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Flavorful Keto Smash Burger Bowl Recipe with Easy Special Sauce

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A quick and easy keto-friendly smash burger bowl featuring juicy smashed beef patties, fresh veggies, and a tangy special sauce. Perfect for low-carb diets without sacrificing flavor.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef, 80/20 blend
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season
  • 1 tbsp avocado oil or other high-heat oil
  • 2 cups mixed greens or shredded iceberg lettuce
  • ½ cup sliced dill pickles
  • ½ small red onion, thinly sliced (optional)
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • ¼ cup mayonnaise (Duke’s recommended)
  • 1 tbsp ketchup (sugar-free if keto)
  • 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Optional toppings: shredded cheddar or American cheese, crispy bacon bits, avocado slices

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Special Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and apple cider vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Prep the Veggies: Slice the red onion thinly, halve cherry tomatoes, and slice pickles. Arrange the mixed greens as the base in your serving bowls.
  3. Form the Ground Beef: Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions (about 4 oz each). Roll loosely into balls without packing tightly.
  4. Heat the Skillet: Place a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and add avocado oil. Heat until very hot with slight wisps of smoke.
  5. Smash the Burger Patties: Place one ball of beef onto the hot skillet. Press down firmly with a spatula until the patty is about ¼ inch thick. Hold pressure for 10 seconds to create a crust. Repeat for each patty.
  6. Season and Cook: Sprinkle salt and pepper on the exposed side of the patty after smashing. Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until edges are deeply browned and crispy.
  7. Flip and Finish Cooking: Flip patties carefully. If adding cheese, place it on top now and cover the pan to melt for 1-2 minutes. Cook another 2 minutes or until fully cooked but still juicy.
  8. Assemble the Bowls: Place each cooked patty over the bed of greens. Add pickles, sliced onions, cherry tomatoes, and any extra toppings like bacon or avocado. Drizzle generously with the special sauce.
  9. Final Touch: Toss gently if desired or leave layered for presentation. Serve immediately while patties are warm and crispy.

Notes

Use 80/20 ground beef for juiciness and crisp edges. Press patties firmly but don’t over-press to keep juiciness. Make the special sauce ahead and store in fridge up to one week. Reheat patties gently in a skillet to maintain crispness. For dairy-free, swap mayo with vegan mayo and omit cheese.

Nutrition

Keywords: keto, smash burger, low-carb, keto bowl, special sauce, ground beef, keto dinner, low-carb meal

Find it online: https://emmayum.com/flavorful-keto-smash-burger-bowl-recipe-with-easy-special-sauce/