These Deconstructed Burger Bowls are the best protein-packed salad! Ditch the bun and enjoy this gluten-free salad tossed with a special sauce. Most of this is done in the air fryer and is ready in minutes!
Do you love burgers but looking for a healthier, gluten-free option? Deconstructed burger bowls are the answer!
These bunless burger bowls are easy to make and customizable. Swap out proteins for turkey, chicken, or veggie burgers.
Speaking of chicken have you tried my Air Fryer Chipotle Chicken Burger yet? It's so delicious!
I suggest following our Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes recipe for easy-to-follow instructions. Check out our collection of salad recipes for more delicious salads.
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⭐️ Why you'll love this recipe
- These healthy burger bowls are Whole30, Paleo, Dairy-Free, and Gluten-Free.
- Enjoy the delicious flavors of a burger without missing a bun!
- Change up your burger toppings and make this bowl customizable.
- The burger bowl sauce is a copycat of In and Out's special sauce.
🥘 Ingredient Notes
For a complete ingredient list, scroll down to our recipe card.
- Burgers - We used premade burger patties but you can make your own grown ground beef. Turkey burgers and veggies burgers are some great swaps!
- Romaine Lettuce - Choose a crisp lettuce like romaine or iceberg.
- Special Sauce - A combination of mayo, Whole30 ketchup, and pickle relish.
- Sweet Potatoes - These are filling and add a natural sweet flavor.
- Avocado - Help make this recipe keto-friendly
- Pickles - Make this Pickle Recipe for Whole30 burger bowls.
- Tomatoes - Cherry tomatoes or diced Roma tomatoes work the best.
- Red Onions - If you don't like raw red onions, try my Hibiscus Pickled Red Onions.
- Bacon - We used sugar-free and nitrate-free bacon.
See recipe card for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
📖 Substitutions and Variations
I love how customizable these loaded burger bowls are! You can change the toppings and proteins to match your taste or dietary preference.
- Protein - Instead of beef burgers, try using chicken or turkey burgers. Use veggie burgers or a vegetarian option.
- Base - Instead of lettuce, use a base of cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles for a low-carb swap.
- Keto - Melt cheddar cheese on your burger and keep the avocado for added fat.
- Toppings - Add your favorite raw or cooked veggies to change the flavor profile. Below I will include burger bowl ideas for toppings!
💡Topping Ideas
- caramelized onions
- pickled jalapenos
- roasted red peppers
- sauteed mushrooms
- grilled pineapple
- crispy onion rings
- barbecue sauce
- Sous Vide Corn On The Cob - Remove the corn from the cob for a delicious salad topper.
🔪 Step By Step Instructions
If you have questions about this deconstructed burger bowl recipe, don't forget to check out our FAQ section at the bottom of this post.
Step 1: To make burger bowl dressing combine mayo, ketchup, relish, coconut aminos, and white vinegar.
Step 2: Preheat the air fryer to 375ºF/190ºC. Place slices of bacon in the basket and cook for 10 minutes or until crispy.
Step 3: Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF/204ºC. Toss sweet potatoes with avocado oil and seasonings. Cook for 12 minutes.
Step 4: Preheat the air fryer to 375ºF/190ºC. Cook the burger for 5 minutes, then flip, and cook for 5 more minutes.
Assemble the bowl: Place chopped romaine in a large bowl and toss with dressing. Place lettuce in bowls and arrange your topping in sections. Finish your salad with a cooked burger patty and enjoy.
Tip - Using an air fryer is OPTIONAL and you can still use an oven to cook your sweet potatoes, and bacon. Use a grill or cast-iron pan to cook the burger.
⏲ Storage
Refrigerator: Store burger bowls in airtight containers with dressing on the side for 3-4 days.
Reheating: The only thing we need to reheat is the burger patty. Since it's already cooked, we want to reheat it slowly in the microwave at 70% power for 1-2 minutes.
💭 Chef Tips
- If you don't like the taste of raw onions, use pickled red onions.
- Use a thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the burger is 165ºF/73ºC.
- The thickness of the burger will determine how long to cook it in the air fryer or grill.
- We recommend choosing lettuce that is crisp and crunchy, like romaine or iceberg.
❓Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can cook a burger patty straight from frozen. Whether you are using a grill or air fryer, add a few minutes to the cooking time. Make sure the internal temperature is 165°F.
Making homemade burger patties is so easy! Mix ground beef and seasonings in a large bowl and shape it into ½ pound patties.
A deconstructed burger takes burger ingredients and serves them separately, often in a bowl or on a plate.
🍽 Related Recipes
Did you make this recipe? Leave a ⭐️ review below and tag @thefrizzledleek on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest!
📖 Recipe
Deconstructed Burger Bowls
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 burger patties ½ pound burgers
- salt and pepper to season burgers
- 1 small red onion sliced
- 4 strips of bacon cooked
- 8 cups romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 cup sliced dill pickles
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 2 diced sweet potatoes cooked
- 1 avocado sliced
Burger Bowl Sauce
- ½ cup paleo mayo made with avocado oil
- 3 tablespoon ketchup Whole30
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
- ½ teaspoon white vinegar
Instructions
For the sauce
- Whisk together all of the sauce ingredients and set aside.
For the burger bowls
- Prep Veggies: Prep, clean, and chop romaine lettuce, cherry tomatoes, diced sweet potatoes, sliced red onion, pickles, and sliced avocado.
- Cook Bacon: Preheat the air fryer to 375ºF/190ºC. Place slices of bacon in the basket and cook for 10 minutes or until crispy.
- Cook Sweet Potatoes: Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF/204ºC. Toss sweet potatoes with avocado oil and seasonings. Cook for 12 minutes.
- Cook Burgers: Preheat the air fryer to 375ºF/190ºC. Cook the burger for 5 minutes, then flip, and cook for 5 more minutes.
- Assemble the Bowls: Place dressed romaine into 4 separate bowls. Top with sweet potatoes, bacon, pickles, red onions, burger, avocado, and tomatoes.
Notes
- Using an air fryer is OPTIONAL and you can still use an oven to cook your sweet potatoes, and bacon. Use a grill or cast-iron pan to cook the burger.
- If you don't like the taste of raw onions, use pickled red onions.
- Use a thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the burger is 165ºF/73ºC.
- The thickness of the burger will determine how long to cook it in the air fryer or grill.
- We recommend choosing lettuce that is crisp and crunchy, like romaine or iceberg.
Lori Raupe says
I love this recipe, it's sooo much better than merely removing a bun from your burger! It is a work of art, and with each bite, you get an explosion of great flavor that is like your favorite burger but on steroids!