Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or cooking fat
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Monterey jack cheese
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 4 strips beef bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 cup prepared burger sauce (or a mix of mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard)
- 1 large tomato, diced (optional topping)
- 1/2 cup thinly sliced dill pickles (optional topping)
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the toppings and base. Cook the beef bacon until crisp, drain excess fat, and crumble; set aside. Thoroughly wash and chop the romaine lettuce. Dice the tomato and thinly slice the red onion (if using). Assemble all toppings into separate bowls for easy loading.
- Step 2: Cook and season the ground beef. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a spoon. Season heavily with kosher salt and black pepper. Cook until the beef is fully browned and no pink remains, about 6-8 minutes.
- Step 3: Drain the fat and melt the cheese. Carefully drain off any excess grease from the cooked ground beef. Reduce the heat to low, then sprinkle the shredded cheese evenly over the meat. Stir gently until the cheese is completely melted and the beef mixture is gooey and coated.
- Step 4: Assemble the bowls. Place a generous layer of chopped romaine lettuce into four individual serving bowls. Spoon the warm, cheesy ground beef mixture evenly over the top of the lettuce in each bowl.
- Step 5: Load and serve. Top the cheesy beef mixture with the fresh diced tomato, sliced pickles, and sliced red onion. Sprinkle the crumbled beef bacon over all ingredients, then drizzle each bowl generously with the prepared burger sauce or special dressing before serving immediately.
Notes
- Store the warm cheesy beef mixture and the cold toppings (lettuce, tomato, pickles) separately in airtight containers to maintain freshness and prevent the lettuce from wilting.
- To reheat the beef, warm it gently in a skillet or microwave until just hot; wait to add the cold toppings, sauce, and lettuce until the meat is ready to serve.
- For a fun serving presentation, arrange all the toppings and the burger sauce in a "build-your-own-bowl" bar so everyone can customize their ideal loaded bowl.
- If you don't have prepared burger sauce, whisk together 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons ketchup, 1 tablespoon mustard, and a splash of pickle juice for a satisfying homemade "special sauce."
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American