23 BURGER BOWL RECIPES THAT TASTE LIKE YOUR FAVORITE BURGER, NO BUN NEEDED

Looking for easy burger bowl recipes? Here are the loaded bowls that pack in every bit of burger flavor, just without the bun.

A burger bowl is really just a cheeseburger reorganized, seasoned beef (or turkey, or a plant-based patty) over greens or rice, piled with all the usual toppings.

It comes together faster than a real burger, too, since there’s no bun to toast and no patty shape to fuss over.

Burger bowls are a great option for low-carb meals, high-protein dinners, meal prep, and busy weeknights because they’re simple to customize with the toppings you already like.

You can keep them classic, make them spicy, or add extras like avocado, bacon, or roasted potatoes.

If you love burgers but want something lighter and easier to meal prep, these bunless burger bowl ideas give you plenty of filling combinations to try.

BURGER BOWL RECIPES

1. Classic Cheeseburger Bowl

Seasoned ground beef, melted cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and pickles over a bed of greens, with a drizzle of burger sauce.

It’s every bite of a cheeseburger without the bun (though a toasted bun on the side never hurts).

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1/4 cup diced pickles
• 2 tbsp burger sauce (mayo, ketchup, relish)

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef with salt and pepper, about 7 minutes, then drain.
2. Divide the romaine among bowls and top with beef and cheddar.
3. Add tomato and pickles, then drizzle with burger sauce.

2. BBQ Turkey Bacon Burger Bowl

Ground beef gets tossed in barbecue sauce and piled over rice with crispy turkey bacon and sharp cheddar.

The turkey bacon crisps up nearly as well as the real thing here (just watch it closely, it browns fast).

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/3 cup barbecue sauce
• 4 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/4 red onion, sliced

Instructions

1. Brown the beef, drain, then stir in barbecue sauce.
2. Divide rice among bowls and top with the beef mixture.
3. Add turkey bacon, cheddar, and red onion before serving.

3. Mexican Burger Bowl

Taco-seasoned ground beef over rice with black beans, corn, and a scoop of guacamole.

This one doubles as a burrito bowl if you swap the beef seasoning for taco seasoning you already have on hand.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 tbsp taco seasoning
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1/2 cup black beans, drained
• 1/2 cup corn kernels
• 1/2 avocado, mashed

Instructions

1. Brown the beef with taco seasoning and a splash of water, about 7 minutes.
2. Divide rice among bowls and top with beef, black beans, and corn.
3. Finish with a scoop of mashed avocado.

4. Greek Burger Bowl

Ground beef seasoned with oregano and garlic sits over greens with cucumber, tomato, feta, and a dollop of tzatziki.

It leans more Mediterranean than diner burger, but the flavors work together better than you’d expect.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1/4 cup crumbled feta
• 1/3 cup tzatziki

Instructions

1. Brown the beef with oregano and garlic, about 7 minutes.
2. Divide greens among bowls and top with the beef, cucumber, and feta.
3. Finish with a spoonful of tzatziki.

5. Mushroom Swiss Burger Bowl

Sautéed mushrooms and melted Swiss cheese pile onto seasoned ground beef over a bed of greens.

Cook the mushrooms until they’re deeply browned (rubbery, pale mushrooms will drag the whole bowl down).

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 1 tbsp butter
• 4 slices Swiss cheese, torn
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

1. Sauté the mushrooms in butter until deeply browned, about 8 minutes, then set aside.
2. Brown the beef with Worcestershire sauce, about 7 minutes.
3. Divide romaine among bowls and top with beef, mushrooms, and Swiss cheese.

6. Italian Burger Bowl

Ground beef seasoned with Italian herbs sits over greens with marinara, mozzarella, and a scatter of basil.

It tastes closer to a deconstructed meatball sub than a burger, which is exactly why it works.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• Fresh basil for topping

Instructions

1. Brown the beef with Italian seasoning, about 7 minutes.
2. Divide romaine among bowls and top with beef and warm marinara.
3. Add mozzarella and basil, letting the cheese melt slightly into the warm beef.

7. Breakfast Burger Bowl

Seasoned ground beef, a fried egg, crispy hash browns, and melted cheddar, all in one bowl.

This one works just as well for dinner as it does breakfast (I’ve made it both ways more than once).

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 cups frozen hash browns
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 1 tbsp oil
• Hot sauce, for serving

Instructions

1. Brown the beef, about 7 minutes, then set aside.
2. Crisp the hash browns in oil in a skillet, about 8-10 minutes, then divide among bowls with the beef.
3. Fry the eggs to your liking and place on top with cheddar and hot sauce.

