Loaded Cheeseburger Bowls for Busy Weeknights

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Today’s recipe is another delicious way to use those crispy roasted potatoes as the base — and trust me, you’re going to love this one. These Loaded Cheeseburger Bowls take everything you crave in a classic burger and turn it into a hearty, fork-friendly dinner. They’re fun, flavorful, and guaranteed to become a new family favorite at your house.

Each bowl is piled high with all the best cheeseburger fixings. There’s seasoned ground beef cooked to perfection, plenty of cheese, fresh tomatoes, crisp lettuce, and tangy pickles. And of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a simple homemade special sauce drizzled over the top to tie everything together. Then come those golden, crispy roasted potatoes – giving you that satisfying “burger and fries” experience all in one bowl.

Loaded cheeseburger bowl with roasted potatoes, ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and special sauce.

If you’re short on time, you can absolutely swap in frozen fries for convenience. They’ll still give you that classic burger-and-fries feel with less prep. But if you have a few extra minutes, the homemade roasted potatoes are definitely worth the effort. They’re crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and add a fresh-from-the-oven flavor that really makes these bowls shine.

  • LIGHT MAYONNAISE
  • DILL RELISH
  • KETCHUP
  • YELLOW MUSTARD
  • ONION POWDER
  • VINEGAR
  • POTATOES
  • OLIVE OIL
  • SWEET PAPRIKA
  • GARLIC POWDER
  • SALT
  • PEPPER
  • LEAN GROUND BEEF
  • ONION
  • GARLIC SALT
  • LETTUCE
  • CHEDDAR CHEESE
  • DILL PICKLE SLICES
  • DICED TOMATOES

Make the Special Sauce

Start by preparing the sauce so the flavors have time to blend together. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, relish, ketchup, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and white vinegar until smooth and creamy. Cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to assemble the bowls. Chilling it allows the flavors to meld and gives you that classic “special sauce” taste.

Roast the Potatoes

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Add the diced potatoes to a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil, tossing to coat evenly. Sprinkle in the paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then toss again until the potatoes are well seasoned.

Spread the potatoes out in a single layer on a baking sheet — lining the pan with parchment paper makes cleanup much easier. Make sure they aren’t crowded so they can crisp up properly. Bake for 20–30 minutes, until the potatoes are tender on the inside and golden and crispy on the outside.

Cook the Beef Mixture

While the potatoes are roasting, prepare the beef. Add the ground beef to a skillet along with the diced onion, garlic salt, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat, breaking the beef apart as it browns. Continue cooking until the beef is fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain off any excess grease before assembling the bowls.

Assemble the Loaded Burger Bowls

To build the bowls, divide the crispy roasted potatoes evenly among four serving bowls. Spoon the seasoned ground beef over the potatoes. Add your favorite cheeseburger toppings — shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, or anything else you love. Finish by drizzling the chilled creamy burger sauce over each bowl and serve immediately while everything is warm and fresh.

Close-up of cheeseburger bowl with crispy potatoes and cheddar cheese.

Can I use frozen fries instead of roasted potatoes?
Yes! Frozen French fries are a great shortcut. Bake or air fry them according to package directions, then use them as the base for the bowls.

Can I make the special sauce ahead of time?
Yes. The sauce can be made up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. In fact, it tastes even better after the flavors have had time to blend.

What cheese works best?
Shredded cheddar is classic, but Colby Jack, American, or even pepper jack all work well, depending on your flavor preference.

How do I store leftovers?
Store the beef, potatoes, and toppings separately if possible. Reheat the beef and potatoes, then assemble fresh bowls with cold toppings and sauce.

Can I meal prep these?
Yes! Keep everything stored separately in containers. Reheat the beef and potatoes when ready to eat, then add fresh toppings and drizzle with sauce.

Cheeseburger bowl topped with seasoned beef, tomatoes, pickles, and creamy sauce

Tips & Tricks for the Best Cheeseburger Bowls

  • Don’t overcrowd the potatoes. Spread them in a single layer so they crisp rather than steam.
  • Flip the potatoes halfway through baking for extra crispiness.
  • Use freshly shredded cheese for better melting.
  • Customize for picky eaters. Set up a “burger bar” and let everyone build their own bowl.
  • Add texture. Crispy bacon bits or fried onions are great additions.
  • For extra sauce lovers: Double the special sauce recipe — it’s always the first thing to disappear.

Loaded cheeseburger bowls including potatoes, ground beef, and toppings.

Loaded Cheeseburger Bowls

Real Mom Kitchen

These Loaded Cheeseburger Bowls bring all the flavors of a classic burger and fries into one hearty, satisfying meal. Crispy roasted potatoes are topped with seasoned ground beef, fresh toppings, melty cheese, and a creamy homemade special sauce. It’s a fun, family-friendly dinner that’s easy to customize and perfect for busy weeknights.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course dinner, lunch, Main Course, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 844 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

For the sauce

  • ½ cup light mayonnaise
  • 2 Tbsp dill relish
  • 1 Tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tsp mustard
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp white vinegar

For the potatoes

  • 8 medium russet potatoes peeled and diced into 3/4-1 inch pieces
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp sea salt
  • fresh ground black pepper to taste

For the beef

  • 1 lb ground beef to taste
  • ¼ yellow onion diced
  • ¼ tsp garlic salt
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • pinch pepper

Additional bowl ingredients

  • 2 cups lettuce shredded
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded
  • ½ cup pickle slices I like to cut them into quarters
  • 1 cup tomatoes diced (I sliced grape tomatoes)

Instructions
 

For the sauce

  • In a bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, relish, ketchup, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, and white vinegar. Place in the fridge until serving time.

For the Potatoes

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
  • Add the diced potatoes to a bowl and toss with olive oil. Add in paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss again to coat. Spread out in a single layer on a baking sheet. I like to line mine with parchment paper for easy clean up.
  • Bake at 400 degrees for 20-30 minutes until potatoes are tender.

For the beef

  • While the potatoes cook, prepare the beef. In a skillet, add the ground beef, onion, garlic salt, salt, and pepper. Cook the beef until brown. Drain off any grease.

To assemble the bowls

  • Divide the potatoes between four bowls. Top with the cooked beef. Then layer on the topping. Last, drizzle the sauce over each bowl.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 844kcal | Carbohydrates: 87g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 18g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 99mg | Sodium: 1283mg | Potassium: 2314mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 968IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 203mg | Iron: 7mg
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Keyword comfort food, ground beef, hearty, quick

This is a Real Mom Kitchen original recipe.