This vibrant salad would be a stunning addition to your Easter menu, offering a bright and refreshing contrast to Holiday Crock Pot Ham. For a beautiful family-style presentation, arrange it on one large platter where the green vegetables and creamy dressing can shine, or divide it among four individual plates for an instant touch of sophistication. 

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If you’re looking to add more lean protein to your meals without sacrificing flavor, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve rounded up the very best high-protein chicken recipes that put chicken breast front and center, proving that healthy eating can be genuinely delicious and deeply satisfying. From creamy skillet pastas and hearty chili to fresh, vibrant salads and comforting bakes, this collection is packed with ideas to keep your meals exciting and your family happy.

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Forget artificial coloring; today, we’re embracing everything from crisp herbs and zesty limes to creamy avocados and vibrant greens. Whether you’re hosting a full party or just adding a festive touch to your family dinner, these savory and sweet recipes let you color-coordinate your menu with style and substance! 

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Whether you’re hosting a casual gathering or an intimate family dinner, these 10 complete menus take the guesswork out of creating a memorable feast. From hearty pub classics to elegant showstoppers, there’s something here to delight every guest and make your holiday spread truly special.

Being an Irish family means our kitchen fills up with St. Patrick’s Day recipes every March. From corned beef and cabbage to shepherd’s pie, our favorite Irish dishes always remind us of our visits to Dublin. 

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A brief 2-minute blanch, followed by an ice bath, locks in the fresh green beans’ vivid color and crisp bite – a texture canned varieties simply can’t match. This make-ahead 4 bean salad recipe makes it an ideal choice for entertaining, as the salad requires at least two hours to chill and can be prepared up to three days in advance, with its flavors only improving as they meld.

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These winter salad recipes embrace the crisp textures and bright, seasonal flavors that make winter eating a joy. Most achieve their deliciousness through light, homemade vinaigrettes, while clever swaps like Greek yogurt offer creaminess without the extra calories you’d typically find in mayo. 

From hearty kale bases to sweet roasted root veggies, each salad is a testament to how nutritious meals can feel utterly indulgent. Why wait for the New Year to reset? Start serving these vibrant, flavor-packed winter salads at your very next meal!

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Eat the rainbow on a picnic! Enjoy these colorful veggies, tossed together with bowtie pasta, salami, olives, cheese and Italian dressing, for the ultimate Italian bowtie pasta! A bow tie Italian pasta salad is a vibrant salad featuring farfalle (bow tie) pasta tossed in a zesty, vinegar-based Italian dressing, making it a popular, mayo-free choice salad for summer picnics, BBQs, and Game Day!

This pasta salad is characterized by its colorful mix of crunchy and savory ingredients, commonly including halved cherry tomatoes, black olives, diced bell peppers, red onions, and fresh basil. To add substance and savory flavor, this dish often incorporates diced salami or pepperoni, along with mozzarella pearls or grated Parmesan cheese.

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Ready to eat in 15 minutes or less, this tuna bean salad is a perfect make-ahead option for those busy days. While this nutritious and delicious salad is best enjoyed immediately, the dressing and tuna-bean mixture can be stored separately in the fridge, then tossed together with a fresh squeeze of lemon when you’re ready to serve on a bed of baby spinach for a meal that’s crisp, bright, and so satisfying!

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Better still, this crave-worthy meal comes together in about 20 minutes, offering a quick and convenient low-carb alternative to the classic hamburger. Simply assemble everything in one large shareable bowl for a fun family meal or create personalized single servings where everyone can pile on their favorite toppings from an endless selection.

What is a ‘burger bowl’?

A burger bowl is a deconstructed, utensil-friendly version of a classic burger served without the bun. It typically features a base of fresh salad greens topped with seasoned ground beef (or an alternative like turkey), traditional burger toppings like pickles, onions, and tomatoes, and is finished with a signature burger sauce. 

This burger bowl recipe captures all the essential flavors of a delicious hamburger in a convenient, often lower-carb bowl form that’s easily customizable with endless additional toppings.

Ingredients needed to make this burger bowl recipe

• Ground beef: We prefer lean ground beef to reduce the grease in these healthy burger bowls. Regular ground beef can be used, but then any excess grease should be drained from the skillet before assembling the burger bowl. This burger bowl recipe is just as delicious when made with ground turkey. 
• Meat seasoning: The browned ground beef is flavored with a combination of onion powder, dried oregano, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. 

• Fresh salad: The fresh salad components for this dish consist of salad greens (such as butter lettuce leaves), halved grape or cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced dill pickles, thinly sliced red onion, shredded carrots, shredded red cabbage, and a little sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley. 
• Homemade sauce: This burger bowl recipe calls for a typical smash burger sauce, made by mixing mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, dill relish, and seasoning (garlic and onion powder, and paprika). 
• Optional toppings: Feel free to personalize your burger bowl by topping it with a selection of toppings, such as: crispy bacon, grilled veggies (zucchini, peppers, and onions), avocado, pickled jalapeños, pepperoncinis, chopped pineapple, berries, mushrooms, shredded cheese, a fried egg, fresh herbs (dill or basil), sliced green onion, and chopped ham. 

How do you make this burger bowl 

Season and brown the ground beef:

1. Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add the ground beef with the spices. 
2. Cook the meat, breaking it into small pieces as it browns. 
3. Continue to cook until there is no pink color left. 

