These easy Big Mac Burger Bowls are the perfect way to get your burger fix while adding more fresh veggies to your life! They're made with lean ground turkey, take less than 30 minutes to make, are packed with flavour and are definitely going to be a new weekly staple!
Don't get me wrong I LOVE a good hamburger. So I will 100% never be the Dietitian that is going to tell you that you need to swap all your burgers from now on for a burger bowl. However sometimes we just need an option with a few more veggies and fiber! That's where these easy burger bowls with secret sauce come in!
Like my Simple Turkey Burrito Bowl, my Blackened Shrimp with Mango Salsa Bowls and my Nacho Salad, these bowls are the perfect option for when you're looking for a quick and easy dinner packed full with fresh vegetables, fiber and lean protein!
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- Weeknight dinner. This recipe comes together in under 30 minutes for a fun and flavorful weeknight meal the whole family will love.
- Balanced meal (added fiber)! These burger bowls are packed with protein, carbs, healthy fats and a secret ingredient mixed right into the meat for an extra boost of fiber.
- Perfect for meal prep! Prep all your components ahead of time and simply assemble the bowls when you are ready to eat.
Big Mac Burger Bowls Recipe
Ingredients
Green base. I personally like using thinly chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce for that classic burger feel, but any greens will work!
Ground turkey. For all my satisfying salads, I love choosing a lean protein source, plant based or meat, totally up to you! My personal favourite here is lean ground turkey, but any ground meat works.
Lentils. Our hidden addition for extra fiber and protein. Trust me, you won't even notice them but your body will thank you!
Potatoes. To keep with the burger theme, I went with super easy air fryer fries! Other great options include roasted sweet potato, rice, quinoa, or pasta.
Toppings. This is where the fun begins! I stuck with the classics: tomato, shredded cheese, white onion, and pickles, but feel free to get creative!
Secret sauce. Arguably the best part of the whole bowl! It's a mashup of big mac sauce and "special" sauce, and honestly I'm putting it on everything. Ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, apple cider vinegar, paprika, salt and pepper, all brought together in a creamy yogurt base for a lightened-up version you'll love.
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Instructions
- Dice potatoes and add them to a large mixing bowl. Add your oil and spices and toss to coat. Once the potatoes are fully coated, place them in your air fryer basket and bake for about 15 minutes at 400°F, shaking the basket halfway.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground turkey meat and spices. Cook until browned and fully cooked through. Once the beef is cooked add in the lentils and BBQ sauce (if using) and gently mix in with the ground beef.
- Prepare your dressing by combining all dressing ingredients in a small mason jar or bowl and whisking well.
- In a large bowl add vegetables, cheese, meat, and fries. Drizzle with your dressing and toss to combine.
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: This recipe is naturally gluten-free!
To make dairy-free: Swap the cheese with a dairy-free option like My personal favourites include Violife cheddar style shreds, the Farm Boy branded Parmesan style shreds and Daiya plant based cheddar shreds. You can also substitute the Greek yogurt for your favourite non dairy yogurt or mayo. My personal favourite is the Primal Kitchen vegan mayonnaise.
To make nut-free: This recipe is nut free as written!
If you want to make plant-based burger bowls:
You can completely swap out lentils for ground meat is a great way to make your protein source plant based while also adding in additional fiber! I personally use canned lentils and cook them in a pan on the stove as I normally would with my ground meat. Once they are warm, I mash them with the back of a spatula, so it gets clumpy which gives it more of ground meat texture! Other options include crumbled extra firm tofu, or your favourite veggie burgers!
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Pan
Storage
For best results, store each component of these burger bowls separately in airtight containers in the fridge. The cooked turkey and lentils will keep for up to 4 days, making this a great meal prep option for the week! The secret sauce can be stored in a jar or small container for up to 5 days. Keep your toppings prepped and ready to go so assembling your bowl takes just minutes. When you're ready to eat, simply reheat the protein and fries and assemble fresh so nothing gets soggy!
Top Tips for Success
Use a produce chopper to chop the potatoes! This helps create equal sized pieces of potato. If you are finding the potatoes too hard to slice through, you can pierce each potato with a fork and pop them in the microwave for about 1 minute to soften them.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can easily roast your fries in the oven instead!
Not really! When mixed into the ground turkey, the lentils blend right in and take on all the seasoning around them. They add a subtle heartiness but you won't get a distinct lentil flavour. It is one of those sneaky additions that adds a ton of nutritional value without anyone even knowing they are there!
More Staple Salad Recipes
If you liked these burger bowls, try these recipes:
See you in the kitchen!
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make these burger bowls, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Big Mac Burger Bowls
Ingredients
For the burger meat:
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil I use olive
- 1 lb lean ground turkey meat *or ground meat of choice
- 1.5 teaspoon paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup cooked brown lentils (I use canned lentils)- optional
- 1 tbsp low sugar BBQ sauce (optional if using lentils, I recommend adding)!
For the dressing
- 3 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise or additional yogurt
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 2 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice from the jar!
- 3 teaspoon apple cider vinegar *see substitutions below
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- salt and black pepper to taste
For the french fries
- 2 medium yellow potatoes diced
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ tablespoon desired spices (I recommend using my air fryer diced potatoes)
For the salad
- 4 cups romaine lettuce thinly sliced
- 1 cup tomatoes diced
- 1 cup pickles sliced
- 1 cup (about ½ of one large) white onion thinly sliced
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- To prepare your fries- Diced potatoes and add them to a large mixing bowl. Add your oil and spices and toss to coat. Once the potatoes are fully coated, place them in your air fryer basket and bake for about 15 minutes at 400°F, shaking the basket halfway.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground turkey meat and spices. Cook until browned and fully cooked through. Once the beef is cooked add in the lentils and BBQ sauce (if using) and gently mix in with the ground beef- I recommend lightly mashing the lentils using a spatula to fully combine them. Set aside.
- Prepare your dressing by combining all dressing ingredients in a small mason jar or bowl and whisking well. Set aside.
- To prepare your salad- in a large bowl add vegetables, cheese, meat, and fries. Drizzle with your dressing and toss to combine.
Annette says
Really good. Loved the sauce. Also first time I made the potatoes in my air fryer and now I’m obsessed!
Sam says
Honestly, such an easy and delicious salad. I’m not a big salad person, but this has been on repeat at my house for at least twice a month. Fast, easy, and delicious, what else can you ask for? And all the ingredients are quite accessible and modifiable! Yum yum!
Courtney Bryant says
Kid approved! My 9 year old liked the crunch of the salad.
Lily says
Have tried with chicken, turkey and ground beef. All were hits in our house.
Kate says
This recipe is absolutely phenomenal! honestly one of the best recipes i’ve made