairy-free cheese and of course, pickles!
- Burger sauce – if you want to keep this recipe even simpler you can use a store bought burger sauce that you like, however it’s super simple to make your own and you may just have everything you need! I do a combo of mayonnaise, ketchup, dijon mustard, pickle juice (from the jar of pickles), garlic powder and smoked paprika.
Step-By-Step Instructions
To get started, I like to mix up my spice mix. Using the same mix for both the potatoes and the beef just keeps things simpler!
Next, cut your potatoes into chips or wedges and then pat any excess moisture off them using a paper towel. This is going to help ensure they go crispy not soggy. Add the chips to a large bowl and toss them with some olive oil and half of your spice mix.
I like to cook my chips in the air fryer as it’s much quicker but you can use your oven if you don’t have an air fryer. Cook the chips, shaking the basket a few times while cooking until they are golden brown and crispy.
While the potatoes are cooking you can prepare the beef mince. Add the beef mince to a large frying pan with a little oil, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Once browned, sprinkle in the remaining spice mix and continue cooking until the meat is darkened and any excess moisture has cooked out.
In a small bowl, combine the burger sauce ingredients. Taste and adjust if needed.
Now it’s time to assemble the burger bowls! Divide your chips among your bowls and fill the remaining space in each bowl with shredded lettuce. Top with the cooked beef mince, cheese, and pickle slices. Drizzle the burger sauce over the top and serve.
Substitutions and variations
Now I love these burger bowls just the way they are but they are so flexible and customizable, here are a few options if you’re looking for inspiration to change it up!
- Tomato and onion – ok so these are the most traditional burger ingredients but also go in the ‘not for me’ bucket which is why they are not in this recipe. But you do you and add them if you like!
- Swap the potatoes for sweet potatoes. Sweet potato fries should be prepared the same way but may cook a little faster so check on them a bit earlier.
- Add avocado. I mean, what salad bowl isn’t better with a little creamy avocado!
- Bacon. Channel a bacon cheeseburger and crumble some crispy bacon over the top of the bowl.
- Fried egg. A runny yolk is a must and is the perfect topper for this beef and potato based salad bowl. Plus it’s a great way to up that total protein if that’s something you’re looking for.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Substitute the beef mince with a plant-based mince or cooked lentils for a vegetarian or vegan option. Use dairy-free cheese and a vegan mayonnaise for the sauce to make the entire recipe vegan-friendly.
For leftovers, store each component separately if possible. To reheat the beef mince use the microwave or a pan on the stove. For the potatoes, use the air fryer or oven to keep them crispy. Reassemble the bowls fresh with the salad ingredients and sauce.
More healthy bowls:
Taco Bowls
Air Fryer Salmon Bowls
Roasted Vegetable Bowls with Green Goddess Sauce
Teriyaki Buddha Bowls
Teriyaki Salmon and Avocado Rice Bowls
Burger Bowls
Equipment
Ingredients
Spice Mix:
- 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or mixed herbs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
For the Bowls:
- 2-3 medium potatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 500 grams lean beef mince
- Lettuce shredded
- Cheese dairy-free or regular
- Pickle slices
For the Burger Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon mustard dijon or yellow
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice from the jar of pickles
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Mix together the spice mix ingredients in a small bowl and set aside.
- Wash and cut the potatoes into chips, then pat them dry with paper towels. Place the chips in a large mixing bowl with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle in half of the spice mix. Mix well to ensure the potatoes are thoroughly coated.
- Arrange the potatoes on a baking tray and cook in a preheated oven at 200°C (390°F) for 30–40 minutes, or in the air fryer for about 20 minutes, until golden and crispy.
- While the potatoes are cooking, heat the remaining olive oil in a frying pan over high heat. Add the beef mince, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Once browned, sprinkle in the remaining spice mix and continue cooking until the meat is darkened and any excess moisture has evaporated.
- In a small bowl, combine the burger sauce ingredients. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Once the potatoes are ready, divide them among your bowls. Fill the remaining space in each bowl with shredded lettuce, then add the cooked beef mince, cheese, and pickles. Drizzle the burger sauce over the top and serve.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is provided as a guide only and is calculated using automated online tools, therefore we cannot guarantee the accuracy. We encourage you to make your own calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe.
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