Classic Burger Bowl

This easy-to-throw-together dinner idea is a fresh and flavourful twist on the nostalgic classic that everyone will love.

If you're new around here, I'd say one of the top things to know about me is that I will try to turn almost anything into a bowl because a) they are SO versatile and b) you can make one with almost any 3-4 ingredients you have. So here we are with one of my current go-to's for an easy dinner that everyone loves. A Classic Burger Bowl.

Filled with fresh veggies, tangy pickles, seasoned fries and beef, all topped with addicting burger sauce, this burger bowl will easily earn it's well-deserved spot on your meal rotation. And a bonus? This meal is can easily be meal prepped to enjoy later. Just store most of the ingredients separately and you'll be enjoying an amazing dinner each time!

Classic Burger Bowls

Serves: 6

Prep time: 30 min

Cook time: 30 min

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lean ground beef

• 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon seasoning salt

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

• 6 cups chopped lettuce

• 4 cups diced tomatoes

• 3 cups sliced pickles

• pickled onions (optional, recipe in notes)

Cajun Fries

• 3-4 large sweet potatoes (or equivalent of white potatoes)

• 1 ½ tablespoons oil

• 1 tablespoon paprika

• 1 teaspoon chili powder

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

• 1 teaspoon seasoning salt

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

Burger Sauce

• ¾ cup mayonnaise

• ¼ cup ketchup

• 2 tablespoons mustard

• 2 tablespoons diced pickles

• 1 ½ tablespoons pickle juice
  

Directions

1. Preheat to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil.

2. Slice the potatoes lengthwise into ¼-inch thick fries. For crispier fries, soak them in water for 10 minutes and dry prior to seasoning them. If you're short on time, feel free to skip this step.

3. Drizzle oil over the fries and season with paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, seasoning salt, thyme, salt, and black pepper. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until they're fully cooked through and starting to get crispy on the edges, stirring halfway in.

4. While the fries bake, cook the ground beef to brown. Then, season and remove from heat.

5. To make the sauce, combine all ingredients and whisk together. Feel free to add some hot sauce or cayenne pepper to make it a bit spicy.

6. To assemble the bowls, add the lettuce, fries, and beef as the base, topping with tomatoes, pickles, pickled or fresh onions, and drizzle with the burger sauce. Enjoy!

Notes:

• To enjoy the reheated ingredients at a later time, bake or air-fry your fries to make them crisp up again. For the meat, microwaving or reheating on the stove would both work great.

• To make pickled onions, bring 1 ½ cups water with 3 tablespoons of vinegar, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon of granulated sugar to a boil in a small pot. Bring the heat down to a simmer for 10 minutes. Place 1 sliced red onion in a jar and carefully pour the brine over the onions. Push the onions down to ensure they're fully covered and allow to set uncovered for 30 minutes before enjoying with your burger bowl or sealing and refrigerating.