Description
These Cheeseburger Bowls are a flavorful, low-carb alternative to traditional burgers served on buns. Featuring seasoned ground beef, fresh lettuce, avocado, and smoky BBQ ranch dressing, they deliver all the classic cheeseburger taste in a healthy, easy-to-assemble bowl that’s perfect for meal prep or a quick dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Burger Mixture
- 1 pound 85 to 90% lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Smoky BBQ Ranch
- ½ cup reduced-fat or regular Ranch salad dressing (like Lithouse Lite or Homestyle Ranch)
- 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce (no sugar added or regular)
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
For the Bowls
- 3 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 3 cups well chopped romaine lettuce (about 1 romaine heart)
- 1 cup finely chopped cucumber
- 1 cup finely chopped tomato
- 1 large avocado, chopped
- ½ cup chopped bread and butter or dill pickle chips
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled or chopped
- Crushed Doritos, any flavor (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Burger Mixture: Add the ground beef to a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook, crumbling the beef with a spoon until browned. Drain excess grease and return the skillet to the heat. Add chili powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, granulated garlic, onion powder, and black pepper to the meat. Stir and cook for another 2 minutes to infuse the flavors. Remove from heat and let the mixture rest and cool slightly while you prepare other ingredients.
- Make the Smoky BBQ Ranch: In a small bowl, combine the Ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, Dijon mustard, and smoked paprika. Stir well to combine all flavors smoothly. Set aside.
- Assemble the Bowls: In a large bowl, mix the chopped romaine and iceberg lettuce. Divide evenly among 4 shallow bowls or plates as the base. Top each with the seasoned burger mixture, cucumber, tomato, chopped avocado, pickles, red onion, shredded cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon. Drizzle smoky BBQ ranch dressing on top. For added texture and flavor, sprinkle crushed Doritos if desired. Serve immediately or let everyone build their own bowls.
Notes
- Meal Prep Tips: Cook the burger mixture and allow it to cool before storing.
- Divide fresh ingredients (lettuce, cucumber, tomato, pickles, onion, cheese, bacon) among meal prep containers, keeping cooked and fresh components separate if using compartments.
- Store the smoky BBQ ranch dressing in small containers separately.
- Refrigerate all containers and consume within 3 to 4 days for best freshness.
- Add sliced avocado just before serving to prevent browning and maintain freshness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
