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Burger bowl with seasoned ground beef shredded lettuce cherry tomatoes pickles cheddar cheese and ketchup mustard sauce over brown rice

Burger Bowls

All the classic burger flavors you love served over hearty brown rice instead of a bun. Juicy seasoned ground beef, fresh toppings, and a simple tangy sauce make this a satisfying weeknight dinner the whole family will enjoy.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
0 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 bowls
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 600
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb lean ground beef 90/10 lean recommended. Season with garlic powder and smoked paprika for best flavor.
  • 2 cups cooked brown rice Cook according to package instructions, approximately 30 minutes. Start this first.
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes Halved
  • 2 cups shredded lettuce Romaine or iceberg both work well
  • 1/2 cup sliced dill pickles Dill pickles recommended for classic burger flavor
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup ketchup For the sauce
  • 2 tbsp yellow mustard For the sauce
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder Optional but recommended for beef seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp smoked paprika Optional but recommended for beef seasoning
  • salt and pepper To taste for seasoning the beef

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Serving bowls
  • Medium saucepan for rice

Method
 

  1. Start the brown rice first. Cook according to package instructions, approximately 30 minutes. Begin everything else while the rice cooks.
  2. About 10 minutes before rice finishes, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Cook for 8 minutes, breaking apart as it cooks, until no pink remains. Drain excess fat. Let rest 2 to 3 minutes before adding to bowls.
  3. While beef cooks, halve the cherry tomatoes, shred the lettuce if needed, and slice the pickles. Whisk ketchup and mustard together in a small bowl until smooth.
  4. Build each bowl: start with a scoop of brown rice, add seasoned ground beef, then layer on shredded lettuce, cherry tomatoes, pickles, and shredded cheddar cheese. Drizzle ketchup-mustard sauce generously over the top. Serve immediately.

Notes

Store components separately in airtight containers for up to 3 days. Always keep fresh toppings separate from warm components to prevent wilting. Reheat beef and rice together in microwave for 90 seconds, then add cold toppings fresh. White rice can replace brown rice and reduces total time to about 25 minutes. Ground turkey or chicken work as substitutes using the same seasoning blend.