Fully Loaded Burger Bowl with “Special Sauce” Recipe
This Fully Loaded Burger Bowl with Special Sauce offers a delicious low-carb alternative to traditional burgers. Packed with seasoned ground beef, creamy guacamole, sautéed onions, crispy bacon, and fresh veggies, all drizzled with a tangy, slightly sweet special sauce. Perfect as a hearty, flavorful meal served in a bowl with romaine lettuce instead of a bun.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Calorie
Ingredients
Scale
For the Burgers
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 4 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil (or melted refined coconut oil)
For the Special Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup (or 1 tablespoon coconut aminos if on Whole30)
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons dried minced onion
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)
- 1 pinch salt (more or less to taste)
For the Guacamole
- 2 medium avocados (pit removed, peeled)
- ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice (juice from approximately half of 1 lemon)
- ½ teaspoon salt (more or less to taste)
Additional Bowl Ingredients
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 2 small heads romaine lettuce (leaves only, roughly chopped; approximately 8–9 cups total)
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes (halved)
- ½ cup pickle chips (plus more to taste)
- 8–10 slices thick-cut bacon (cooked, crumbled)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ground Beef: In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 pound lean ground beef with 4 teaspoons garlic powder and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix thoroughly using your hands or a wooden spoon until well blended, then set aside.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon avocado oil and swirl to coat the pan evenly. Once the oil is hot and shimmering, add the ground beef mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, until the beef is browned and crumbled.
- Make the Special Sauce: In a separate medium bowl, whisk together ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup, 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish, 2 teaspoons dried minced onion, a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed, then set aside.
- Prepare the Guacamole: In a small bowl, mash 2 peeled and pitted avocados with ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice and ½ teaspoon salt using a fork until smooth but slightly chunky. Set aside.
- Sauté the Red Onions: After the beef is fully cooked, transfer it to a bowl and set aside. Return the skillet to medium heat and add 1 cup thinly sliced red onions in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Cook until lightly charred on one side, then flip and char the other side. Transfer the sautéed onions to another bowl. Repeat for remaining onions.
- Assemble the Burger Bowls: Evenly divide roughly 8-9 cups chopped romaine lettuce into serving bowls. Place a portion of ground beef in the center of each bowl on top of the lettuce. Arrange cherry tomatoes, pickle chips, crumbled bacon, sautéed red onions, and guacamole around the beef.
- Serve: Drizzle the prepared special sauce generously over each bowl. Serve immediately with additional sauce on the side if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute refined coconut oil for avocado oil when cooking the beef.
- The special sauce’s sweetness can be adjusted using maple syrup; coconut aminos is a good Whole30-compliant alternative.
- Use crispy thick-cut bacon for best texture contrast.
- Work in batches when sautéing onions to ensure even charring without overcrowding the pan.
- This bowl is low-carb and bunless, making it ideal for keto or low-carb diets.
Keywords: burger bowl, low carb burger, special sauce, guacamole, sautéed onions, bacon, keto friendly, healthy burger alternative
