Description
Delicious and easy-to-make Cheeseburger Bowls featuring seasoned ground beef, fresh chopped vegetables, smoky BBQ ranch dressing, and crispy bacon, all served over a bed of crunchy iceberg and romaine lettuce. Perfect for a low-carb meal that brings all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger in a bowl format.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Burger Mixture
- 1 pound 85 to 90% lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
For the Smoky BBQ Ranch
- ½ cup reduced-fat or regular Ranch salad dressing (like Lithouse Lite or Homestyle Ranch)
- 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce (no sugar added or regular)
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
For the Bowls
- 3 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 3 cups well chopped romaine lettuce (about 1 romaine heart)
- 1 cup finely chopped cucumber
- 1 cup finely chopped tomato
- 1 large avocado, chopped
- ½ cup chopped bread and butter or dill pickle chips
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
- ¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled or chopped
- Crushed Doritos (any flavor), optional
Instructions
- Prepare the Burger Mixture: Add the ground beef to a nonstick skillet and place over medium heat. Cook, crumbling the beef with a spoon until browned. Drain excess grease from the skillet, then return it to heat. Add chili powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, granulated garlic, onion powder, and black pepper. Stir to combine and cook for another 2 minutes to let the flavors meld. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to rest and cool slightly while preparing other ingredients.
- Make the Smoky BBQ Ranch: In a small bowl, combine the ranch salad dressing, BBQ sauce, Dijon mustard, and smoked paprika. Stir well until all ingredients are thoroughly mixed. Set aside.
- Assemble the Bowls: In a large bowl, mix the chopped romaine and shredded iceberg lettuce. Divide this lettuce mixture evenly between four shallow bowls or plates. Top each with equal portions of the seasoned burger mixture, chopped cucumber, tomato, avocado, pickles, red onion, shredded cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon. Drizzle each bowl with the smoky BBQ ranch dressing. For an optional crunch, sprinkle crushed Doritos on top. Serve immediately or let guests build their own bowls.
Notes
- For meal prepping, cook the burger mixture ahead of time and allow it to cool.
- Portion out all fresh ingredients except avocado into meal prep containers to keep them separate and fresh.
- Store the smoky BBQ ranch dressing in small containers with the meals to prevent sogginess.
- Refrigerate all components and consume within 3 to 4 days for best freshness.
- Add sliced avocado just before serving to maintain texture and prevent browning.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
