Build-Your-Own Burger Bowls
Burger night doesn’t have to mean burgers and buns. It can be family-friendly, build-your-own burger bowls with options everyone in your house will like.
These Build-Your-Own Burger Bowls have all the flavors of a classic burger, but they’re served in a bowl (or on a plate) so everyone can make their meal exactly the way they like it. That’s what makes them especially great for families with kids.
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One person can load theirs up with lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion. Another can keep it super simple with just ground beef, ketchup and a little cheese. Everyone starts with the same basic ingredients and builds their own bowl.
It’s easy, customizable and perfect for those nights when everyone seems to want something a little different.
Start With the Basics
The foundation of a burger bowl is simple:
- Ground beef
- Lettuce
- Tomato
- Pickles
- Onion
- Your favorite burger condiments
You can put everything out on the table and let everyone assemble their own bowl.
The Ground Beef
Brown your ground beef in a skillet and season it simply with salt, pepper or whatever burger seasoning your family enjoys.
You can keep the beef fairly mild for kids and let the adults add more flavor with sauces and toppings.
For an easy shortcut, cook a larger batch of ground beef and use the leftovers for another meal during the week.
Build Your Burger Bowl
Think of your bowl as a deconstructed burger.
Start with a bed of chopped lettuce, then add your ground beef and pile on whatever toppings you like.
Fresh & Crunchy
Tomatoes: Diced tomatoes add freshness and a little sweetness.
Pickles: Because what’s a burger without pickles? Dill pickles are especially good here and add that classic burger flavor.
Onion: Thinly sliced or diced raw onion gives the bowl a little bite. You can also sauté the onion with the ground beef if you prefer a sweeter, softer flavor.
Don’t feel like you need to use all of these. That’s the beauty of a build-your-own bowl.
Don’t Forget the Sauce
The sauce is what really makes these bowls taste like burgers.
Set out a few options and let everyone choose:
- Ketchup for a classic, kid-friendly option
- Yellow mustard for a little tang
- Mayonnaise for something creamy
- Burger sauce for a more traditional burger-shop flavor
The Kid-Friendly Burger Bowl
This is where burger bowls really shine.
Some kids don’t want lettuce. Others don’t like tomatoes. Some think pickles are the best food ever, while others act like a pickle has personally offended them.
That’s okay!
Instead of asking kids to eat a bowl filled with ingredients they don’t like, let them build a very simple version.
A kid-friendly bowl might be ground beef and ketchup – ground beef with cheese and ketchup.
That’s it.
There’s no rule that says a burger bowl needs to have every topping.
The goal is to give kids familiar foods they already enjoy while allowing them to experiment with the other ingredients at their own pace.
Make It a Family Dinner
The easiest way to serve burger bowls is to put all of the ingredients in separate bowls or containers and let everyone build their own.
Think of it as a little burger bar:
Base:
Lettuce
Protein:
Seasoned ground beef
Toppings:
Tomato • Pickles • Onion
Sauces:
Ketchup • Mustard • Mayo • Burger Sauce
Everyone gets exactly what they want.
And because the ingredients are served separately, it’s easy to accommodate picky eaters without making a separate meal.
Easy Ways to Change It Up
Once you’ve made burger bowls a few times, you can switch things up without changing the basic concept.
Try adding:
- Shredded cheese
- Bacon
- Avocado/Guacamole
- Sautéed mushrooms
- Jalapeños
- Crispy onions
- Croutons or toasted burger-bun pieces
You can also serve oven fries or roasted potatoes on the side for a classic burger-and-fries feel.
For kids, you could even add a few familiar sides like fruit, carrots or another vegetable they enjoy.
The Best Part: Everyone Wins
That’s really the beauty of burger bowls.
You make one simple meal, put the ingredients on the table, and let everyone decide what goes into their bowl.
Maybe your bowl is loaded with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion and burger sauce.
Maybe your child’s bowl is just ground beef and ketchup.
Same ingredients, different bowls, happy family.
