Description
A fresh and light salad capturing all the juicy, melty cheeseburger flavors without the bun. Features ground beef, sharp cheddar, pickles, and a tangy special sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1 cup (110g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (about 120g) pickles, chopped (dill or bread-and-butter or a mix)
- 4 cups (120g) romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes, halved
- ¼ cup (40g) red onion, finely chopped
- Special sauce:
- ½ cup (120ml) mayonnaise (full-fat preferred)
- 2 tbsp (30ml) ketchup
- 1 tbsp (15ml) Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp (5ml) Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tsp (2g) garlic powder
- ½ tsp (2g) onion powder
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp (15ml or 14g) olive oil or butter for cooking beef
Instructions
- Heat skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil or butter. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a spatula. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until browned and no pink remains, about 7-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and onion powder. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- While beef cooks, chop romaine lettuce, halve cherry tomatoes, finely dice red onion, and chop pickles. Soak onion in cold water for 10 minutes if milder flavor is desired, then drain.
- In a large bowl, combine chopped lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and shredded cheddar. Add cooked beef and drizzle with special sauce. Toss gently to combine evenly.
- Serve immediately. Optionally, sprinkle extra shredded cheddar or freshly cracked black pepper on top.
Notes
Drain excess beef fat to avoid soggy salad. Use sharp cheddar cheese for better melting and flavor. Make special sauce ahead for enhanced flavor. Chop ingredients small and uniform for balanced bites. Let beef cool slightly before adding to salad to prevent wilting lettuce. Adjust sauce quantity to coat but not drown the salad. Optional: add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before serving to brighten flavors.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 420
- Fat: 30
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 28
Keywords: cheeseburger salad, chopped salad, ground beef salad, special sauce, pickles, quick dinner, healthy burger alternative