Description
These Deconstructed Burger Bowls with Crispy Fries feature perfectly seasoned ground beef, golden oven-baked fries, fresh vegetables, cheese, pickles, and special sauce. Ready in 35 minutes, they deliver all the flavors of classic burgers and fries in a healthier, easier-to-eat bowl format. Perfect for meal prep and customizable to any preference.
Ingredients
For the Seasoned Beef:
1.5 pounds ground beef (80/20 recommended)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
For the Crispy Fries:
3 large russet potatoes (about 1.5 pounds)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Special Sauce:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 tablespoon dill pickle relish
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
For Bowl Assembly:
4 cups chopped romaine lettuce or mixed greens
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup dill pickle chips
Optional: sliced avocado, jalapeños, mushrooms
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 425°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
2. Make special sauce by whisking together mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, relish, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in small bowl. Refrigerate until ready to use.
3. Cut potatoes into 1/4-inch thick fries (leave skin on or peel if preferred).
4. Soak cut fries in cold water for 15 minutes to remove excess starch.
5. While fries soak, prep vegetables: wash and chop lettuce, halve tomatoes, slice onion, shred cheese.
6. Drain fries and pat completely dry with clean kitchen towels.
7. Toss dried fries with olive oil, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper until evenly coated.
8. Spread fries on prepared baking sheets in single layer without touching or overlapping.
9. Bake fries for 30-35 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
10. While fries bake, heat large skillet over medium-high heat.
11. Add ground beef to hot skillet and break into large chunks with spatula.
12. Let beef sit undisturbed for 2-3 minutes to develop crust.
13. Break into smaller pieces and continue cooking, stirring occasionally.
14. Add Worcestershire sauce and all seasonings to beef, mixing well to combine.
15. Cook beef 8-10 minutes total until deeply browned with no pink remaining and internal temperature reaches 160°F.
16. Drain excess fat if desired, leaving some for flavor.
17. Assemble bowls: Start with base of chopped lettuce in large, wide bowls.
18. Add portion of seasoned beef (about 1/2 pound per bowl).
19. Arrange crispy fries alongside or on top of beef.
20. Add cherry tomatoes, red onion, shredded cheese, and pickle chips around bowl in sections.
21. Drizzle generous amount of special sauce over everything.
22. Add optional toppings like avocado or jalapeños if desired.
23. Serve immediately while beef and fries are hot.
Notes
Soak potato fries in cold water to remove starch for crispier results – don’t skip this step!
Dry fries thoroughly before baking – moisture prevents crisping.
Don’t overcrowd baking sheets or fries will steam instead of crisp. Use two sheets if needed.
For extra crispy fries, increase oven temperature to 450°F and watch closely to prevent burning.
80/20 ground beef provides best flavor balance – leaner beef can be drier.
Don’t press beef while cooking as this releases juices and creates dry texture.
Season beef after browning starts, not at the beginning, to prevent drawing out moisture.
For meal prep, store all components separately. Beef and fries keep 4 days refrigerated.
Reheat fries in oven or air fryer, never microwave, to maintain crispiness.
Customize with your favorite burger toppings – mushrooms, different cheeses, or various sauces.
For low-carb version, replace potato fries with zucchini or turnip fries.
Recipe easily doubles for meal prep or feeding larger groups.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking and Pan-frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 625
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: burger bowls, deconstructed burgers, healthy burgers, crispy fries, meal prep bowls
