Description
This Cheeseburger Salad combines savory seasoned lean ground beef, smoked turkey bacon, fresh crisp vegetables, and melted shredded mozzarella cheese (vegetal) for a quick, light, and flavorful meal. Ready in under 30 minutes, it offers all the deliciousness of a classic cheeseburger in a refreshing and nutritious salad form, perfect for busy days or a healthy twist on comfort food.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Meats
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 4 slices smoked turkey bacon
Vegetables
- 4 cups fresh romaine or mixed greens, washed and torn into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes or diced vine-ripened tomatoes
- ½ cup sliced dill pickles
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
Cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (vegetal)
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vegetarian Worcestershire sauce
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Beef: Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add the lean ground beef and season generously with salt, pepper, and vegetarian Worcestershire sauce. Break the meat into small crumbles and cook, stirring occasionally, until fully browned and slightly crisp around the edges. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
- Crisp the Smoked Turkey Bacon: In the same or a separate pan, fry the smoked turkey bacon slices over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain excess fat. Once cooled, chop into bite-sized pieces.
- Chop the Fresh Veggies: Wash and dry the lettuce thoroughly, then tear into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the tomatoes, red onion, and dill pickles. Having all ingredients prepped ahead makes assembly quick and easy.
- Assemble the Salad: In a large bowl or on individual plates, layer the lettuce, then add the seasoned ground beef, chopped smoked turkey bacon, sliced tomatoes, onions, and pickles. Generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese (vegetal) on top to mimic classic cheeseburger flavor in each bite.
- Mix the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, apple cider vinegar, vegetarian Worcestershire sauce, salt, and freshly ground pepper. Drizzle the dressing over the salad just before serving to keep the greens crisp and fresh.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to keep the salad light and reduce greasiness.
- Dress the salad sparingly to avoid soggy greens.
- Keep vegetables and dressing chilled for the freshest texture.
- Cook beef thoroughly for safety and best flavor.
- Prepare and crisp the smoked turkey bacon last to retain crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: Cheeseburger Salad, quick salad, ground beef salad, healthy cheeseburger, smoked turkey bacon, low carb salad