This burger bowl recipe is fresh, packed with flavor, filling, and delicious. The copycat Big Mac sauce drizzled on top is what takes it to the next level!
Burger Bowl Recipe
These burger bowls are so easy to make and are perfect for make ahead meal prep! I love having them cold during the summer and with the ground beef and sweet potatoes warmed up in the colder months.
The combination of seasoned ground beef burger crumble, air fried sweet potato cubes, crunchy lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and our super popular homemade Big Mac sauce just can’t be beat. This hamburger bowl recipe works great as a filling lunch or dinner that’s still light enough to feel refreshing.
Ingredients
Big Mac Sauce: This is such a popular recipe, and it really levels up any meal you add it too, including these cheeseburger bowls. If you’re short on time, Thousand Island dressing is the closest store-bought substitute.
Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes add a natural sweetness and are hearty enough to keep you full for a long time after you eat this meal. I also love the color they add to the dish, because we really do eat with our eyes first. Russet potatoes or Yukon Golds work great here if you’re not a sweet potato fan.
Olive Oil: This helps the seasonings stick to the sweet potatoes, and helps them get a golden crisp. Feel free to swap this for avocado oil if that’s what you keep on hand.
Garlic, Salt, and Pepper: We’re using these to season both the ground beef and the sweet potatoes. The garlic adds a savory, aromatic flavor. Salt enhances all of the other flavors. The slight heat in pepper helps balance out the rich and sweet flavors in this dish.
Lean Ground Beef: Lean ground beef is the way to go in a bowl recipe because you don’t want any excess grease dripping off of your ground beef and soaking the other bowl ingredients. You can also use ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer.
Romaine Lettuce: This a sturdy lettuce that holds up well to warm toppings. It doesn’t wilt immediately when it’s exposed to a bit of heat, which makes it perfect here. I also like adding in a bit of fresh arugula because I love the peppery flavor.
Cheddar Cheese: This has that classic cheeseburger flavor. It’s a strong, tangy, cheesy flavor that pairs well with the beef and burger sauce without getting overpowered. Pepper Jack is also a delicious option here if you like a bit of spice.
Tomatoes, Pickles, and Onion: These fresh toppings go a long way in making this bowl taste like a burger. If you end up using yellow onion, I recommend soaking the slices in cold water for 10 minutes to mellow out the flavor.
How To Make Burger Bowl
Make the Sauce: Combine all Big Mac sauce ingredients in a small bowl, mix well, and refrigerate until ready to use. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
Prep the Sweet Potatoes: Toss the sweet potato cubes with olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper until evenly coated.
Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer, then spread the sweet potatoes in an even layer. Cook, shaking the basket a few times throughout, until they’re done cooking.
Cook the Beef: While the sweet potatoes air fry, heat a large skillet. Once hot, add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart as it browns.
Drain: Drain the excess grease, then add the diced onion and seasonings.
Saute: Cook until the onions are softened and the beef is fully browned. Drain any remaining grease.
Assemble: Add a bed of romaine lettuce to each bowl, then top with the ground beef, cheese, and sweet potatoes. Finish with cherry tomatoes, pickles, and red onion. Drizzle with copycat Big Mac sauce or serve it on the side. Enjoy! See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
Pro Tips
- Make the Sauce Ahead of Time: This sauce actually tastes better the next day, so making it ahead of time is a great way to save time when you’re trying to get a meal on the table.
- Cut the Sweet Potatoes Evenly: Cutting the sweet potatoes evenly is really important so that the cubes all cook evenly. You don’t want to end up with the smaller ones burnt while the larger ones are underdone.
- Drain the Grease: It’s important to get rid of any excess grease in the pan of ground beef. Any excess grease on the beef will make the other ingredients in the bowl soggy, so draining the grease away two separate times goes a long way in preventing that.
What Goes In A Burger Bowl?
A burger bowl is essentially all the best parts of a classic burger, minus the bun, served over a bed of lettuce. This version is made with seasoned ground beef, crispy air fryer sweet potato cubes, romaine lettuce, sharp cheddar cheese, grape tomatoes, dill pickles, and red onion. It’s all topped off with a homemade Big Mac sauce.
What’s A Good Sauce For Burger Bowls?
I’m a sauce girl, so I really think that the sauce can make or break a burger bowl. This homemade Big Mac sauce has hundreds of 5-star reviews and tastes phenomenal here. It’s made with mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, grated onion, and a handful of seasonings. It’s creamy, tangy, and a little sweet.
What Kind Of Cheese Is Best In A Burger Bowl?
Sharp cheddar is your best bet for burger bowls because its bold, tangy flavor complements beef perfectly without being overpowering.
What Is A Good Side Dish For Burger Bowls?
Since this bowl is already a pretty complete meal on its own, lighter sides work best with it. Things like a cup of tomato soup, some crispy onion rings, a small side salad, coleslaw, or even just a handful of extra pickles.
What Is The Best Lettuce For Burger Bowls?
Romaine lettuce is the best lettuce for burger bowls because it’s sturdy enough to hold up under warm toppings, it’s crunchy, and it has a mild flavor that lets all the other flavors in the bowl shine.
Make Ahead Instructions
Keep all components stored separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the ground beef and sweet potatoes separately in the microwave or in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through, then assemble your bowl.
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Burger Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our other sandwich recipes. Some reader favorites are:
- Big Mac Tacos
- Big Mac Sliders
- Cheeseburger Sliders
- Travis Scott Burgers
- Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Sandwich Sliders
Loaded Burger Bowls with Copycat Big Mac Sauce
This burger bowl recipe is fresh, flavorful, filling, and yummy. Copycat Big Mac sauce drizzled on top is what takes it to the next level!
Ingredients
Big Mac Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 1 Tablespoon grated yellow onion (with juice)
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 garlic powder
Sweet Potatoes:
- 1 1/2 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed into 1 inch cubes
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Ground Beef:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
Bowl:
- Romaine lettuce, sliced or chopped
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 12 grape tomatoes, quartered
- Dill pickles, sliced or diced
- Red onion, sliced or diced
Instructions
Big Mac Sauce:
To a small bowl, add all the ingredients for the sauce. Mix well. Place it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to use it.
Sweet Potatoes:
Preheat the air fryer to 400F for 4 minutes. While it’s preheating, prep the sweet potato cubes.
Add the sweet potato cubes to a large mixing bowl. Add the oil and seasonings, and toss until evenly coated.
Transfer the sweet potatoes into the air fryer and spread into an even layer. Cook for 7 minutes. Give the basket a shake to move the sweet potato cubes around, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Shake again and cook for 3-5 more minutes, or until desired crispiness has been reached.
Ground Beef:
While the potatoes are in the air fryer, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground beef. Cook, breaking the beef up as it cooks, until there’s only a little pink left (about 7-8 minutes). Drain away any excess grease.
Add the diced onions, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Mix it all together, then cook until the onions are softened and the ground beef is browned (about 5 minutes). Drain away any excess grease.
Assemble the Bowl:
Choose a bowl large enough to hold 1/4 of each ingredient. Start by adding the romaine lettuce, then the meat, cheese, and sweet potatoes. Top with cherry tomatoes, pickles, and red onion. Serve with a side of the Big Mac sauce, or drizzle it on top. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/4Amount Per Serving: Calories: 760Total Fat: 47gCarbohydrates: 43.1gFiber: 7.5gSugar: 16.6gProtein: 41.3g
Nutrition information isn't always accurate.
These simple deconstructed burger bowls are perfect for meal prep!
