In-N-Out Inspired Burger Bowls
If you love an In-N-Out burger but want something you can throw together at home for an easy weeknight dinner, these In-N-Out Inspired Burger Bowls are so good.
We originally made these after a trip to the farmers market when we came home with the most beautiful fresh tomatoes. Instead of hiding them between hamburger buns, we added them to bowls with seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, pickles, cheese, caramelized onions and plenty of homemade burger sauce.
They’re fresh, filling and really easy to customize. Add crispy potatoes or fries if you want something a little more substantial, or keep the bowls simple with lettuce and all of your favorite burger toppings.
And the sauce might be my favorite part. It’s creamy, tangy and gets even better with a couple spoonfuls of caramelized onions mixed right in.
Why You’ll Love These In-N-Out Burger Bowls
These burger bowls have all of those familiar burger flavors without needing much prep. They’re perfect for a quick dinner because everyone can build their own bowl and add exactly what they like.
They’re also a great way to use really good summer tomatoes. We used fresh tomatoes from the farmers market, and they made such a difference.
A few reasons we keep coming back to these:
In-N-Out Inspired Burger Bowls
Ingredients
For the Burger Bowls:
- 1 lb ground beef
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Garlic powder to taste
- Chopped lettuce
- Fresh tomatoes chopped or sliced
- Pickles
- Sliced or shredded cheese
- Caramelized onions
- Crispy potatoes or french fries optional
For the Burger Sauce:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons caramelized onions
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Garlic powder to taste
- Paprika to taste
- A small amount of yellow mustard
Instructions
How to Make the Burger Sauce:
- Add the mayonnaise, ketchup and caramelized onions to a small bowl.
- Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and paprika, then add a little yellow mustard.
- Stir everything together until well combined. Taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
- You can make the sauce ahead of time and keep it covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to assemble the bowls.
How to Make the In-N-Out Burger Bowls:
- Cook sliced or diced onions in a skillet until they’re soft, golden and caramelized.
- Set aside two tablespoons for the burger sauce and save the rest for topping the bowls.
- Add the ground beef to a skillet over medium heat.
- Break the beef apart as it cooks and season with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Continue cooking until the beef is browned and cooked through.
- Drain any excess grease if necessary.
- While the beef cooks, chop the lettuce and tomatoes and get your pickles, cheese and caramelized onions ready.
- If you’re adding crispy potatoes or french fries, prepare those as well.
Assemble the Bowls:
- Start each bowl with a generous layer of chopped lettuce.
- Add the seasoned ground beef, fresh tomatoes, pickles, cheese and caramelized onions.
- Add crispy potatoes or fries if you’re using them, then finish everything with plenty of burger sauce.
- Serve right away.
Notes
Don’t Skip the Caramelized Onions
The caramelized onions are one of my favorite parts of these bowls because we’re using them in two different ways.
Some go directly into the burger sauce, which gives it so much more flavor, and the rest can be spooned over the finished bowls.
If you love onions on your burgers, make extra. You’ll use them!
Do you have fresh produce from the farmers market? Here are 6 recipes I Made.
Add Crispy Potatoes or Fries
You can absolutely keep these burger bowls simple, but adding crispy potatoes or french fries makes them feel much more like the full burger-and-fries experience.
Add them right into the bowl or serve them alongside.
For a weeknight shortcut, frozen french fries or crispy potatoes work perfectly.
Easy Burger Bowl Topping Ideas
One of the best things about burger bowls is how easy they are to customize.
Along with the lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, cheese and caramelized onions, you could add:
Set everything out separately and everyone can build their own.
My cooking Essentials:
A Great Way to Use Fresh Tomatoes
We first made these bowls after bringing home fresh tomatoes from the farmers market, and this is exactly the kind of recipe I love for late summer.
When tomatoes are really good, you don’t need to do much to them. Chop them up, add a little salt and let them be one of the stars of the bowl.
It’s an easy way to turn fresh seasonal produce into a dinner everyone actually wants to eat.
FAQ
The Easiest Burger Night
These In-N-Out Inspired Burger Bowls have quickly become one of those dinners that checks all the boxes: easy, filling and something everyone can customize.
The fresh tomatoes and crisp lettuce keep them light and fresh, while the seasoned beef, cheese, caramelized onions and creamy burger sauce give you everything you want from a really good burger.
And if you throw some crispy fries into the bowl? Even better.
If you make this, let me know! I always love hearing from you.
This post contains affiliate links. I only recommend products I actually use and love!
more like this
dinner recipes
Are we friends Yet?!
Sign up to receive my favorite recipes, party ideas and latest finds.