8. Philly Cheesesteak Burger Bowl

Ground beef with sautéed peppers and onions, topped with melted provolone over a bed of rice.

Provolone melts better than most cheeses here (string cheese, torn into pieces, is a decent stand-in if that’s what’s in the fridge).

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 1/2 onion, sliced
• 4 slices provolone, torn
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Sauté the peppers and onion in olive oil until softened, about 6 minutes, then set aside.
2. Brown the beef in the same pan, about 7 minutes.
3. Divide rice among bowls, top with beef, peppers, onion, and provolone.

9. Hawaiian Burger Bowl

Ground beef and grilled pineapple over rice with teriyaki sauce and a sprinkle of green onion.

The pineapple gets noticeably sweeter once it’s charred a little, so don’t skip searing it.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1/3 cup teriyaki sauce
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 2 green onions, sliced
• 1 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Sear the pineapple chunks in a dry skillet until charred, about 4 minutes, then set aside.
2. Brown the beef, then stir in teriyaki sauce.
3. Divide rice among bowls and top with beef, pineapple, green onion, and sesame seeds.

10. Buffalo Chicken Burger Bowl

Ground chicken tossed in buffalo sauce over greens with celery, carrots, and a drizzle of ranch.

A good one for anyone who wants the burger bowl format without beef (it’s just as filling with chicken).

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground chicken
• 1/3 cup buffalo sauce
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 celery stalk, diced
• 1/4 cup ranch dressing

Instructions

1. Brown the ground chicken, about 6 minutes, then toss with buffalo sauce.
2. Divide romaine among bowls and top with the chicken.
3. Add carrot and celery, then drizzle with ranch.

11. Turkey Burger Bowl

A lighter take built on ground turkey, with the same lettuce, tomato, and special sauce as the classic version.

Ground turkey dries out faster than beef, so pull it off the heat the moment it’s no longer pink.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground turkey
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1/4 red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 2 tbsp special sauce (mayo, ketchup, relish)

Instructions

1. Brown the ground turkey with salt and pepper, about 6-7 minutes, until just cooked through.
2. Divide romaine among bowls and top with turkey and cheddar.
3. Add tomato and onion, then drizzle with special sauce.

12. Black Bean Veggie Burger Bowl

Crumbled black bean burger patties over greens with corn, avocado, and a lime crema.

Store-bought black bean patties work fine here (just crumble them after cooking instead of serving whole).

Ingredients

• 2 black bean burger patties, cooked and crumbled
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• 1/2 cup corn kernels
• 1/2 avocado, sliced
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• Juice of 1 lime

Instructions

1. Cook the black bean patties according to package directions, then crumble.
2. Divide romaine among bowls and top with the crumbled patty and corn.
3. Whisk the sour cream with lime juice and drizzle over the bowl, then add avocado.

13. Ranch Turkey Bacon Burger Bowl

Ground beef and crispy turkey bacon over greens with cheddar and a heavy drizzle of ranch dressing.

This one’s rich (the ranch and cheese do a lot of work), so a squeeze of lemon at the end helps cut through it.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 4 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 1/3 cup ranch dressing
• 1 tbsp chopped chives

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef, about 7 minutes.
2. Divide romaine among bowls and top with beef, turkey bacon, and cheddar.
3. Drizzle with ranch dressing and top with chives.

14. Tex-Mex Burger Bowl

Chili-spiced ground beef over rice with charred corn, pepper jack, and a squeeze of lime.

Char the corn in a dry skillet for a few minutes first (it adds a smokiness that plain thawed corn doesn’t have).

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 3/4 cup corn kernels, charred
• 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack
• 1 lime, cut into wedges

Instructions

1. Char the corn in a dry skillet for 4-5 minutes, then set aside.
2. Brown the beef with chili powder, about 7 minutes.
3. Divide rice among bowls, top with beef, charred corn, and pepper jack, and serve with lime wedges.

15. Cowboy Burger Bowl

Ground beef loaded up with barbecue sauce, turkey bacon, cheddar, and crispy onion straws over rice.

This is the most over-the-top bowl on the list (in the best way), so save it for when you’re actually hungry.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 3 tbsp barbecue sauce
• 4 slices turkey bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1/2 cup crispy fried onions

Instructions

1. Brown the beef, drain, then stir in barbecue sauce.
2. Divide rice among bowls and top with the beef, turkey bacon, and cheddar.
3. Finish with a generous handful of crispy fried onions.

16. Jalapeño Popper Burger Bowl

Ground beef mixed with cream cheese and diced jalapeño, topped with extra cheddar and crushed tortilla chips.

