Cheeseburger Salad
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This Cheeseburger Salad recipe captures all the flavors of a burger, without the burger buns! Topped with a special sauce (homemade sauce dressing), this salad will be a family favorite!
Everything you love about a cheeseburger, in a bowl!
Try my pasta version of this – Cheeseburger Pasta (aka Hamburger Helper)
Step-by-step photos and instructions are below, but you can jump right to the recipe card if you wish!
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Salad: It’s what’s for dinner. This deconstructed version of a juicy cheeseburger in salad form is like a burger in a bowl! Packed with ground beef, cheese lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and onions with a homemade burger sauce.
It’s super filling and tasty, you can make this ahead or make it right before serving with fantastic results.
It has the bonus of being low carb (since there is no croutons or burger bun) if that’s what you need!
This is one of our favorite dinners, since it is is customizable to the picky eaters. You can make them separately, or you can lay out the ingredients and let everyone make their own burger salad bowl.
Try my Classic Pea Salad, Chicken Cobb Salad, or my Greek Pasta Salad for some other filling dinner salad ideas!
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Easy to prep. You can make this ahead, or make it right before serving.
- Adaptable. Lots of ways to adapt for specific diets. Lay out the ingredients in separate bowls and let the family dig in, choosing their own toppings to make their ideal cheeseburger bowls. Switch out the ground beef for ground turkey.
- Simple ingredients. Find them all in your fridge and pantry. Or at your local grocery store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! If you know you are making a few days ahead, prep the components and store separately. Combine them all about an hour before serving.
Absolutely! Feel free to add your favorite burger toppings, such as avocado, bacon, jalapeños, or sautéed mushrooms. Customize it to your taste!
To make the salad more filling, consider adding a hard-boiled egg, extra cheese, or a few slices of avocado. These additions will increase the protein and healthy fat content, making it more satisfying.
To prevent sogginess, add the dressing just before serving and keep the lettuce and other vegetables dry by patting them with a paper towel after washing.
What to serve with a Cheeseburger Salad
This is a meal on its own, but I serve the delicious dressing on the side, and sometimes include ranch and blue cheese dressing as an option.
You could go the classic route and serve with some Loaded Fries, too!
I have included step-by-step photos and instructions, as well as tips and tricks in the post. If you’d rather skip all that, scoot right on down to the full recipe card located at the bottom of the post.
Key Recipe Ingredients
Remember: this is just an overview and the why of the ingredients I choose here. The full list of ingredients and amounts is found in the printable recipe card below.
- Ground beef. I use a lean ground beef (90/10). You can also use ground pork, ground turkey or ground chicken. You do you.
- Salad ingredients and toppings. I use romaine lettuce torn into bite-size pieces, cherry or grape tomatoes, a small red onion, dill pickles, and sharp cheddar cheese. You can buy shredded cheese or shred a block of your own
- Seasonings. This is where your creativity comes into play. I use a basic blend of salt and pepper with onion powder and garlic powder. Add some smoked paprika, chili powder or some Tuscan seasoning to mix it up!
- Burger sauce. Also known as “Big Mac Sauce” Mix up your own, with mayonnaise, ketchup, maple syrup, dill pickle relish, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, salt, onion powder and garlic powder. If you want to purchase dressing, try thousand island dressing or one labeled “burger sauce”. Homemade dressing really is always going to be better, but I get that not everyone feels like making things from scratch.
How to make Cheeseburger Salad
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
JumpCook the ground beef
In a large skillet, add the ground beef. Brown the meat over medium-high heat, then drain off any excess grease. Add the seasonings and continue to cook until no longer pink, and fully cooked (Ground beef should be cooked to 160° to be done). Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Make the sauce
Combine all sauce ingredients in a bowl. Set aside. If the sauce needs thinning, use a little pickle juice.
Prep the salad
Cut the lettuce into bite sized pieces, halve the tomatoes, chop the pickles, shred the cheese and slice the onions.
Assemble the salad
Add the chopped romaine to a large bowl, then add the lettuce to a bowl, then top with the sliced onions, halved tomatoes, pickles and shredded cheddar cheese in separate piles. Add the cooled seasoned ground beef, and drizzle the sauce over the top, or serve with bowls of sauce to be added before eating.
You can add the dressing and toss if you’d like, or make them like I do and let everyone, um, toss their own salad.
Kylee’s Notes
What to do with leftovers
Store leftover components separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. The ground beef should be used within 3-4 days, and the vegetables and cheese within a week. Assemble the salad just before serving to keep it fresh.
Substitutions/Additions
If you’re really missing the bun, you could use croutons, or a garnish with sesame seeds.
You can make a cheeseburger salad with ground beef or ground turkey (or any ground meat). If you opt for chicken or turkey, bump up the seasoning so you have good flavor in your ground meat.
More delicious salad recipes:
Some of our favorite salad recipes:
- Caprese Orzo Salad (Basil Tomato Mozzarella). An easy side, this salad combines tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil with a yummy homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Make ahead!
- Chicken Caesar Salad. Crisp romaine, grilled chicken, and tangy homemade dressing – always a hit for lunch or dinner.
- Southwest Chicken Salad (with Chipotle Ranch Dressing). Classic flavors made fabulous in this hearty Southwest Chicken Salad. With enough protein to make this a wonderful main dish vs a side, this is a salad you’ll make over and over!
- Watermelon Feta Salad. Featuring juicy watermelon, tangy feta cheese, and fresh mint makes the perfect dish for hot days! Experience the ultimate summer duo with this irresistible recipe.
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Cheeseburger Salad
Ingredients
For the beef
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
For the salad
- Lettuce or salad greens
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup pickles
- ½ cup cheddar cheese
- ½ cup red onion
For the dressing (aka burger sauce)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon dill relish
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
Cook the ground beef
- In a large skillet, brown 1 pound ground beef and drain off any excess grease. Add 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powderand continue to cook until done. Set aside to cool.
Make the sauce
- Combine ½ cup mayonnaise, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon dill relish, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a bowl. Set aside.
Prep the salad
- Cut the Lettuce or salad greens into bite sized pieces, halve the 1 cup cherry tomatoes, chop the ½ cup pickles, shred the ½ cup cheddar cheese and slice the ½ cup red onion.
Assemble
- Add the lettuce to a large bowl, then add the salad ingredients in separate piles
- Add the cooled ground beef, and drizzle the sauce over the top, or serve with bowls of sauce to be added before eating.
Notes
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Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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About Kylee Ayotte
I am a born and raised New Zealander (a Kiwi), now living in Phoenix, Arizona. I’m happily married to the love of my life – a hot American boy I met while traveling the world. I’m a mama to 2 awesome little boys and love red things, rugby, cheesecake, and bacon. Mmmmm. Bacon. Meet Kylee
This recipe initially sounded a little odd to me, but it turned out good, tasting just like a loaded burger.
Thanks, Kylee.