Cheeseburger Bowls
This post is a collaboration with Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff. I received compensation, but all opinions are my own.
Looking for an easy meal idea for busy school nights that also doubles as a delicious meal prep option for quick weekday lunches? Try these tasty cheeseburger bowls! Loaded with all your favorite burger flavors in one simple and easy-to-eat dish, they’re perfect for any time you need a quick and delicious meal.
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There’s something irresistible about a juicy burger loaded with tomato, lettuce, cheese, bacon, and a savory burger sauce—it’s one of my all-time favorite meals! With school starting back soon, I wanted to recreate those classic burger flavors in an easy “build your own” concept.
My whole family can enjoy their favorite toppings in a convenient, “burger in a bowl” stye! My girls love customizing their bowls with their favorite ingredients, which is incredibly helpful for me as a busy mom since everyone can enjoy their preferred flavors.
Cheeseburger Bowl Ingredients
Let’s go over the basic components of these cheeseburger bowls! Feel free to add your favorite toppings—these are just our family’s favorites to give you a head start! The possibilities are endless!
GROUND BEEF: The star of the show, of course! It’s a delicious, versatile protein that my whole family loves! Select your preferred lean-to-fat ratio, I used an 85%.
CHEDDAR CHEESE: I highly recommend shredding your own cheddar cheese for optimal flavor! And feel free to swap the cheddar for your favorite cheeses (pepper-jack, Colby jack, or even a Mexican blend).
TOMATOES: I love to use cherry tomatoes, especially if I have them in my garden in the summer! You could easily chop up a Roma or plum tomato too.
BACON: If you love bacon, I highly recommend adding some crispy, crumbled bacon to your burger bowls!
RED ONION: I’m a bit red onion fan so I love mine two ways. I love pickled red onions but also like serving regular diced red onion too.
PICKLES: You can’t have a burger without a pickle! Ok, you can, which is why I love these cheeseburger bowls because you can leave the pickle off if you prefer. If you love them though, add them in!
RELISH: A little scoop of relish on top of your burger bowl is a tasty addition!
PICKLED JALAPENO: Want a kick your burger up a notch? Add in pickled jalapeno slices!
BURGER SAUCE: Everyone loves a good burger sauce, this is similar to a Big Mac sauce. It’s super simple to whip up, you’ll find yourself making it again and again, even for sandwiches! Drizzle it on or scoop into sauce containers if making for meal prep!
Build Your Own Burger Board
Invite your friends and family to create their burger masterpieces with a Build Your Own Burger Bar Board! While bowls aren’t a new concept, presenting the ingredients on a large board and letting everyone assemble their own is perfect for entertaining guests!
A few tips…
- Select a spacious board to accommodate all your ingredients. If you don’t have a large board, lay out butcher paper or parchment paper on a counter for a similar effect.
- Use a mix of small bowls to hold ingredients like burger sauce and relish. This keeps them from mixing with other ingredients and makes them easy to access.
- Spread out lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, pickles, onions, and other toppings in an organized manner, making it easy for guests to scoop and assemble their burger bowls!
- Ensure all of your ingredients are fresh and crisp. Keep your lettuce chilled until just before serving.
Have leftovers? Read on for how I love to use these cheeseburger bowls for a delicious, high-protein meal prep!
Meal Prep Cheeseburger Bowls
Cheeseburger bowls are also fantastic for meal prep! They make it easy to prepare a week’s worth of high-protein lunches or dinners in advance, saving you valuable time during hectic weekdays.
For meal prep, I recommend using portioned glass meal prep containers for easy organization. Load them with your favorite toppings and keep the burger sauce in a separate small container to prevent everything from getting soggy. When you’re ready to eat, simply drizzle the sauce on top and enjoy!
For more delicious meals made with Beef, check out these favorites below!
- Steak Tacos with Pineapple Salsa
- Mini Beef Chili Bread Bowls
- Beef Tenderloin Crostini
- Grilled Steak Lettuce Wraps
- Filet Mignon with Rosemary-Thyme Butter
I hope you love these cheeseburger bowls as much as my family! They’re the perfect meal idea for busy school nights or quick weekday lunches.
Cheeseburger Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes - halved
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup pickled red onions - (can substitute regular, raw red onions too)
- 1/2 cup sliced pickles
- 2 tbsp relish
- 1/4 cup pickled jalapeno slices
- 1/2 cup crumbled, cooked bacon
- 4 cups lettuce - shredded
- 1/2 cup burger sauce - recipe below
Burger Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp pickle relish
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- salt and pepper - to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Burger Sauce
- In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, relish, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
Cook the Ground Beef
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef. Season with salt and pepper to your preference.
- Cook until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spatula so it will cook evenly. This should take about 7-10 minutes.
- Drain any excess fat and set the beef aside.
Assemble Cheeseburger Bowls
- In individual serving bowls, start with shredded lettuce. Add a serving of the cooked ground Beef.
- Top with your favorite burger toppings (cherry tomatoes, red onions, cheddar cheese, crumbled bacon, etc).
- Drizzle with burger sauce. Enjoy!
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