Description
This easy Smash Burger Bowl packs all the savory goodness of a classic cheeseburger into a hearty, bun-free meal. Seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar, crispy roasted potatoes, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and onions come together for a quick dinner finished with creamy burger sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Bowl
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 lb baby potatoes, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups chopped romaine lettuce or mixed greens
- 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, optional
For the Burger Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped dill pickles or pickle relish
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Roast the potatoes: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Toss the potatoes with olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, a pinch of salt, and black pepper. Spread them in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Cook until crispy: Roast for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the potatoes are tender inside and golden around the edges.
- Make the burger sauce: Stir the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles, and garlic powder together in a small bowl. Refrigerate until serving.
- Cook the beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and press it firmly against the hot skillet to encourage those delicious browned, smash-burger-style edges. Cook for 5–7 minutes, breaking the beef into bite-size pieces.
- Season the beef: Add onion powder and the remaining salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the beef is browned and reaches 160°F internally. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add the cheese: Sprinkle the cheddar over the hot beef. Cover the skillet for 1–2 minutes, just until the cheese becomes wonderfully melty.
- Build the bowls: Divide the lettuce among four bowls. Add crispy potatoes, tomatoes, onions, cheesy ground beef, and parsley.
- Finish and serve: Drizzle each Smash Burger Bowl with burger sauce and serve immediately.
Notes
- For crispier potatoes, give them plenty of room on the baking sheet. Crowded potatoes steam instead of roast—and nobody invited soggy potatoes to burger night.
- Ground turkey can be substituted for ground beef, although the flavor and texture will differ.
- Add sliced dill pickles, avocado, jalapeños, mushrooms, or bacon for extra toppings.
- For meal prep, refrigerate the beef, potatoes, vegetables, and sauce separately. Reheat the beef and potatoes before assembling.
- To make the recipe gluten-free, verify that all packaged sauces, seasonings, cheese, and condiments you use are certified or labeled gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet, Oven
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 690 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 46 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 26 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg