California Burger Bowls are a delicious and healthy low-carb meal. The burgers are served without the roll in a bowl that is filled with crispy lettuce, onions, fresh tomatoes, and sliced avocado for a low-carb and filling and nutritious meal.
This burger bowl is like a hamburger salad. It’s full of fresh ingredients, and it is one of the easiest and quickest dinners to make.
Fill up the bowl with the vegetables while the burgers are cooking on the grill, and dinner will be on your table in about 30 minutes.
I call this recipe a California Burger Bowl because it’s filled with fresh ingredients including avocado and a juicy grass-fed burger on top!
Why this Recipe Works
- Burgers in a bowl are filled with fresh and flavorful ingredients.
- They are versatile; add whatever you like to your burger bowl (see suggestions below).
- Burger bowls are so easy to make with very little cooking involved and easy clean-up!
Here is What You Will Need
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This is an overview of the ingredients and the steps to make this recipe, scroll down to see ingredient notes and substitutions as well as a printable recipe card with exact measurements and complete cooking instructions.
Ingredients
- sea salt and pepper to taste
- ground beef
- lettuce
- tomatoes
- onions
- avocado
- dressing: olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, sea salt and pepper.
Equipment
- grill, indoor grill or grill pan
- burger press
- vegetable knife
- bowls
- mason jar to mix up the dressing
Here is How To Make This Burger Bowl Recipe
Step 1. Form the ground beef into two hamburgers and place them on top of a pre-heated grill.
Cook the burgers over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes, and flip them over.
Tip! If the meat sticks to the grill, they aren’t ready to flip over. Allow the burgers to cook for a bit longer before flipping them.
Step 2. Cook the burgers for approximately 5 minutes until the internal temperature is at least 145 degrees.
Step 3. While the burgers are cooking, fill up the bowls with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and avocados, and mix up the dressing.
Step 4. Add the burger to the bowl of vegetables, add the dressing and serve.
Total Estimated Time to Make This Recipe: 20 to 30 Minutes
Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Ground Beef. The best ground beef to use for beef burgers is ground chuck 80/20. I use grass-fed beef from ButcherBox.
Ground Beef Substitutes. Ground beef burgers can be replaced with ground turkey, chicken or pork. For a vegetarian, a vegetarian beef such as Beyond Meat.
Dressing. The homemade dressing is a simple dressing to make. If you like a thicker dressing, add ½ teaspoon of dijon mustard.
Dressing Substitutes. You can use any kind of dressing in this recipe. We also like to use equal amounts of oil, red wine vinegar, garlic and oregano.
Make-Ahead Instructions
Even though this recipe comes together quickly, it can also be easily prepared up to two days ahead of time. Here’s how:
Rinse and dry the lettuce, chop up the onions and store them in the refrigerator. Shape the meat into burgers and store them in the refrigerator in a separate container.
Make the dressing and store it in the refrigerator.
Just before serving, cook the burgers, cut up the avocados and tomatoes and add them along with the prepared lettuce and onions to the bowls.
Storing and Using Leftovers
Store leftover burger bowls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Enjoy the leftovers cold or heat the burger separately in the oven or microwave.
Recipe Variations
These bowls are very versatile, here are a few ways to change them up:
Greek Burger Bowl. Make a Greek Turkey burger, and leave out the avocado from the bowl. Add diced cucumbers, olives and feta cheese. Drizzle the salad with equal parts of lemon juice and olive oil with a pinch of garlic powder and oregano.
Tex Mex Burger Bowl. Sprinkle shredded cotija, cheddar or jack cheese on top of the burger and replace the dressing with salsa.
Plant-Based Burger Bowl. Instead of meat, use a veggie burger like this homemade mushroom veggie burger or beyond meat burger.
You Might Like These Bowl Recipes
California Burger Bowl
Grilled beef burgers served in a bowl with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and avocado; a refreshing dinner.
Ingredients
- ½ pound lean ground beef
- lettuce of your choice (field greens or romaine work well use enough to fill 2 bowls.)
- 1 to 2 tomatoes
- 1 small red onion sliced
- 1 avocado
- DRESSING
- ½ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup balsamic vinegar
- 1 clove crushed garlic or ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- use your hands or a burger press to form the ground meat into two ¼ pound hamburgers.
- sprinkle the patties with sea salt and pepper to taste and preheat the grill to medium-high heat
- add the burgers to a heated grill with a medium flame and cook for approximately 6 to 8 minutes, flip and cook for approximately 4 to 8 minutes longer until burgers reach the desired internal temperature at least 145. (see notes for temps)
- while burgers are cooking place the lettuce, chopped tomatoes, onions and avocados into two bowls and make the dressing by adding all ingredients to a small mason jar and shake well.
- place a burger in each bowl and top it with the dressing or just plain oil and vinegar
Notes
Cook the burgers on a grill pan: Heat a grill pan over medium to high heat and brush it with olive oil.
Add the burgers and cook for 8 minutes on one side and flip; cook until the burgers are cooked to your desired temperature.
Substitute the ground beef with ground turkey, ground chicken or beyond meat.
Add a slice of cheese for a cheeseburger bowl.
Internal Beef Temperatures
- Medium Rare 145 degrees
- Medium 160 degrees
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: 1 bowlAmount Per Serving: Calories: 535Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 105mgSodium: 255mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 10gSugar: 7gProtein: 37g
Nutrition information is provided by an online calculator and is meant to be used for informational purposes only. Even though I try to provide accurate information, these figures should still be considered as estimates.
I had saved this receipe & use it when I’m in the mood for burgers, but I’m unable to find the dressing receipe that went with it. It’s so good it makes this whole burger bowl a delectable meal for me!! Would you please send me that balsamic dressing receipe? Thanks.
Perfect weeknight meal! I love that dressing recipe – so simple! Thanks!