Y’all, this Burger Bowl Recipe is everything you love about a juicy burger, but without the bun. We’ve put it all in a bowl so you can eat it with a fork in all its glorious messiness. It’s totally adaptable as far as burger toppings, and it’s a great make-ahead dish for meal prep. You can make this simple recipe any day of the week.

A burger bowl with ground beef, lettuce, tomato, pickles, caramelized onions, and sauce, topped with sweet potato fries; a fork, napkin, and extra fries are nearby.
Blue cursive text reads "Lucy's notes" on a transparent background.

Sometimes you just want a big, juicy cheeseburger with all the toppings, right? I like caramelized onions, dill pickles, sliced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce.

I rarely order a burger with a bunch of fancy stuff. Just give me a regular old hangover-curing burger.

But what if you’re short on time, and you want all the burger flavor without forming patties and standing over the grill or skillet? Then you make this quick and easy burger bowl recipe!

Testing results for sweet potato burger bowls

  1. We’ve tested this recipe with ground chicken and ground pork, changing up the toppings and sauce flavors accordingly. Either works just as well as the ground beef.
  2. We included Sweet Potato Fries in our burger bowl, but they’re totally optional. You can make regular Oven-baked Fries while you’re browning the beef. Or take a shortcut and throw in some frozen tater tots. Do whatever makes your life easier.
Person with shoulder-length blond hair and blue glasses smiling indoors in front of a red brick wall.

I hope you make this recipe. I think you’ll love it!

We’ve included an easy sauce in this recipe, but if you have time for a little extra, I highly recommend either my Spicy Comeback Sauce or using the sauce from my Meatloaf Muffins.

A bowl containing ground beef, sliced pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, grilled onions, sweet potato fries, and a drizzle of creamy sauce.

How to make a burger bowl

  1. Add ground beef and seasonings to a skillet, and cook until the meat is no longer pink.
  2. Stir together the sauce ingredients while the beef is cooking.
  3. Remove the beef and add butter to the skillet. When the butter has melted, add the thinly sliced onion and cook until it starts to caramelize.
  4. Assemble the bowls with whatever toppings you like.
Pin this now to save it for later
A white bowl filled with ground beef, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, sweet potato fries, and drizzled sauce, with a fork inside.

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below!

Join Southern Food and Fun Community group
and Southern Potluck group!

And please follow us on social media:

Want to save this recipe?
Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox!
No ratings yet

Burger Bowl Recipe

A hearty Burger Bowl with seasoned beef, sweet potato fries, fresh veggies, and tangy sauce in every bite.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 35 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Save This Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients 

Sweet Potato Fries:

  • 1 large sweet potato
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

Meat:

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano

Caramelized Onions:

  • 1 medium yellow onion
  • 3 tablespoons butter

Sauce:

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup barbecue sauce
  • 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 6 cups lettuce, chopped or shredded (iceberg or Romaine)
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
  • 1 cup hamburger pickles
Save this recipe to your inbox!
Enter your email below and we’ll send the recipe straight to your inbox!

Instructions 

Sweet potato fries:

  • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Thinly slice 1 large sweet potato into ¼ inch thick, and into strips.
  • Place sweet potato strips in a large mixing bowl. Toss evenly with 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon saltand ½ teaspoon black pepper.
  • Line the sweet potatoes on the prepared baking sheet.
    A baking sheet lined with parchment paper holds evenly spaced, uncooked sweet potato fries arranged in rows, ready for baking.
  • Bake for 9 minutes, flip each potato strip and then bake for an additional 7-9 minutes (until crispy and slightly golden).
    A baking tray lined with parchment paper holds evenly spaced, baked sweet potato fries.

Hamburger:

  • Place 1 pound ground beef in a large skillet. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon dried oregano. Cook over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. Spoon cooked meat into a small paper-towel lined bowl and set aside.
    Note: If you're using a fattier beef, you may need to drain the grease before continuing. A small amount (about a tablespoon) of grease in the pan is fine.
    A stainless steel pan filled with cooked and crumbled ground beef on a white surface.

Onions:

  • Thinly slice 1 medium yellow onion. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet. Add sliced onions and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently.
    A stainless steel pan with sliced onions and chunks of butter beginning to cook on a white background.
  • Onions will cook down and become thin and golden, about 10-12 minutes. Place in a separate bowl and set aside.
    A stainless steel pan filled with sautéed, browned onions sits on a light-colored surface.

Sauce:

  • In a small mixing bowl add mayonnaise, barbeque sauce, pickle juice and dijon mustard. Stir ingredients well until fully combined.

Assembly:

  • Assemble bowls: add lettuce, ground beef, sweet potato fries, sliced tomatoes, sliced pickles and generously drizzle with sauce. Enjoy right away!
    A spoon drizzles creamy dressing over a bowl of salad with ground meat, sweet potato fries, cucumbers, greens, and grilled onions.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 735kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 60g, Saturated Fat: 18g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g, Monounsaturated Fat: 22g, Trans Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 115mg, Sodium: 2124mg, Potassium: 899mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 12g, Vitamin A: 14737IU, Vitamin C: 16mg, Calcium: 113mg, Iron: 4mg
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 735
Keyword: burger bowl
Leave a comment and ★★★★★ rating below!

Questions and tips

Storage

Store leftover ground meat in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Keep the meat separate from the other burger bowl ingredients.

Can I meal prep the burger bowls?

To meal prep this recipe, make all the components except the sweet potato fries (ground meat, onions, and sauce) and store them separately in the refrigerator. We don’t like to make the sweet potato fries in advance because they will be limp and soggy and not good. If you’re meal prepping this recipe for a busy weeknight, I suggest just throwing some frozen fries or tater tots in the oven.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark jeans, stands in a kitchen with a brick backsplash and stainless steel appliances. She is smiling and resting her hands on the counter.

About the author

Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m a home cook, writer, food and wine fanatic, and recipe developer. I’ve created and tested hundreds of recipes so that I can bring you the best tried and true favorites.

Follow Lucy on social media:

You May Also Like:

Sign up with your email address to receive a 5-day series of Southern Cooking Secrets, followed by weekly emails with recipes and tips. We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating