Loaded Burger Bowl with "Special Sauce" Recipe
Craving a juicy burger but without the bun? This Loaded Burger Bowl Salad has all the flavor of a burger, but is Whole30- and paleo-friendly!
Ingredients
For the “Special Sauce”
- 2 date Medjool, pitted
- water boiling
- 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice from jar, or brine
- 2 teaspoon coconut aminos
- ½ cup mayonnaise make sure to check for Whole30 compliance
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce make sure to check for Whole30 compliance
- 1 clove garlic
- ¼ cup dill pickle chopped
For the Seasoned Beef
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 onion diced, small
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper fresh ground
- ½ teaspoon salt sea salt
- 1 teaspoon Montreal steak seasoning optional, or burger/steak seasoning
For the Salad
- 2 romaine lettuce chopped, or green leaf lettuce, heads
- 2 tomato diced, or 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, large
- 1 red onion sliced
- ½ cup dill pickles sliced
- 8 lices Bacon cooked and crumbled (make sure to check for Whole30 compliance)
- 2 avocado sliced
Instructions
- In a heat-proof container (like a glass measuring cup), cover the dates in boiling water to soften. Let soak for 5 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the dates from the soaking liquid (reserve the liquid) and place in the basin of a high-powered blender. Add in the pickle juice, coconut aminos, mayo, tomato paste, hot sauce, and garlic. Blend on high until very smooth, adding some of the soaking water 1 tablespoon at a time to thin out, if desired. Stir in the chopped dill pickle, and place the sauce in the fridge to chill while you make the rest of the burger bowl.
- In a medium-size skillet over high heat, combine the ground beef, onion, garlic powder, black pepper, sea salt, and steak seasoning, if using, and sauté until beef is cooked through and onions are tender. If the beef has released a lot of grease, drain all but about a tablespoon.
- To assemble the salad, layer lettuce, tomatoes, red onion slices, dill pickle slices, bacon, avocado slices, and seasoned beef in a large bowl. Drizzle on the Special Sauce.
Notes
- If you don’t need a Whole30- or paleo-compliant recipe, adding chunks of sharp cheddar cheese turns these into Cheeseburger Bowls—my daughter’s favorite!
- If red onions are a bit too spicy for you raw, take the bite out of them by submerging the cut red onions in a bowl of ice water for 5-10 minutes. Then drain and add to the salad.
- If you do not have coconut aminos, then Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, or tamari will work in place of the aminos, just be aware that those items are not usually Whole30- or paleo-compliant.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1055
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1serving | |
| Calories | 1055kcal | 53% |
| Carbohydrates | 54g | 18% |
| Protein | 56g | 112% |
| Fat | 71g | 109% |
| Saturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 47g | 276% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 166mg | 55% |
| Sodium | 1925mg | 80% |
| Fiber | 17g | 68% |
| Sugar | 21g | 42% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.