Description
This Keto Cheeseburger Salad delivers all the classic flavors of a cheeseburger—seasoned ground beef, melty cheddar cheese, dill pickles, crispy bacon, and a tangy special sauce—without the carb-heavy bun. It’s a hearty, low-carb meal perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prepping, combining comfort food with keto-friendly ingredients in a fresh salad format.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Salad Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 6 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup diced dill pickles
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled (optional)
Special Sauce Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp sugar-free ketchup
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp pickle juice
- Salt, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the Beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart as it cooks. Season with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper to taste. Once cooked, drain any excess grease and set the beef aside to cool slightly.
- Make the Special Sauce Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sugar-free ketchup, yellow mustard, pickle juice, and salt until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
- Assemble the Salad: Divide the chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce evenly between serving bowls. Top each bowl with the cooked seasoned ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, diced dill pickles, thinly sliced red onion, and crumbled bacon if using.
- Add the Dressing: Drizzle the special sauce dressing over the salad bowls just before serving. Toss gently to combine all the ingredients and enjoy immediately.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, cook bacon until very crispy before crumbling over the salad.
- Use sugar-free ketchup to keep the recipe keto-friendly and low in carbs.
- Feel free to swap romaine for iceberg lettuce based on preference or availability.
- This salad can be prepped ahead minus the dressing, which is best added right before serving to keep the lettuce crisp.
- Optional extras include diced tomatoes or avocado for added freshness and texture.
