Satisfy your cravings with a Big Mac Burger Bowl Salad! Seasoned ground beef crumbles replace the patty, nestled on a bed of crisp lettuce. Diced pickles, juicy tomatoes, and cheddar cheese add classic Big Mac flavours. Crispy golden roast potatoes take the place of the bun, offering a delightful textural contrast. Drizzle with my signature creamy and tangy special sauce for a flavour explosion in every bite!
If you're a big fan of the classic Big Mac, but can't justify having it for lunch every day (I mean, it does get a bit heavy), satisfy your cravings with this delicious bowl instead.
Stacked full of fresh ingredients with the classic Big Mac flavours, you'll get your takeaway burger fix without the hassle of going to Maccas (and probably purchasing more than you need). This deconstructed burger bowl makes a super easy meal prep recipe that can be eaten hot or cold (and I've included my best tips & tricks in the post).
PLUS - there are so many different variations for burgers without buns in a bowl that you'll never be bored. I've even given you some suggestions!
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Ingredients
Burger mince. I have used lean beef mince to copy the flavour of the burger patty in a Big Mac, but I've also added in additional vegetables to increase the micronutrients to make this a healthier meal prep recipe.
Lettuce. I've used Romanian lettuce hearts as they hugged the bowl really well, but you could use any lettuce, or other leafy greens that you wish.
Tomatoes. Whole tomatoes diced, or cherry tomatoes halved or quartered would work well.
Roast Potatoes. I roasted potatoes with some flavourings to help elevate the dish further.
Pickles. I mean, of course?
Cheese. Shredded cheddar cheese is a must for a burger bowl.
Special sauce. That's my secret 😉 I'm completely kidding, of course I've listed the ingredients needed. You need equal parts mayo and ketchup, a dash of mustard and some really small sliced pieces of pickles and white onion for texture.
Optional extras.
- Added vegetables. As mentioned above, added vegetables into the beef mixture increase the micronutrients in the dish, making it an excellent meal prep
- Pickled Onions. I am a HUGE fan of pickled vegetables, so I added extra pickled goodness with my homemade pickled onions.
Please check the recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantity. See below for substitutions and variations.
How to make a burger salad bowl
- Roast potatoes
Sliced white rustic potatoes up into cubes (after washing them) and add to a bowl of water for at least 10 minutes. This helps remove the excess starch to give them the crunchiness when roasted.
Drain and pat dry then add to a baking tray with a drizzle of olive oil and salt and pepper. Then bake in the oven until golden brown. - Cook beef mince
Add diced onions in the pan first and cook them until they're fragrant. Then add the beef mince and cook until mostly brown before adding the rest of the vegetables and flavours. Mix well. Once cooked, remove from heat and let rest.
You can eat the burger bowl either hot, cold or at room temperature depending on your preference and whether you're going to have it for a meal prep. - Prepare sauce
Add all sauce ingredients to a bowl and mix until combined. Taste and adjust as necessary.
- Compile burger bowl
Begin with a layer of the greens to create a bed for the rest of the ingredients. Then add whatever else you need (the recipe I have provided will make about 5 to 6 serves).
Make sure you don't forget to add the amazing burger salad dressing on top. And of course, my homemade pickled onions.
Substitutions
Protein. One easy swap for this burger bowl is to swap the protein. You can use any type of mince you want - from turkey, chicken, or even TVP for a plant-based option. Simply prepare the meal the same way with the different protein.
Potatoes. You could go for the classic burger accompaniment with some fries, or even some wedges or onion rings. The choice is yours and you can adjust depending on what you feel like!
Variations
I definitely need to get around to making more variations of burger bowls, but here are some suggestions for different flavours:
- Vegan burger bowl (swap the protein to TVP and substitute sauce & cheese)
- Bacon cheeseburger (add in some bacon and bbq sauce)
- Chicken burger (simply swap the protein)
- Hawaiian burger bowl (add in some freshness like pineapple)
- Make the burger meat into patties
Meal prep and leftovers
A deconstructed burger bowl makes an excellent option for a meal prep because it can be eaten and enjoyed hot, cold or even room temperature.
Storing and reheating
No soggy salad. To prevent your burger bowl salad ingredients from going soggy, store in a taller container (like these jars) and add the ingredients in heaviest to lightest (beginning with sauce and ending with lettuce). This will prevent ingredients like the lettuce and tomato from getting soggy from the mince and sauce.
Hot meal prep. If you're wanting to have this burger salad as a hot meal prep, store the mince and potatoes separately from the rest of the ingredients. Heat these up in the microwave on 1 minute intervals (should take about 2 minutes) or in the pan over medium heat for about 5-10 minutes or until heated through. Once heated, add to the cold salad ingredients.
Freezing
You definitely can't freeze the entire burger bowl salad because ingredients with higher water content (the pickles, lettuce, tomato etc.) don't hold up well once they've been frozen.
But, you can freeze the mince and potatoes either together or separately in airtight containers, ziplock bags, or vacuum sealer bags (like pictured)
If you want more meal prep information, check out my Meal Prep for Beginners post and my Meal Prep Basics E-Book.
FAQs
Absolutely! This recipe offers a fun twist on the classic Big Mac, but feel free to customize it to your preference. Here's how to incorporate beef patties:
Form the seasoned ground beef into small patties.
Cook the patties in a skillet or on a grill until browned and cooked through.
Slice or crumble the cooked patties and add them to your burger bowl salad on top of the lettuce and other toppings.
If you plan to make the burger bowl salad ahead of time, you can freeze the seasoned beef mixture for later use:
After browning the ground beef, let it cool completely.
Divide the cooled mixture into portions and store them in freezer-safe containers or zip-lock bags or vacuum sealed bags.
Frozen ground beef will generally stay safe for up to 3 months. Thaw the mixture completely in the refrigerator before using it in your burger bowl salad.
A deconstructed burger takes all the classic ingredients of a hamburger (beef patty, cheese, toppings, bun) and presents them in a bowl format. This allows for customization and a more layered flavour experience. You can enjoy the familiar burger flavours with the option to add different greens, experiment with various toppings, and dress it to your liking.
Other recipes great for meal prep
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Recipe
Deconstructed Big Mac Burger Bowl Salad (with Potatoes)
Ingredients
Mince
- 500 g lean beef mince
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 brown onion diced
- 1 cup corn kernels
- 1 cup lentils hydrated
- 1 carrot grated
- ½ zucchini grated
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 clove garlic crushed
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
Bowl Ingredients
- 1 head head lettuce
- 2 Tomatoes diced
- 1 cup pickled onions drained
- 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 1 cup pickles drained
- 6 white potatoes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
- salt and pepper
Sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard or American
- 1 tablespoon pickles diced
- 1 tablespoon `onion diced
Instructions
- Add diced potatoes to a large bowl with cold water to remove excess starch. Leave for 10 minutes, drain, and pat dry.
- Add diced potatoes to a baking tray and coat with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper, and rosemary. Bake for 30 minutes @200C or until golden brown.
- Heat 1 teaspoon oil on a pan on medium heat and add diced onions. Cook until fragrant (approx. 5 minutes). Add beef mince and cook until mostly brown. Add rest of ingredients for the mince and mix well.
- Compile bowl with all the ingredients. Check post for suggestions on meal prepping, storing and reheating.
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