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Cheeseburger rice bowl with seasoned ground beef, rice, cheddar, pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion, and burger sauce.

Cheeseburger Rice Bowl

This cheeseburger rice bowl turns classic burger flavors into an easy bowl with seasoned ground beef, fluffy rice, cheddar, pickles, lettuce, tomato, onion, and a creamy burger sauce. It is simple enough for weeknight dinner and practical for meal prep when the sauce and cold toppings are stored separately.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 bowls
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Rice Base
  • 1.5 cups white rice dry, or use brown rice if preferred
  • 3 cups water or broth or use the amount recommended on your rice package
Ground Beef Mixture
  • 1 lb lean ground beef 93% lean recommended for a less greasy bowl
  • 1 tsp olive oil or neutral oil
  • 0.5 medium yellow onion diced
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 0.5 tsp salt or to taste
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper or to taste
Burger Toppings
  • 2 cups shredded lettuce iceberg or romaine
  • 1 cup diced tomato or halved cherry tomatoes
  • 0.25 cup diced onion optional, for fresh crunch
  • 0.5 cup chopped dill pickles
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese sharp cheddar recommended
Simple Burger Sauce
  • 0.5 cup plain Greek yogurt or use mayonnaise for a more classic burger sauce
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 2 tbsp chopped dill pickles
  • 1 tbsp pickle juice add more to taste
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.25 tsp smoked paprika
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper or to taste

Equipment

  • Large skillet
  • Rice cooker or medium saucepan
  • Food thermometer
  • Small mixing bowl
  • Cutting board
  • Sharp knife
  • Meal prep containers
  • Small sauce cups

Method
 

  1. Cook the rice with water or broth according to the package directions. Fluff with a fork and set aside while you prepare the beef and toppings.
  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced yellow onion and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until it starts to soften.
  3. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook while breaking it apart with a spoon until browned and fully cooked. Use a food thermometer to confirm the beef reaches 160°F / 71°C.
  4. Drain excess fat if needed. Stir in the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, ketchup, mustard, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until the beef is evenly coated and flavorful.
  5. Make the burger sauce by stirring together Greek yogurt, ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles, pickle juice, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and black pepper in a small bowl. Taste and adjust with more mustard, pickle juice, or pepper if needed.
  6. Divide the cooked rice among 4 bowls or meal prep containers. Top each portion with the seasoned beef.
  7. Add shredded lettuce, diced tomato, fresh diced onion, chopped pickles, and shredded cheddar cheese.
  8. Drizzle the burger sauce over the bowls or serve it on the side. For meal prep, keep the sauce and cold toppings separate until serving.
  9. To serve from meal prep, reheat only the rice and beef until hot throughout, then add the lettuce, tomato, pickles, cheddar, and burger sauce fresh.

Notes

For the best meal prep texture, store the cooked rice and beef separately from the lettuce, tomato, pickles, cheese, and burger sauce.
Use 93% lean ground beef for a less greasy bowl. Ground turkey or ground chicken can also be used, but the flavor and nutrition will change.
Greek yogurt keeps the burger sauce creamy and tangy. Mayonnaise can be used for a more classic burger sauce, but it will change the nutrition.
Brown rice works as a chewier base, and extra lettuce can be added for more volume.
Cook ground beef to 160°F / 71°C. Refrigerate meal prep portions promptly and reheat the cooked rice and beef until hot before adding cold toppings.