Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (2024)

4.67 from 3 votes

ByStacie VaughanOn Updated

11 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy.

Cheeseburger Saladis the best burger salad recipe! Skip the bun and add cheesy ground beef, tomatoes, and hamburger bun croutons to this filling dinner salad.

Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (1)

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.

Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (2)

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
Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (3)

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.
Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (4)
  • 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.
Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (5)
  • Step Three: Add lettuce, beef mixture, tomatoes, cheese and remaining onion to a large bowl and toss. Add croutons and toss.
Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (6)

Equipment Needed

This post contains affiliate links.

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
Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (7)

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.
Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (8)

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.
Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (9)

FAQ

What are some toppings I can add to my Cheeseburger Salad?

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.

How can I make Cheeseburger Salad more kid-friendly?

It’s kid-friendly, but you could leave out the onion to make it more palatable for the kiddos.

What are some recommended dressings that pair well with Cheeseburger Salad?

Salad dressings that pair well include Thousand Island Dressing, Mustard Vinaigrette, Ranch Dressing, Balsamic Vinaigrette, and Chipotle Mayo Dressing.

Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (10)

Salad Recipes

  • BLT Salad
  • Christmas Salad
  • Waldorf Salad
  • Greek Chicken Salad
  • Chimichurri Steak Salad

For more cheeseburger recipe twists, try my Cheeseburger Sliders, Cheeseburger Dip, Cheeseburger Egg Rolls,Cheeseburger Pizza,Impossible Cheeseburger Pie,Cheeseburger ChowderandCheeseburger Muffins.

Follow me on Instagram@simplystacieblog, Facebook atSimply Stacie, TikTok@simplystacierecipesor Pinterest at@simplystacieand let me know how you liked this recipe and my other recipes.

4.67 from 3 votes

Cheeseburger Salad

Created by Stacie Vaughan

Servings 8

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 20 minutes minutes

The best burger salad recipe! Skip the bun and add cheesy ground beef, tomatoes, and hamburger bun croutons to this filling dinner salad.

Rate this Recipe

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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bowl | Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 26.7g | Protein: 17.3g | Fat: 8.1g | Saturated Fat: 3.8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 48.1mg | Sodium: 480.2mg | Fiber: 3.3g | Sugar: 10.5g

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.

Course Salads

Cuisine American

Keyword cheeseburger salad

Did you make this recipe?

I’d love to see it! Make sure to share it on your favorite social platform.

Want Even More Recipes?

Join Moms Best Recipes to find more delicious family recipes.

Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (12)

free ebook!

The Best of Simply Stacie

When you subscribe to the newsletter for the latest updates!

Cheeseburger Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is a burger healthier than a salad? ›

A good burger gives you plenty of energy, protein and a lot of fibre; all of these help you feel satiated. Salads do contain a lot of vegetables that carry vitamins, minerals, and fibre. But the problem is they often lack overall energy and protein.

How to make salad fun to eat? ›

A blend of crunchy (nuts and seeds), chewy (dried fruit), crispy (bell peppers or fennel), and soft (avocado or hard-boiled egg) foods make for a more balanced and ultimately more satisfying salad.

Is it OK to eat salad every day? ›

While salads can be a healthy addition to a diet—even daily—it is possible to eat too much of it. "Excessive bloating may mean that you are having too many raw foods in your diet, which can be common to find in a salad," Redfield explains.

Is it better to eat a salad or nothing? ›

"Eating salads on a daily basis as part of an overall healthy lifestyle may support gradual weight loss over time," says Karnatz. "This is because leafy greens are low in calories and high in volume and fiber, which will keep you satisfied for longer," she adds.

What can I put in my salad to make it taste better? ›

12 Easy Ways to Make Salad Taste Amazing – Seriously
  1. Make Your Salad a Spectacle. ...
  2. Mix and Match Leaves. ...
  3. Upgrade Your Salad Dressings. ...
  4. Massage Your Salad Greens. ...
  5. Toss in Cooked Veggies. ...
  6. Add Fresh Herbs. ...
  7. Sweeten with Fruit. ...
  8. Heat Your Salad Dressing.
Mar 9, 2022

What to add to boring salad? ›

Add spices and flavours such as paprika, chilli flakes, curry powder, harissa or parmesan. Add acidity or sourness with vinegar, lemon juice or pomegranate molasses to transform your salad.

What is the salad that stimulates appetite? ›

An appetizer salad should stimulate the appetite and have fresh, crisp ingredients such as cheese, ham, salami, shrimp, crabmeat, or vegetables lightly coated with a tangy, flavorful dressing (that will 'wake up the mouth').

How can a salad be less healthy than a hamburger? ›

The big salad sounds like a healthier offering than a burger. But after you add the grilled chicken, bacon and rich dressing to that pile of greens, it has more calories than a fast food burger.

Is a burger OK for weight loss? ›

When you're trying to lose weight, you don't have to make all of your favorite foods off limits. Choosing a diet plan that you can actually maintain is more nutritious in the long run than eating salad for a week and then quitting. If you enjoy eating a hamburger occasionally, don't deprive yourself.

Are burgers really healthy for you? ›

One of the most beneficial aspects of burgers is their high protein content. Protein helps build muscle mass and keeps your energy levels up throughout the day. Each burger patty contains around 15-25g of quality protein that has been proven to keep you feeling fuller for longer periods of time.

Is a burger healthier than Caesar salad? ›

Broken down, a burger is a much better choice. Check out these salad options that are really not so healthy: Crispy chicken Caesar salad: Even before you add the salad dressing (about 200 calories), this salad can easily reach 700-plus calories, just from the crispy chicken pieces.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Last Updated:

Views: 5778

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Saturnina Altenwerth DVM

Birthday: 1992-08-21

Address: Apt. 237 662 Haag Mills, East Verenaport, MO 57071-5493

Phone: +331850833384

Job: District Real-Estate Architect

Hobby: Skateboarding, Taxidermy, Air sports, Painting, Knife making, Letterboxing, Inline skating

Introduction: My name is Saturnina Altenwerth DVM, I am a witty, perfect, combative, beautiful, determined, fancy, determined person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.