Cheeseburger Salad Bowl with Classic Burger Sauce
This bowl delivers everything you love about a classic cheeseburger, just built a little lighter and brighter. Cool, crunchy romaine is layered with juicy, simply seasoned ground beef, sharp cheddar, sweet tomatoes, crisp red onion, and plenty of dill pickle for that unmistakable bite. The classic burger sauce is creamy, tangy, and lightly savory, bringing back that familiar backyard and diner flavor.
Servings: Four
INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground beef
1/2-1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2-1 teaspoon onion powder
8 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/3 cup red onion, finely diced
1/3 cup dill pickles, sliced
1/4 cup dill pickles, finely chopped
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
Classic Burger Sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons low-sugar ketchup
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
2 teaspoons pickle brine
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
PREPARATION
Make burger sauce: In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle brine, onion powder, garlic powder, and the finely chopped pickles until smooth. Set aside.
Cook beef: Heat a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking it up as it browns and season with salt, pepper, garlic, and onion powder. Cook until fully browned, then remove from heat and let cool slightly and drain any excess fat.
Plate: Divide the chopped romaine among four bowls and top evenly with cherry tomatoes, red onion, and sliced pickles. Spoon the warm ground beef over the salads, sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese, drizzle generously with the burger sauce, and serve. Alternatively, put the ingredients in a large bowl, toss, then divide.
Notes:
Use a good-quality low-sugar ketchup for the sauce so it stays tangy without turning sweet.
If you want extra cheeseburger flavor, let the beef cool for 2 minutes before adding it to the salad so the cheese softens without fully melting.
If you are not a fan of mayo, use 1/2 mayo and 1/2 yogurt.
