Healthy Deconstructed Burger Bowl with Secret Sauce

Skip the bun and make these Deconstructed Burger Bowls. They're packed with all of your favorite burger ingredients except the bun. Each bowl features a freshly grilled burger patty, crispy bacon, and even more delicious toppings. The bowl is finished with a special homemade sauce that is both sweet and tangy. They're super easy to make and can be prepped in advance for lunches. Enjoy with french fries or sweet potato fries. 

Who doesn't love a good burger? It's one of my favorite meals to get when I'm eating out. Making deconstructed burger bowls is my new favorite way to enjoy a juicy burger because they don't leave you feeling heavy and weighed down. You can get all the flavors from a traditional burger but without all the calories and with more fiber. I don't know about you but I'm here for that all day. Plus they're a super easy dinner that the whole family will love, even those picky eaters. 

Looking for more high protein low carb delicious salads to try? You'll want to check out my Bang Bang Shrimp Salad, Salmon Kale Caesar Salad, Veggie Chicken Salad, and Buffalo Chicken Caesar Salad. 

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love These Deconstructed Burger Bowls 
• Ingredient Notes and Substitutions 
• How to Make Deconstructed Burger Bowls 
• Make Your Own Burger Patties 
• Make It Vegetarian 
• More Ways to Customize Your Deconstructed Burger Bowl Recipe 
• What to Serve With Deconstructed Burger Bowls 
• How Much Does This Recipe Make? 
• Storing and Make The Bowls Ahead
• Healthy Deconstructed Burger Bowl with Secret Sauce

Why You'll Love These Deconstructed Burger Bowls 

Low Carb - Low Calorie: You can easily get your burger fix without all the calories and with lower carbs by omitting the burger buns 

Easy to meal prep: Prepare these bowls in advance for work or school lunches. This is a great way to eat healthy and save time during the week 

Easily Customizable: Add all of your favorite burger toppings to make this recipe completely your own 

Vegetarian Friendly: Curious about making this vegetarian-friendly? An easy way to do this is by substituting the burger patty for a vegetarian patty instead and omitting the bacon. 

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions 

Green leaf lettuce - This is the base of the cheeseburger salad. The curly ends of the lettuce are what stood out to me the most. Romaine lettuce and iceberg lettuce are great substitutes. 

Burger patty (cooked) - Any burger can be used whether you like black bean burgers, paleo burgers, turkey burgers, or regular homemade burgers the choice is up to you. Alternatively, you can use ground burger meat of any kind including ground turkey, or ground chicken. 

Shredded cheddar cheese - Freshly grated cheese is going to give the deconstructed burgers the best flavor. Mozzarella, provolone, swiss, or pepperjack can all be substituted for cheddar. 

Roma tomatoes - These are a great choice for the loaded burger bowls because they have a low water content. Cherry tomatoes are a great alternative. 

Pickle slices - Choose your favorite dill pickles brand. Hamburger dill chips are a great choice. Alternatively, you can use dill relish. 

Red onion - Any variety of onion will work just fine. Try using pickled red onion for a pop of color and added tanginess to the fresh ingredients 

Bacon - What are hamburger bowls without the bacon? I recommend cooking your bacon until crispy then crumbling it overtop of the bowl. Pre-packaged bacon bits can be used as a convenient option. 

Secret sauce 

Mayo - The creamy base of the homemade special sauce. Greek yogurt can be substituted. 

Ketchup - Adds a little bit of sweetness to the sauce. 

Mustard - Give the sauce a little bit of tanginess, you can omit or substitute it with spicy mustard 

Worcestershire sauce - Adds a bit of sweetness and tanginess. A little bit goes a long way. 

Garlic powder - The perfect seasoning for the sauce. Onion powder can be added or substituted. 

How to Make Deconstructed Burger Bowls 

Step 1. In a large bowl add green leaf lettuce then top with the burger patty, cheddar cheese, chopped roma tomatoes, pickle slices, red onion, and bacon. Assemble in a way that looks nice. 

Step 2. Make the secret sauce by adding all the ingredients to a small bowl. Use a spoon to stir until well combined. 

Step 3. Drizzle the homemade burger sauce over top of the deconstructed burger salad and serve immediately. 

Make Your Own Burger Patties 

Making your own burger patty from scratch is super easy. When you make the patties homemade you control the flavor and juiciness of the burger much easier. Start with 1 lb ground beef, preferably a blend with 80% lean meat for juiciness. If you're looking to cut on calories you can use lean ground beef. In a mixing bowl, season the beef generously with salt, pepper, and any desired herbs or spices. Gently form the flavorful ground beef into even-sized patties, being careful not to overwork the mixture to maintain a tender texture. 

Heat a grill or large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the patties to your preferred doneness, and consider adding cheese for a deliciously melted finish. You can cook the patties in an air fryer. Simply, spray the air frying pan with olive oil to prevent sticking then place the patties in the pan making sure they don't touch. Air fry at 370 degrees for around 10-12 minutes flipping halfway through. You can also bake the patties on baking sheets lined with foil for 25 minutes at 375 degrees. 

Make It Vegetarian 

If you're looking for a way to have a burger night with a vegetarian spin, look no further. There are many different ways to do this. You can simply substitute the beef with meat alternatives such as a black bean burger, portobello mushrooms, or any other type of vegetarian burger. 

More Ways to Customize Your Deconstructed Burger Bowl Recipe 

There are so many different flavors of a burger. The best part about this recipe is the great options you can try to make this your own. Below are a few ways to take this to a whole new level. 

Elevate The Sauce: The traditional special sauce dressing is great but consider something different like sriracha mayo, barbecue sauce, spicy ranch, or a garlic aioli for a unique touch.

Crunchy Topping Ideas: More of my favorite toppings include fried onions, roasted sweet potatoes, roasted potato wedges, french fries, or even crushed tortilla chips. 

Make The Base Heartier: Opt for a different grain as your base, like quinoa, brown rice, or even a cauliflower rice substitute for a lighter option.

More Fresh Veggie Additions: Try adding creamy avocado slices, a dollop of guacamole, pico de Gallo, jalapeno slices, and sliced radishes. 

Create a Lettuce Wrap Burger: Skip the bowl and pile the ingredients into a large romaine lettuce piece of two and enjoy in the form of a lettuce wrap. 

What to Serve With Deconstructed Burger Bowls 

How Much Does This Recipe Make? 

This recipe makes one bowl. If you're looking to make this for your family or meal prep it for the week for busy weeknights, I recommend doubling, tripling, or even quadrupling the recipe. It's easy to do. 

Storing and Make The Bowls Ahead

Making this ahead of time is easy to do and it's great the next day. My biggest recommendation is to cook the burger patties and allow to cool completely before adding it to the bowl. You could even refrigerate the burger patties after cooking and add to the bowls when you're ready to eat. This is to make sure the salad and fresh veggies don't wilt. My next recommendation is to store the sauce separately in an airtight container like a mason jar and place it over the bowls when you serve. Keep in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days for optimum freshness.