Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
This cheeseburger salad packs all the bold, savory flavors of a classic bacon cheeseburger—crisp lettuce, juicy beef, crunchy pickles, and a tangy “burger sauce” dressing—into a fresh, low-carb bowl.
This cheeseburger salad is a delicious, low-carb twist on a fast food favorite, combining seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, sharp cheddar cheese, and smoky crumbled bacon for a satisfying meal in a bowl. Topped with a tangy, creamy burger-inspired dressing made from mayo, ketchup, mustard, and pickle juice, it delivers all the bold, savory flavors of a classic bacon cheeseburger—no bun required. Customize it with your favorite toppings like avocado, jalapeños, or extra pickles for added crunch and kick. Perfect for meal prep or a quick weeknight dinner, this salad is as hearty as it is refreshing.
Servings
2
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Total Time
40 minutes
Ingredients
For the Beef
1 lb ground beef
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp onion powder
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce (optional, for flavor)
For the Salad
6 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup diced red onion or pickles (or both!)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
4 strips cooked bacon, crumbled
Optional: avocado slices or jalapeños
For the Dressing (Burger Sauce Style)
½ cup mayo
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp mustard (yellow or Dijon)
1 tbsp pickle juice or vinegar
1 tsp paprika or smoked paprika
Optional: dash of hot sauce or minced garlic
Instructions
Cook the Bacon
In a skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy. Remove and drain on paper towels. Once cooled, crumble into pieces.
Brown the Beef
In the same skillet, add ground beef. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook until browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if needed. Keep warm.
Mix the Dressing
In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, and paprika. Add hot sauce or garlic if desired. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Assemble the Salad
Start with a base of lettuce. Add cherry tomatoes, onion/pickles, shredded cheese, avocado (optional), and bacon crumbles. Top with hot ground beef. Drizzle with burger sauce dressing or serve on the side.
Tips & Variations
Add croutons or toasted burger bun pieces for a crunchy “burger bun” feel. Swap in blue cheese if you want a bacon blue burger twist. Make it a meal prep by keeping components separate until ready to eat.
Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crispy.
Remove and drain on paper towels. Crumble when cool.
In the same skillet, season the ground beef with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Cook until fully browned and no longer pink. Drain excess fat if needed. Keep warm.
In a small bowl: combine mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, paprika, and optional hot sauce. Adjust to taste.
Start with a bed of lettuce. Add tomatoes, onion/pickles, shredded cheese, avocado (optional), and crumbled bacon. Top with hot ground beef. Drizzle with dressing or serve on the side.
