Fully Loaded Burger Bowl with “Special Sauce” Recipe
This Fully Loaded Burger Bowl with Special Sauce is a fresh, low-carb twist on the classic burger. Ground beef is cooked with garlic and seasoned to perfection, then topped with a creamy, tangy special sauce and fresh guacamole. Served on a bed of crisp romaine lettuce with sautéed red onions, cherry tomatoes, pickle chips, and crispy bacon, this recipe delivers all the flavor of a traditional burger without the bun.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Carb
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 Toppings
- 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; or grape tomatoes, halved)
- ½ cup pickle chips (plus more to taste)
- 8–10 slices thick-cut bacon (cooked, crumbled)
Instructions
- Prepare the Burger Mixture: In a medium mixing bowl, combine 1 pound lean ground beef, 4 teaspoons garlic powder, and ½ teaspoon salt. Mix well using your hands or a wooden spoon until ingredients are evenly distributed. Set aside.
- Cook the Ground Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once warm, add 1 teaspoon avocado oil and swirl to coat the pan. When hot and shimmery, add the ground beef mixture. Cook, stirring frequently, until the beef is browned and crumbled.
- Make the Special Sauce: In a second medium bowl, combine ½ cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup (or coconut aminos), 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish, 2 teaspoons dried minced onion, 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes, and 1 pinch salt. Whisk until fully blended. Adjust seasonings to taste and set aside.
- Prepare the Guacamole: In a small mixing bowl, mash together 2 medium peeled avocados, ½ tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon salt using a fork until smooth and well combined. Set aside.
- Sauté the Red Onions: When the ground beef is done, transfer it to a bowl or plate and set aside. Return the skillet to medium heat and add the thinly sliced red onions in a single layer. Cook the onions until lightly charred on one side, then flip and cook until charred on the other. Work in batches if necessary. Remove onions from skillet and set aside.
- Assemble the Burger Bowls: Divide the roughly chopped romaine lettuce evenly among four serving bowls. Place one-quarter of the cooked 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 evenly in each bowl.
- Finish and Serve: Drizzle generous amounts of the special sauce over each burger bowl. Serve immediately with extra sauce on the side if desired.
Notes
- You can substitute mayonnaise with vegan mayo to make the dish dairy-free.
- Use coconut aminos in place of maple syrup to accommodate Whole30 or lower sugar diets.
- Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper flakes according to your spice preference.
- For added crispness, cook bacon until very crispy before crumbling.
- This dish is perfect for low-carb or keto diets as it omits the bun and adds nutrient-rich vegetables.
Keywords: burger bowl, low carb burger, bunless burger, special sauce, guacamole, keto burger bowl, healthy burger recipe
