Enjoy all the flavors of a classic burger in a fresh, easy-to-eat bowl with this 10-minute Cheeseburger Salad. It’s a fun, satisfying meal that’s easy to customize for both kids and adults.
I love flexible recipes like this salad because it’s so easy to prep the components ahead and let everyone build their own bowl to their specific preferences. This means it’s easier to make one meal for the entire family since it can be plated so many different ways.
Once you cook the beef, the rest of this meal is simply assembling bowls. It has the flavors we love from a cheeseburger, but more nutrition from vegetables and lettuce.
I love this as a fun way to make kids salad—along with my Pizza Salad and Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad.
Why This Recipe Works
With just 10 minutes of prep time, you can make this easy family meal with familiar flavors of cheeseburgers and a lot more nutrition from the base salad. Plus, this deconstructed option is easier for toddlers to bite and chew than a regular cheeseburger.
This is based on a recipe from my cookbook Dinnertime SOS, which is filled with easy options like this for kids and parents.
Table of Contents
Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to have on hand to make Cheeseburger Salad so you know what to pick up from the store or have ready.
- Ground beef: I like to use 90-95% lean ground beef when cooking, but any percentage will work. You can also use ground chicken or ground turkey if you prefer.
- Garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt: A mix of these adds flavor to the meat mixture.
- Chopped Romaine lettuce: You can shred this finely or chop roughly according to your preference. Shredding it thinly will be easier for most toddlers to chew.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: You can shred the cheese from a block of cheddar or use packaged shredded cheese.
- Naan bread, other bread, or french fries, optional
- Chopped tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, pickles, sauteed mushrooms, crisp cooked bacon, or other desired cheeseburger toppings, optional
- Cheeseburger Sauce, optional
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Step-by-Step Instructions
Here’s a preview of how to make this Cheeseburger Salad so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of this post for the full information, including the amounts and the timing.
Step 1. Brown the beef in a skillet, adding the spices to flavor.
Step 2. Meanwhile, wash and chop all vegetables.
Step 3. Stir together the dressing ingredients in a small bowl.
Step 4. Assemble the salad and add dressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s all the best parts of a cheeseburger—ground beef, cheese, and classic toppings—served over lettuce or chopped veggies in a bowl for a fun, lighter meal.
Yes! Cook the beef and prep the toppings in advance. Store everything separately and assemble right before serving to keep it fresh.
Serve the components deconstructed—lettuce on the side, cheese and beef in small portions—so kids can build their own version. And thinly slice the vegetables to ensure they are easy to chew.
How to Store
Prep the components ahead of time or store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Warm the beef slightly before serving if desired.
Best Tips for Success
- Use ground chicken or ground turkey if you prefer.
- To make this vegetarian, try Impossible Burger or fully cooked brown lentils in place of the beef.
- Serve with warm naan bread, other bread or rolls, or french fries.
- Make an easy dressing by combining mayo, ketchup, and a little pickle jar liquid.
Related Recipes
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Cheeseburger Salad
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups Romaine lettuce (roughly chopped)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional toppings such as chopped tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, pickles
- Optional Sauce: ¼ cup each ketchup and mayo mixed with 1 tablespoon pickle juice
Instructions
- Warm the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the beef and spices, and cook for 8-10 minutes, breaking up into small pieces as it cooks.
- Meanwhile, prep the veggies and the sauce, if using.
- Assemble salads by adding the elements each person wants to their plates.
- Serve with naan bread, other rolls or bread, or French Fries.
Equipment
Notes
- Prep the components ahead of time or store leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Warm the beef slightly before serving if desired.
- Use ground chicken or ground turkey if you prefer.
- To make this vegetarian, try Impossible Burger or fully cooked brown lentils in place of the beef.
- Serve with warm naan bread, other bread or rolls, or French fries.
- Make an easy dressing by combining mayo, ketchup, and a little pickle jar liquid.
- Or, try topping with ranch dressing.
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