Cheeseburger Salad is the best burger salad recipe! Skip the bun and add cheesy ground beef, tomatoes, and hamburger bun croutons to this filling dinner salad.
Craving a lighter, fresher take on the classic cheeseburger? Well, get ready to meet your new salad obsession: Cheeseburger Salad! This mouthwatering dish combines a cheeseburger’s juicy goodness with the crispness of a delicious salad. It’s like having the best of both worlds on your plate.
Taco Salad exists, so why not Cheeseburger Salad? It’s easy to whip up, tastes delicious, and you can easily make it for a low carb diet by leaving out the bun croutons.
Get that same great cheeseburger taste any time of year. No BBQ required! You can throw in your favorite burger toppings. I stuck to the more traditional toppings, but you could easily experiment and add different ones. The whole family will love it.
With this simple cheeseburger salad recipe, you’re in for a hearty and easy dinner! It’s a real crowd-pleaser that will soon become a family favourite.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Cheeseburger Salad
- Lighter and Refreshing: Cheeseburger Salad gives you the beloved flavors of a cheeseburger without the heaviness that will satisfy your cravings for a good burger.
- Bursting with Flavor: Juicy ground beef, zesty pickles, and the classic duo of ketchup and mustard create a flavor explosion in every bite. Each ingredient plays its part in recreating the beloved cheeseburger taste.
- Customizable and Versatile: Feel free to get creative! Add your favorite toppings like chopped tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, or a sprinkle of diced onions. I love all those fresh ingredients! It’s your favorite cheeseburger but made in a deconstructed burger format.
- Perfect for Meal Prep: Make ahead and store in an airtight container for your work or school lunches or have dinner ready when you arrive home after a busy day.
- Skip the Drive-Thru: If fast food is your go-to meal for busy weeknights, this hearty salad is a great way to enjoy that same yummy taste still.
Ingredients
The full printable recipe card with measurements and instructions is found at the bottom of the post.
- Sesame seed bun tops
- Lean ground beef
- Dill pickles
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Romaine lettuce
- Cheddar cheese
- Plum tomatoes
- Yellow onion
How to Make Cheeseburger Salad
- Step One: Preheat oven to 425°F. Place hamburger bun cubes on a baking sheet. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes or until toasted.
- Step Two: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown ground beef. Drain off excess fat. Stir in half of the onion, ketchup, mustard and pickles.
- Step Three: Add lettuce, beef mixture, tomatoes, cheese and remaining onion to a large bowl and toss. Add croutons and toss.
Equipment Needed
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What to Serve with Cheeseburger Salad
Make the perfect meal with some easy complementary sides.
- French fries or sweet potato fries
- Onion rings
- Grilled corn on the cob
- Potato chips
Variations and Substitutions
- Cheese options: Swap out the cheddar cheese for your favorite variety, such as Monterey Jack, Swiss, or even blue cheese, for an extra kick.
- Protein alternatives: If beef isn’t your thing, try using ground turkey or chicken as a leaner option. You can even go for vegetarian alternatives like plant-based ground “meat” for the taste of veggie burgers. You can also chop up leftover cooked burger patties and use them instead.
- Veggie delights: Amp up the veggie power by adding sliced avocado, roasted bell peppers, or grilled mushrooms to the salad. It’s a fantastic way to add extra nutrients and flavors.
- Bring on the bacon: Add crumbled or chopped bacon to make a bacon cheeseburger salad.
- Simple swaps: Switch out the yellow mustard for Dijon mustard, yellow onion for a red onion, plum tomatoes for cherry tomatoes, romaine lettuce for iceberg lettuce or dill pickles for butter pickles.
- Try another salad dressing: Instead of using the ketchup and mustard in the burger meat, use a different dressing like thousand island dressing, Big Mac sauce, or your homemade salad dressing.
- Other flavor additions: Season the ground beef with garlic powder, onion powder or Worcestershire sauce.
Storage Instructions
If you happen to have any leftovers (which is rare because this salad is so tasty!), it’s easy to store. Place the leftover salad in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
How to Make a Low Carb Cheeseburger Salad
For those who are watching their carb intake, here’s a simple low-carb twist for the Cheeseburger Salad:
- Replace the hamburger bun cubes with low-carb croutons made from almond flour or crushed pork rinds.
- Opt for a low-sugar or sugar-free ketchup and mustard to reduce the carb content.
- Increase the vegetable components, such as adding more lettuce, tomatoes, and other low-carb veggies, to make the salad even more filling.
FAQ
Pretty much whatever you like! Add more juicy tomatoes, big mac dressing or other creamy dressing, cheese, chopped pickles, bacon, crispy onions or sesame seeds.
It’s kid-friendly, but you could leave out the onion to make it more palatable for the kiddos.
Salad dressings that pair well include Thousand Island Dressing, Mustard Vinaigrette, Ranch Dressing, Balsamic Vinaigrette, and Chipotle Mayo Dressing.
Salad Recipes
For more cheeseburger recipe twists, try my Cheeseburger Sliders, Cheeseburger Dip, Cheeseburger Egg Rolls, Cheeseburger Pizza, Impossible Cheeseburger Pie, Cheeseburger Chowder and Cheeseburger Muffins.
Follow me on Instagram @simplystacieblog, Facebook at Simply Stacie, TikTok @simplystacierecipes or Pinterest at @simplystacie and let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.
Cheeseburger Salad
Ingredients
- 4 sesame seed hamburger bun tops cut into cubes
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- ½ cup dill pickles finely chopped
- ¾ cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp mustard
- 1 head romaine lettuce sliced thin
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 plum tomatoes chopped
- 1 yellow onion chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Place hamburger bun cubes on a baking sheet. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes or until toasted.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown ground beef. Drain off excess fat. Stir in half of the onion, ketchup, mustard and pickles.
- Add lettuce, beef mixture, tomatoes, cheese and remaining onion to a large bowl and toss. Add croutons and toss.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
Great photos Stacie. I’ve never heard of a cheeseburger salad, you do come up with some interesting recipes.