Make the sauce:

1. Add all of the sauce ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk together until well combined.  

Assemble the bowls:

1. To assemble these burger bowls, add your choice of salad greens to the bottom of a low-line bowl. 
2. Next, add the cooked ground beef, sprinkling it over evenly. 
3. Do the same in the order of the rest of the salad ingredients – tomatoes, pickles, and onions. 
4. Lastly, drizzle the assembled bowls with the homemade sauce. 
5. Before or after adding the sauce, feel free to add any additional toppings to this burger bowl, as suggested in the recipe card. 

Serving

This hearty burger bowl is a balanced and complete meal as is, but a side of garlic cheese bread, grilled cheese sliders, or Rosemary Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips would be a delicious and welcome addition!

Much like a classic burger, complete this meal with a thick milkshake, rich brownies, a bowl of vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce, Farrell’s Ice Cream Pig Trough ice cream sandwiches, or lighter options, such as a refreshing fruit salad. 

Sandy’s tips and substitutions:

• Salad storage: Store any burger bowl leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1-2 days, keeping in mind that the sauce will make the fresh salad ingredients soggy as the burger bowl sits in storage.
• Sauce storage: If you want to make the sauce ahead or make a double batch, store it in a glass jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. I prefer to keep my homemade dressings and sauces in mason jars, but any sealable jar or airtight container will work. Give it a good shake or whisk before using again. 
• Make ahead: The sauce and browned seasoned ground beef can be made a day ahead of assembling these burger bowls and stored separately in the fridge.  

• Double the recipe: Make a double batch of this burger bowl recipe when serving a larger crowd and assemble in a much larger bowl or serve in two separate bowls, to be placed at both ends of the table. 
• Uniform size matters: I like to make sure that the salad ingredients are sliced, diced, or chopped in uniform pieces so that the assembled burger bowl looks more appealing and to ensure every serving includes a perfect mix of flavors and textures. 
• Drain excess grease: Any excess grease from browning the ground beef should be drained and a slotted spoon should be used to add the cooked ground meat to the salad. 
• Think ‘deconstructed’ burger: Treat this recipe like a deconstructed burger – every bite should have a little bit of each component: savory beef, fresh/crunchy veg, and creamy/tangy sauce. 

If you love hearty and healthy bowls loaded with a variety of fresh components, check out our Southwest Bowls and Shrimp Burrito Bowls!

More burger-inspired recipes you may want to try:

• Smash Burger Salad
• Burger Tacos
• Big Mac Pasta Salad
• Low-Carb Cheeseburger Sliders
• Leftover BBQ Hamburger Crostini

Print

Burger Bowl Recipe

Forget the bun! This 20-minute Burger Bowl Recipe packs all the juicy, crave-worthy flavor of a classic cheeseburger into a fresh, low-carb meal. Load it with crisp veggies, savory seasoned beef, and a signature sauce for an endlessly customizable lunch or dinner.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Calories 503kcal

Author Sandy Coughlin

Ingredients

For the Meat:

• 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

For the Salad:

• Salad greens
• Tomatoes
• Dill pickles sliced
• Red onion thinly sliced
• Shredded carrots
• Shredded red cabbage
• Fresh chopped parsley

For the Sauce:

• ½ cup mayo
• 2 Tbsp ketchup
• 2 teaspoon yellow mustard
• 2 Tbsp pickle juice
• 2 Tbsp dill relish
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika

Optional Toppings:

• Crispy bacon
• Grilled veggies like zucchini peppers, and onions
• Creamy avocado
• Pickled jalapeños
• Pepperoncini
• Chopped pineapple
• Berries
• Mushrooms
• Shredded cheese
• A fried egg
• Fresh herbs: dill or basil
• Sliced green onion
• Chopped ham

Instructions

• Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add the ground beef with the spices.
• Cook the meat, breaking it into small pieces as it browns.
• Continue to cook until there is no pink color left.
• Add all the sauce ingredients to a medium bowl and whisk together until well combined.
• To assemble these burger bowls, add your choice of salad greens to the bottom of a low-line bowl.
• Next, add the cooked ground beef, sprinkling it over evenly.
• Do the same in the order of the rest of the salad ingredients – tomatoes, pickles, and onions.
• Lastly, drizzle the assembled bowls with the homemade sauce and enjoy!

Video

Notes

The calories depend on what you put on your burger bowl – the more toppings, the more calories.

Sandy’s tips:

• Salad storage: Store any burger bowl leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 1-2 days, keeping in mind that the sauce will make the fresh salad ingredients soggy as the burger bowl sits in storage.
• Sauce storage: If you want to make the sauce ahead or make a double batch, store it in a glass jar or airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. I prefer to keep my homemade dressings and sauces in mason jars, but any sealable jar or airtight container will work. Give it a good shake or whisk before using again. 
• Make ahead: The sauce and browned seasoned ground beef can be made a day ahead of assembling these burger bowls and stored separately in the fridge.  

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 44g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 1125mg | Potassium: 377mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 443IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 3mg

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The holidays should be about spending as much time with friends and family, not endlessly slaving away in the kitchen. That’s why I love simple recipes like this fruit salad – it’s a stunning salad that can be whipped up with minimal effort, making it a last-minute lifesaver for holiday entertaining. 

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