These healthy burger bowls with special sauce are one of my favourite easy weeknight dinners! They are a big, fresh healthy salad filled with crispy golden fries, 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 think i had this meal 3 days in a row after the first time i made it! super easy and a people pleaser. – annabel
I love a classic smash 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 recipe 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 weeknights.
We have crispy baked or air fried potato fires (or chips as we call them in Australia!), seasoned lean beef, 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 beef, fries and sauce ahead of time, store them separately, and then just heat them up and assemble the bowls fresh (the fries crisp back up in minutes in the air fryer).
Key Ingredients
Don’t get caught up in the length of the ingredient list for these burger bowls 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 fries and the beef.
- Lean beef mince (ground beef) – 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 fries and the beef just keeps things simpler!
Step 1: Cut the potatoes into fries and pat them dry with paper towel so they crisp up rather than steam. Toss them in a bowl with olive oil and half the spice mix.
Step 2: Cook the fries in the air fryer for about 20 minutes, shaking the basket a few times, until golden and crispy. You can also bake them in the oven at 200°C/390°F for 30 to 40 minutes.
Step 3: While the fries cook, brown the beef in a frying pan with a little oil, breaking it up as you go. Once browned, sprinkle in the remaining spice mix and cook until the beef is deep and any excess moisture has cooked off.
Step 4: Assemble the bowls. Divide the fries and shredded lettuce between bowls, then top with the beef, cheese and pickles.
Step 5: In a small bowl, combine the burger sauce ingredients. Taste and adjust if needed. Drizzle the burger sauce over the top and serve.
👉 Tip! The secret to crispy fries is dry potatoes and room to breathe. Pat the cut potatoes really dry before seasoning, and don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, cook them in batches if you need to. Crowded, damp fries steam and go soft instead of crisping up.
Storage and Meal Prep
These burger bowls are great for meal prep. Store each component separately in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat the beef in a pan or the microwave, and crisp the fries back up in the air fryer or oven so they don’t go soft.
Keep the lettuce, sauce and fresh toppings aside and assemble the bowls just before eating.
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 – these are the most traditional burger ingredients so add them for that classic burger taste.
- 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.
Of course. Frozen fries are a great shortcut on a busy night, just cook them per the packet instructions and toss them with a little of the spice mix for extra flavour.
This burger special sauce is a simple mix of mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, pickle juice, garlic powder and smoked paprika. It’s creamy, tangy and a little smoky. Basically my take on a homemade Big Mac style sauce.
If you do make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating below! And tag any of your creations on Instagram with @eightforestlane as I would love to see.
More healthy bowls:
Taco Bowls
Air Fryer Salmon Bowls
Chicken Teriyaki Bowls
Hot Honey Sweet Potato Beef Bowl (Viral TikTok Recipe!)
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 (1 lb) lean beef mince/ground beef
- iceberg 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
- Make the spice mix by mixing together the 1 ½ teaspoons smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper in a small bowl and set aside.
- Wash and cut the 2-3 medium potatoes into chips, then pat them dry with paper towel.
- Place the chips in a large mixing bowl with 1 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle in half of the spice mix. Toss well to coat the potatoes thoroughly.
- Arrange the potatoes on a baking tray and bake in a preheated oven at 200°C/400°F for 30–40 minutes, or air fry for about 20 minutes, until golden and crispy.
- While the potatoes are cooking, heat the remaining 1 tablespoons olive oil in a frying pan over high heat. Add the 500 grams lean beef mince/ground beef, 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, make the burger sauce by combining the 4 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon ketchup, 1 teaspoon mustard, 1 teaspoon pickle juice, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.
- Once the potatoes are ready, divide them among your bowls. Fill the remaining space with shredded iceberg lettuce, then add the beef mince, cheese and pickle slices.
- Drizzle the burger sauce over the top and serve.
Video
Notes
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.
Annabel Hennessy says
i think i had this meal 3 days in a row after the first time i made it. super easy and a people pleaser.
Stacy says
Turned out great and best of all teenagers liked it!
Sally says
The best feedback!! Thanks Stacy 🙂
Alex says
Perfect easy dinner – I had been out all day and wanted a quick meal. Simple but SO delicious! 10/10
Sally says
So glad you enjoyed these bowls Alex!
Adriana says
This was so easy and so delicious!! All the flavors work together perfectly. I subbed frozen fries to make it even more week-night friendly, but I’m looking forward to trying the fry recipe in the future!
Sally says
We do what we need to on weeknights! So glad you enjoyed this one!