Fully Loaded Burger Bowl with “Special Sauce” Recipe
A delicious and satisfying Fully Loaded Burger Bowl featuring crumbled seasoned ground beef, zesty special sauce, creamy quick guacamole, sautéed red onions, fresh vegetables, and crispy bacon. This no-bun bowl is perfect for those craving all the flavors of a classic burger without the bread, making it a low-carb and flavorful meal option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Carb
Ingredients
Scale
For the Burgers
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 4 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt, more or less to taste
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil or melted refined coconut oil
For the Special Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup (or 1 tablespoon coconut aminos if on Whole30)
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes, more or less to taste
- 1 pinch salt, more or less to taste
For the Quick Guacamole
- 2 medium avocados, pit removed and peeled
- ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice (juice from approximately half of 1 lemon)
- ½ teaspoon salt, more or less to taste
For the Bowls (All Optional)
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 2 small heads romaine lettuce leaves only, roughly chopped (approximately 8–9 cups total)
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved (or grape tomatoes, halved)
- ½ cup pickle chips, plus more to taste
- 8–10 slices thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled
Instructions
- Prepare the Burgers: In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 pound lean ground beef, 4 teaspoons garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Use your hands or a wooden spoon to mix until well combined. Set aside.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon avocado oil and swirl to coat the pan evenly. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the beef mixture to the skillet. Cook, stirring frequently, until the beef is browned and crumbled. While the beef cooks, prepare the guacamole and special sauce.
- Make the Special Sauce: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup (or 1 tablespoon coconut aminos for Whole30), 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish, 2 teaspoons dried minced onion, a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt. Adjust seasoning to taste and set aside.
- Prepare the Guacamole: In a small bowl, mash together 2 peeled avocados, ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon salt with a fork until smooth but still slightly chunky. Set aside.
- Sauté the Red Onions: After the beef is cooked, remove it from the skillet and set aside. Return the skillet to medium heat, add the thinly sliced red onions in a single layer (work in batches if needed), and cook until lightly charred on one side. Flip and cook until the other side is also charred. Transfer onions to a bowl and repeat until all onions are cooked.
- Assemble the Burger Bowls: Divide roughly chopped romaine lettuce evenly among four serving bowls. Place a quarter of the crumbled beef in the center of each bowl atop the lettuce. Arrange equal portions of cherry tomatoes, pickle chips, crumbled bacon, sautéed red onions, and guacamole around the beef. Drizzle generously with the special sauce and serve immediately with extra sauce if desired.
Notes
- If following Whole30, replace the maple syrup with 1 tablespoon coconut aminos in the special sauce to keep it compliant.
- For a Tex-Mex twist in the guacamole, substitute lemon juice with lime juice.
- Adjust salt and spice levels in the special sauce and guacamole according to personal preference.
- All optional toppings can be customized or omitted based on dietary needs or taste.
Keywords: burger bowl, low carb burger, ground beef bowl, special sauce, quick guacamole, healthy burger, no bun burger, keto burger bowl
