Cheeseburger Salad

This Cheeseburger Salad recipe takes everything you love about a big juicy burger and turns it into an easy to make, convenient, and healthy salad dish. This great recipe is basically a deconstructed burger in salad form, complete with your favorite burger toppings such as fresh roma tomatoes, romaine lettuce, and dill pickles. This simple recipe is great for meal prep for your week of lunches or for busy weeknights.

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This delicious salad is also way healthier than your standard burger without sacrificing the taste. Using lean ground beef and with the salad ingredients being all common burger toppings, you really get the true burger flavor without the carb filled hamburger buns.

The burger sauce used as the special sauce dressing is reminiscent of big mac sauce but without the relish. Simply add some to your own dressing to get the taste a little bit closer. Our dressing is made with mayonnaise, ketchup, and dijon mustard, but you can use yellow mustard.

We love our homemade salad dressing for this Cheeseburger Salad, but you have so many great options if you want to use a different dressing. You can use blue cheese dressing, honey mustard dressing, or thousand island dressing.

Why You'll Love this Recipe:

Burger flavor without the bun: All the classic cheeseburger toppings in a lighter, low-carb salad form.
Seasoned ground beef: Spiced with paprika, garlic, onion, and oregano for bold flavor.
Creamy burger-inspired dressing: A quick blend of mayo, ketchup, and Dijon ties everything together.
Fresh and crunchy: Crisp romaine, juicy tomatoes, and tangy pickles add balance to the richness.
Customizable: Add bacon, avocado, or your favorite burger toppings to make it your own.

Ingredients to Make Cheeseburger Salad:

• ground beef. Lean or regular beef both work, drain excess fat after browning if needed.
• seasonings. Salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, and pepper give the beef classic burger flavor.
• romaine lettuce. Crisp and sturdy, perfect for holding up to the warm beef and dressing.
• roma tomatoes. Meaty and less watery than other tomato varieties, keeping the salad fresh.
• dill pickles. Add tang and crunch, use diced spears or sandwich slices for best texture.
• monterey jack cheese. Melts slightly when added to the warm beef, giving a creamy finish. Cheddar works as an alternative.
• mayonnaise. Forms the creamy base of the dressing, use our homemade version for the best flavor.
• ketchup. Adds sweetness and tang to balance the flavors, use homemade or a low sugar brand.
• dijon mustard. Brings sharpness and depth to the dressing.

How to Make Cheeseburger Salad:

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a spatula.
2. Sprinkle in salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, and pepper.
3. Cook until the beef is browned and fully cooked, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat and set aside.
4. In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced pickles, and shredded cheese.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
6. Add the cooked ground beef to the salad mixture. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
7. Serve immediately, garnished with additional cheese or pickles if desired.

Notes & Tips:

• Drain the beef well: Removing excess grease keeps the salad from becoming heavy or oily.
• Serve warm: Adding the beef while it's still warm slightly melts the cheese for a creamy texture.
• Customize the toppings: Add crispy bacon, avocado slices, or jalapeños for extra flavor.
• Make it low-carb: This salad is already bun-free-just be mindful of ketchup if you're cutting sugar, or swap with sugar-free ketchup.
• Prep ahead: Chop the veggies and mix the dressing in advance. Cook the beef right before serving for the freshest results.
• Cheese swap: Try cheddar, American, or pepper jack for a different burger vibe.

Serving Suggestions:

• Gluten-Free Sourdough Bread
• Sweet Potato Chips
• Broccoli Bacon Salad
• Mexican Coleslaw
• Loaded Cheese Fries

How to Store:

Refrigerator (components): Store cooked beef, chopped veggies, shredded cheese, and dressing separately in airtight containers for up to 3 days. Assemble just before serving.
Refrigerator (assembled): If already dressed, the salad is best enjoyed the same day, as the lettuce will soften.
Freezer: Not recommended, since lettuce and dressing do not freeze well.

FAQs:

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Kaeleigh Pugliese

Cheeseburger Salad

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This Cheeseburger Salad recipe takes everything you love about a big juicy burger and turns it into an easy to make, convenient, and healthy salad dish.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Dinner, Salad

Cuisine: American

Calories: 475

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Equipment

• Medium skillet
• Cutting board
• Chef's knife
• Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients  

1x2x3x?

• ▢ 1 pound ground beef
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon paprika
• ▢ ½ teaspoon oregano
• ▢ ½ teaspoon pepper
• ▢ 4 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
• ▢ 2 roma tomatos, diced
• ▢ 1 cup dill pickles, diced
• ▢ ½ cup monterey jack cheese, shredded
• ▢ ¼ cup mayonnaise
• ▢ 2 tablespoons ketchup
• ▢ 2 teaspoons dijon mustard

Instructions

 

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a spatula.
2. Sprinkle in salt, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, and pepper.
3. Cook until the beef is browned and fully cooked, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess fat and set aside.
4. In a large bowl, combine chopped romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced pickles, and shredded cheese.
5. In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, and Dijon mustard until smooth.
6. Add the cooked ground beef to the salad mixture. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
7. Serve immediately, garnished with additional cheese or pickles if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 475kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 25gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 1223mgPotassium: 679mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 5081IUVitamin C: 12mgCalcium: 180mgIron: 3mg

Notes

• • Drain the beef well: Removing excess grease keeps the salad from becoming heavy or oily.
  • Serve warm: Adding the beef while it's still warm slightly melts the cheese for a creamy texture.
  • Customize the toppings: Add crispy bacon, avocado slices, or jalapeños for extra flavor.
  • Make it low-carb: This salad is already bun-free, just be mindful of ketchup if you're cutting sugar, or swap with sugar-free ketchup.
  • Prep ahead: Chop the veggies and mix the dressing in advance. Cook the beef right before serving for the freshest results.
  • Cheese swap: Try cheddar, American, or pepper jack for a different burger vibe.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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More Salad Recipes:

• Avocado Tomato Cucumber Salad
• Broccoli Bacon Salad
• Cucumber Onion Salad

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