Go easy on the jalapeño if you’re feeding kids (or anyone who doesn’t love heat), it builds up fast in this one.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 3 tbsp cream cheese
• 1 jalapeño, diced (seeds removed for less heat)
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• Crushed tortilla chips for topping

Instructions

1. Brown the beef, then stir in cream cheese and jalapeño until the cream cheese melts through.
2. Divide romaine among bowls and top with the beef mixture and cheddar.
3. Finish with a handful of crushed tortilla chips.

17. French Onion Burger Bowl

Ground beef topped with deeply caramelized onions and melted Swiss, over a bed of greens.

The onions take a real 25-30 minutes to caramelize properly, that’s not a step to rush.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 2 onions, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp butter
• 4 slices Swiss cheese, torn
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• 1 tsp fresh thyme

Instructions

1. Caramelize the onions in butter over low heat, stirring occasionally, 25-30 minutes.
2. Brown the beef, about 7 minutes.
3. Divide romaine among bowls and top with beef, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese, and thyme.

18. Pizza Burger Bowl

Ground beef seasoned like pizza topping, layered with marinara, mozzarella, and mini pepperoni-style turkey slices.

A fun one for kids (it basically tastes like a pizza that got reorganized into a bowl).

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 cup marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup turkey pepperoni-style slices
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

1. Brown the beef with Italian seasoning and garlic powder, about 7 minutes.
2. Stir in the marinara sauce and heat through.
3. Divide into bowls, top with mozzarella and turkey pepperoni slices, and let the cheese melt into the warm beef.

19. Keto Low Carb Burger Bowl

A stripped-down bowl of seasoned beef, cheddar, avocado, and greens with no rice or beans weighing it down.

This is the one to reach for on a low carb week (it’s really just a cheeseburger salad, dressed up).

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 1 avocado, sliced
• 6 cups chopped romaine
• 1 tomato, diced
• 2 tbsp olive oil and vinegar dressing

Instructions

1. Brown the beef with salt and pepper, about 7 minutes.
2. Divide romaine among bowls and top with beef and cheddar.
3. Add avocado and tomato, then drizzle with the dressing.

20. Smash Burger Bowl

Thin, well-browned smashed beef patties broken up over greens with pickles, onion, and burger sauce.

Smashing the beef thin gets you way more browned, crispy edges than a thick patty ever will (that’s most of the flavor right there).

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, formed into thin patties
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• 1/4 cup diced pickles
• 1/4 red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
• 2 tbsp burger sauce

Instructions

1. Press the beef into thin patties and sear in a hot skillet 2 minutes per side, until deeply browned.
2. Break the patties into pieces and divide over romaine.
3. Top with cheddar, pickles, onion, and burger sauce.

21. Chipotle Ranch Burger Bowl

Seasoned beef patties over roasted sweet potato fries with romaine, tomato, avocado, and a smoky chipotle ranch drizzle.

The sweet potato fries take the longest of any component here, so get those in the oven before anything else.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef, formed into patties
• 1 1/2 lbs sweet potato, cut into fries
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1/2 avocado, sliced
• 1/3 cup chipotle ranch dressing

Instructions

1. Toss the sweet potato fries with oil, salt, and paprika, then roast at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, until golden.
2. Sear the beef patties 4 minutes per side, until cooked through.
3. Divide romaine, fries, tomato, and avocado among bowls, top with a patty, and drizzle with chipotle ranch.

22. Vegan Cheeseburger Salad Bowl

A plant-based burger patty crumbled over greens with vegan cheddar, tomato, pickles, and a dairy-free burger sauce.

Store-bought vegan patties vary a lot in texture, so pick one labeled for pan-searing rather than grilling if you want it to crumble well.

Ingredients

• 2 plant-based burger patties, cooked and crumbled
• 4 cups chopped romaine
• 1/2 cup shredded vegan cheddar
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1/4 cup diced pickles
• 2 tbsp vegan mayo mixed with ketchup

Instructions

1. Cook the plant-based patties according to package directions, then crumble.
2. Divide romaine among bowls and top with the crumbled patty and vegan cheddar.
3. Add tomato and pickles, then drizzle with the vegan burger sauce.

23. Big Mac Burger Bowl

Seasoned beef, shredded lettuce, diced onion, pickles, and a copycat special sauce, built to taste like the drive-through classic.

Toast a few sesame seeds in a dry pan and scatter them on top for that unmistakable Big Mac finish.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 4 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
• 1/4 cup diced pickles
• 2 tbsp diced onion
• 1/2 cup shredded American cheese
• 1/3 cup special sauce (mayo, ketchup, relish, vinegar)

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef with salt and pepper, about 7 minutes.
2. Divide the shredded lettuce among bowls and top with beef and cheese.
3. Add pickles and onion, then drizzle generously with special sauce.