I saw a thread recently that said people want nutrition to be complicated, but half the battle is just reminding adults to eat something before 2 PM. And honestly… I felt that in my soul.
Breakfast? I’m good. Two eggs and toast, oatmeal, fruit… I can rotate. This morning it was two fried eggs over medium with leftover zucchini, squash, tomatoes, and a little rice I crisped up in a skillet.
Lunch, though? Lunch is my forever struggle. I get bored fast, which is why it’s the most challenging meal of the day for me. But today, right around the 10th hour, I remembered I had some ground beef in the fridge and thought, “Okay, let me finally make that easy burger bowl I’m craving.”
Now, I know y’all love a recipe, but this was not planned, tested, or measured. This is more of a “cosmic alignment in the kitchen” situation. But it would be a disservice not to share it because this easy burger bowl was the best lunch I’ve had in a while.
So welcome to a new series: Natasha’s Food Diaries, where I take you inside the unexpected meals that come together with zero rules and maximum flavor.
Here’s exactly how this easy burger bowl came together:
I grabbed the ground beef, maybe half a pound, grass-fed and already open in the fridge. Since good beef has great flavor on its own, I kept it simple: steak seasoning from ALDI, a little chipotle seasoning instead of black pepper for smoky heat, and smoked paprika for color. I cooked it on medium-high until it got crispy, then broke it up with the back of my spatula.
Once it was done (about 10 minutes), I soaked up the excess oil with a paper towel and melted a slice of white American cheese over the portion I wanted today. The rest went in the fridge for tomorrow, because I’m committed to future-me eating well, too.
Next, I massaged a bowl of chopped kale with a drizzle of avocado oil, just a minute to soften it, then sliced some cherry tomatoes and grabbed pickled onions and banana peppers.
For the sauce, I mixed mayo, relish, lime juice, smoked paprika, and a pinch of salt. Think: classic burger sauce but slightly brighter.
Then came the best part: building the bowl.
Kale at the bottom, cheesy ground beef on top, pickled onions, banana peppers, shredded cheddar, and yes… French fries. I air-fried a handful and tossed them in because honestly, the fries take this easy burger bowl from “cute idea” to “wow, I’m making this again tomorrow.” Use sweet potato fries if you want, but today I wanted the real thing.
I drizzled the sauce all over and went in. Divine. The kale made it hearty, the beef was insanely flavorful, and the fries? Say less.
If lunch is your hardest meal like it is for me, please try this easy burger bowl. It’s simple, flexible, so satisfying, and the perfect lunch for days when you’ve realized it’s 1:45 PM and you’re running on fumes.
Easy Burger Bowl Ingredients
Half a pound ground beef
Chopped kale
Cherry tomatoes
Pickled onions
Banana peppers
White American cheese
Shredded cheddar
French fries or sweet potato fries
Avocado oil
Steak seasoning
Chipotle seasoning
Smoked paprika
Sauce
Mayo
Relish
Lime juice
Smoked paprika
Salt
How to Make an Easy Burger Bowl
- Season and cook the ground beef on medium-high until crisp. Drain excess oil, melt cheese on top.
- Massage kale with a drizzle of avocado oil.
- Slice tomatoes and prep toppings.
- Air-fry fries.
- Whisk together the sauce.
- Build your easy burger bowl: kale → beef → toppings → fries → sauce
