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Overhead view of burger bowls with crispy potato chips, seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, cheese, pickles, and special sauce drizzle

Burger Bowls with Special Sauce

Healthy burger bowls loaded with crispy potato chips, perfectly seasoned ground beef, fresh lettuce, cheese, pickles, and a creamy homemade burger sauce. Ready in 30 minutes using the air fryer.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 portions
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 424

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 tsp smoked paprika for spice mix
  • 1 tsp garlic powder for spice mix
  • 1 tsp onion powder for spice mix
  • 1 tsp dried oregano or mixed herbs for spice mix
  • 0.5 tsp salt for spice mix
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper for spice mix
  • 3 medium potatoes washed and cut into chips or fries, patted dry
  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 1 lb lean ground beef 500g, 90/10 recommended
  • 2 cup lettuce shredded
  • 0.5 cup cheese dairy-free or regular, shredded
  • 0.25 cup pickle slices to taste
  • 4 tbsp mayonnaise for burger sauce
  • 1 tbsp ketchup for burger sauce
  • 1 tsp mustard Dijon or yellow, for burger sauce
  • 1 tsp pickle juice from the jar, for burger sauce
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder for burger sauce
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika for burger sauce

Equipment

  • Air fryer or oven
  • Large skillet
  • Mixing bowls

Method
 

  1. Mix together the smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl to make the spice mix. Set aside.
  2. Wash and cut the potatoes into chips or fries. Pat them completely dry with paper towels. Toss in a large bowl with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and half the spice mix until well coated.
  3. Cook the potatoes in a preheated oven at 390 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 30 to 40 minutes, or in the air fryer for about 20 minutes, until golden and crispy.
  4. While the potatoes cook, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Once browned, add the remaining spice mix and continue cooking until the meat has darkened and any excess liquid has evaporated.
  5. Stir together the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, garlic powder, and smoked paprika in a small bowl to make the burger sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  6. Divide the crispy potatoes among 4 bowls. Add shredded lettuce, then top with seasoned ground beef, cheese, and pickle slices. Drizzle generously with burger sauce and serve immediately.

Notes

Pat potatoes completely dry before seasoning for maximum crispiness. Air fryer method keeps total time at 30 minutes. Oven method takes 50 minutes total. Store beef and sauce separately in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat beef in a skillet for best texture.