Keto Burger Bowls Recipe: Satisfy Your Cravings the Low-Carb Way

Craving a juicy burger but trying to stick to a keto or low-carb diet? Look no further than the keto burger bowl! This recipe delivers all the deliciousness of a classic cheeseburger, but without the bun, making it a perfect option for a healthy and satisfying meal. Packed with protein, healthy fats, and customizable toppings, these burger bowls are quick, easy, and perfect for busy weeknights or meal prepping.

What is a Keto Burger Bowl?

A burger bowl is essentially a deconstructed burger served in a bowl instead of on a bun. It includes all the familiar components of a traditional burger, like ground beef, cheese, and your favorite toppings, but presented as a salad. This makes it an excellent choice for those following a low-carb or gluten-free diet while still satisfying those burger cravings.

Why Choose a Burger Bowl?

• Low-Carb & Keto-Friendly: With minimal carbohydrates, burger bowls fit perfectly into a ketogenic lifestyle, helping you maintain ketosis and burn fat.
• High in Protein: Packed with ground beef, these bowls provide a substantial dose of protein, essential for muscle building and satiety.
• Customizable: Easily adapt the recipe to your preferences by adding or substituting toppings to create your perfect burger bowl.
• Quick & Easy: Most burger bowl recipes can be prepared in under 30 minutes, making them ideal for busy weeknights.
• Meal Prep Friendly: Prepare the components ahead of time and assemble the bowls when you're ready to eat, making them perfect for meal prepping.

Keto Cheeseburger in a Bowl Recipe

This recipe is inspired by a classic bunless cheeseburger. Instead of serving the toppings on a beef burger patty, all of the ingredients are cooked in one skillet and then baked with shredded cheddar topping.

Ingredients

• 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced (55 g/ 1.9 oz)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp virgin avocado oil or ghee (30 ml)
• 500 g ground beef (1.1 lb)
• 2 large zucchini, diced (600 g/ 1.3 lb)
• 3 to 4 medium pickles (gherkins), diced (85 g/ 3 oz)
• 1/2 can canned tomatoes (200 g/ 7.1 oz)
• 2 tbsp tomato paste (30 ml)
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard (15 ml)
• Sea salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (113 g/ 4 oz)
• Optional: spring onion, chives or parsley to serve

Instructions

1. Dice the onion and mince the garlic. Cut the zucchini into about 1 cm (1/2 inch) cubes, and the pickles (gherkins) into about 1/2 cm (1/4 inch) cubes.
2. Place onion in a skillet greased with avocado oil (or ghee). Cook for 3 to 5 minutes until fragrant.
3. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
4. Add the ground beef and use a spatula to break into pieces. Cook until mostly browned, and then add the tomatoes, tomato paste and Dijon mustard.
5. Add the zucchini and stir to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Top with shredded cheddar, place under a broiler and cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and lightly browned.
7. To store, let it cool down and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Healthy Burger Bowls with Special Sauce

These healthy burger bowls with special sauce are the perfect way to get your burger fix with even more fresh veggies and flavor. These bowls are so easy to make, use only real food ingredients, and the delicious “special sauce” dressing pulls everything together.

Ingredients

• Ground beef
• Steak seasoning (or salt, black pepper, and garlic powder)
• Worcestershire sauce (keto-friendly)
• Dijon mustard
• Hot sauce
• Cheddar cheese
• Shredded lettuce (iceberg or romaine)
• Tomatoes
• Pickles (dill)
• Red onion
• Special sauce

Instructions

1. Prepare the ground beef. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and crumble it as it cooks. Cook the beef for 6-8 minutes. Once the beef is no longer pink, drain the excess grease from the skillet. Mix in the seasonings, sauces, and cheese. Stir to combine everything, then remove the meat mixture from the heat.
2. Assemble the bowls. Start by creating a base with the lettuce. Add the toppings and cooked ground beef.
3. Add a drizzle of hot sauce over the burger bowls to spice them up.

Variations and Customizations

The beauty of burger bowls lies in their versatility. Feel free to experiment with different ingredients and flavor combinations to create your own signature bowl. Here are some ideas:

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

• Protein: Swap ground beef for ground turkey, chicken, or even plant-based alternatives.
• Cheese: Try different cheeses like Monterey Jack, pepper jack, or blue cheese.
• Veggies: Add your favorite vegetables such as bell peppers, mushrooms, spinach, or avocado.
• Toppings: Get creative with toppings like bacon, fried eggs, guacamole, or salsa.
• Sauces: Experiment with different sauces and dressings like BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, or a spicy mayo.

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Burger Bowls

• Don't overcook the beef: Overcooked beef will be dry and tough. Cook it until it's just browned for the best results.
• Prepare ingredients in advance: Chop your veggies and cook the beef ahead of time to save time during assembly.
• Use a variety of textures: Combine crunchy lettuce, juicy tomatoes, and creamy avocado for a more satisfying bowl.
• Season generously: Don't be afraid to season your beef and toppings with salt, pepper, and other spices to enhance the flavor.

Burger Bowl Dressing: The Special Sauce

Since these are burger bowls, there is no place to spread on your favorite condiments like mayonnaise, ketchup, or mustard. To make the sauce, add all of the ingredients to a small mixing bowl and stir until they are well combined. Remember, you can always adjust a recipe to fit your tastebuds! If you want a little more tang in the dressing add more pickle juice. Want more mustard flavor? Add a little more. If you are concerned about making sure this recipe stays Whole30 compliant, be sure to check the labels on your ingredients before using them to make the sauce.

Storing Your Burger Bowl

The best way to store this salad, like any salad, is in a mason jar! Mason jars are great for meal prepping salads because you don’t need any extra containers for the dressing and the salad doesn’t get soggy or wilted after the first day. Since this is a salad, you won’t need to reheat anything, but if you prefer to have warm beef and bacon, you can store them separately and warm them up when you’re ready to enjoy the full salad. To eat, shake up the jar so the ingredients combine and serve your salad in a bowl.

Freezing Burger Patties

To lessen meal prep time for a future meal, you can freeze the beef patties raw. Flatten the burger balls and stack them with a small piece of wax paper or parchment paper in between each patty to ensure they don’t stick together in the freezer. Place the stack inside of an airtight container or Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 3 months. You can also freeze any leftover cooked patties in the freezer for up to 3 months. Wait for the patties to cool down, then place them in an airtight container or a freezer bag until you’re ready to enjoy them.

A Healthier Twist on a Classic

Compared to a traditional cheeseburger with a bun, burger bowls offer a significantly lower calorie count and carbohydrate load. A secret menu item, cheeseburgers from Five Guys are roughly 550 calories without the bun. In comparison, this recipe creates an identical product with a calorie count of only 392 calories.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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