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5.0 from 9 votes

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!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 1055 kcal
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the “Special Sauce”
  • 2 pitted Medjool Dates
  • boiling water
  • 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice/brine from jar
  • 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 chopped dill pickle
For the Seasoned Beef
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon Montreal Steak Seasoning or Burger/Steak Seasoning optional
For the Salad
  • 2 heads romaine or green leaf lettuce chopped
  • 2 large tomatoes diced, or 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
  • 1 red onion sliced
  • ½ cup dill pickle slices
  • 8 lices Bacon cooked and crumbled (make sure to check for Whole30 compliance)
  • 2 avocados sliced

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a heat-proof container (like a glass measuring cup), cover the dates in boiling water to soften. Let soak for 5 minutes.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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

Serving 1serving Calories 1055kcal (53%) Carbohydrates 54g (18%) Protein 56g (112%) Fat 71g (109%) Saturated Fat 18g (90%) Polyunsaturated Fat 47g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 166mg (55%) Sodium 1925mg (80%) Fiber 17g (68%) Sugar 21g (42%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

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.