All the flavor of your favorite juicy burger—without the bun! These Cheeseburger Bowls with Big Mac sauce are hearty, customizable, and so easy to throw together for a quick weeknight meal.
Table of Contents
What is a Cheeseburger Bowl?
A cheeseburger bowl is everything you love about a classic burger, reimagined as a fresh, colorful bowl. It’s layered with seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, juicy tomatoes, melty cheese, and a creamy “Big Mac” style sauce that ties it all together. Instead of a bun, the base can be anything from roasted potatoes to rice—or even lettuce for a lighter option.
Our cheeseburger bowls recipe is a fun twist on the traditional burger, giving you all those savory, tangy, and crunchy elements in one bite. It’s endlessly adaptable, so you can make it keto, low-carb, or add fries for an indulgent spin. Plus, it’s family-friendly, great for meal prep, and perfect for satisfying those burger cravings!
Ingredients You Need
For the Bowls
- Ground Beef – We love using 85% lean ground beef because it stays juicy while still browning beautifully. The slight marbling adds rich, savory flavor to every bite.
- Salt – This brings out the natural beefy flavor and enhances all the other seasonings in the dish. Sprinkle just enough to balance, not overpower.
- Black Pepper – Freshly ground pepper adds a gentle heat and earthy aroma that complements the other spices.
- Garlic Powder – This adds a layer of warmth and depth without overpowering the beef. It’s an easy shortcut to flavor without peeling cloves!
- Onion Powder – This builds savory richness and rounds out the overall taste of the meat mixture. It’s a pantry staple for a reason.
- Ketchup – We add a small spoonful to give the beef a subtle sweetness and tang, mimicking the flavor of a classic burger.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – A sharp cheddar melts perfectly over the warm beef, adding creamy, gooey goodness that ties everything together.
- Chopped Romaine or Iceberg Lettuce – This adds a cool, crisp texture and balances out the richness of the meat and cheese.
- Cherry Tomatoes – These juicy pops of flavor bring a fresh contrast and a little sweetness to the mix.
- Diced Pickles – They add that classic burger tang and crunch that you just can’t skip. We love using dill pickles for their zippy bite!
- Diced Onions – Onions add crispness and a sharp bite that cuts through the richness of the cheese and beef. Red onions work great for a pop of color, too.
- Roasted Potatoes, French Fries, or Cooked Rice (Optional) – We like to make our cheeseburger bowls with potatoes for a hearty bowl of comfort food, but rice also works well and soaks up some of the sauce and meaty flavor!
For the Big Mac Sauce
- Mayonnaise – This condiment creates the creamy base that makes the sauce irresistibly smooth. It helps everything cling perfectly to the toppings.
- Ketchup – A touch of ketchup adds color and a tangy-sweet element that keeps the sauce balanced.
- Yellow Mustard – Mustard gives that signature cheeseburger zing and helps cut through the richness.
- Sweet Pickle Relish – This adds texture, sweetness, and a little crunch that mimics the pickles on a burger.
- White Vinegar – A splash of vinegar brings brightness and makes the sauce pop with flavor.
- Paprika – This spice adds a subtle smokiness and warm color that deepens the sauce’s flavor.
- Onion Powder – This powder boosts the savory depth and rounds out the flavor profile.
- Garlic Powder – A hint of garlic ties everything together with its warm, aromatic bite.
- Salt – Just a pinch enhances all the flavors in the sauce without making it too salty.
How to Make Cheeseburger Bowls
- Make the Sauce. Combine all the Big Mac sauce ingredients in a small bowl and stir until smooth and creamy. Let it chill in the fridge so the flavors have time to blend and the texture thickens slightly.
- Cook the Beef. Place the ground beef in a pan with salt, pepper, ketchup, and the seasonings. Stir occasionally, breaking it into crumbles until it’s browned and aromatic. Then, drain off any extra fat.
- Assemble the Bowls. Arrange your chosen base—lettuce, potatoes, or rice—in serving bowls. Spoon the warm, seasoned beef on top, followed by shredded cheese, tomatoes, pickles, and onions.
- Add the Sauce. Pour the creamy Big Mac sauce generously over the top, or serve it on the side. Garnish with extras like bacon or sesame seeds for extra flavor and texture, and serve.
Variations
- Keto-Friendly – Skip the potatoes or rice and serve over a bed of lettuce or cauliflower rice for a low-carb option.
- Low-Carb – Replace ketchup in the sauce with sugar-free ketchup and add avocado slices for healthy fats.
- As a Salad – Double the lettuce, add cucumber, shredded carrots, or any of your favorite veggies.
- Spicy – Stir a bit of hot sauce or diced jalapeño into the beef for a punch of heat.
- Bacon Cheeseburger Bowls – Add plenty of crumbled bacon on top!
- Meat Swap – Change up the protein by using other ground meats or a meat alternative.
Can I Store Leftovers?
These bowls are best enjoyed fresh since the lettuce can get soggy once assembled. To store leftovers, keep the ingredients separate until you’re ready to eat.
Refrigerate the cooked beef and sauce in airtight containers for up to three days.
You can freeze the cooked beef for up to two months—just thaw and reheat before serving with fresh toppings.
Common Questions about Cheeseburger Bowls
Yes — they’re perfect for meal prep! Cook and store the beef and sauce separately. Assemble them when you’re ready to serve for the best texture.
Definitely. Ground turkey or chicken works well and lightens things up a bit.
Skip any starches (like potatoes or rice) and load up on lettuce, avocado, and cheese instead.
Bacon bits, avocado, jalapeños, or even a fried egg make great additions!
More Beefy Recipes
We love easy, beefy recipes that require minimal prep time! If you do too, check out these other popular recipes that make beef the star on the dinner table.
Hummus and Ground Beef Puff Pastry
Middle Eastern Crockpot Beef Stew
Cheeseburger Bowls
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Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef 85% lean works great
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp ketchup optional, for flavor depth
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 4 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup diced pickles
- ½ cup diced onions white or red
- 1 cup cooked rice roasted potatoes, or French fries (optional base)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish
- ½ tsp white vinegar
- ¼ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Mix all the sauce ingredients in a small bowl until creamy and combined.½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp ketchup, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tbsp sweet pickle relish, ½ cup mayonnaise½ tsp white vinegar, ¼ tsp paprika, ¼ tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp garlic powder, Pinch of salt
- Refrigerate the sauce while you cook the beef — it gets thicker and more flavorful as it chills.
- In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and ketchup.1 lb ground beef, ½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, 1 tbsp ketchup
- Break up the meat as it cooks until browned and slightly crispy (about 8–10 minutes). Drain any excess fat.
- Divide lettuce (or your base) into 4 bowls.4 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce or 1 cup cooked rice
- Top with cooked beef, shredded cheddar, tomatoes, pickles, and diced onions.1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, ½ cup diced pickles, ½ cup diced onions
- Drizzle with Big Mac Sauce — or serve it on the side for dipping.
- Add optional toppings like crumbled bacon, sesame seeds (for that “burger bun” vibe), or air-fried fries or crispy potatoes underneath and serve.
Notes
- You can swap ground turkey or chicken for the beef.
- For a lower carb version, skip the rice/potatoes and go heavy on lettuce and pickles.
- Make a big batch of the sauce — it’s amazing on wraps, fries, and grilled chicken.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love how you can make the recipe larger for company. Thank you
Hi Carolyn,
We’re so glad this works for you! Thanks for such fabulous feedback!
xo,
Alia & Radwa