Comfort food is big in our home, but we do our best to keep it healthy … and fast. After work, who feels like slaving in the kitchen? That’s why I love this recipe for dairy-free cheeseburger salad bowls. It’s adult- and kid-friendly, quick and easy to make, can be customized with the toppings that each person loves, and really is quite nutritious!
Dairy-Free Cheeseburger Salad Bowls with All-American Dressing
As the busy fall season approaches, Dole is whipping up helpful recipes for “15-Minute-Made Meals,” like these dairy-free cheeseburger salad bowls. It takes a little more than 15 minutes, but is still fast and easy. I also tacked an extra 5 minutes on with a homemade thousand island dressing, but it’s worth it! I made a few other modifications to the original Dole recipe, and I have some more tips and options via these FAQs.
Can I Use Vegan Mayonnaise for Egg-Free?
Yes! Just keep in mind that most brands of vegan mayonnaise tend to break down more readily. So it will likely be a little runnier.
How Can I Reduce the Fat in this Recipe?
You can use 99% lean ground turkey, if preferred. We calculated the nutrition with 93% lean ground meat. You can also omit the cheese alternative or avocado, or simply use low fat mayonnaise. I don’t recommend reducing the oil, as it’s needed for cooking the lean meat. But if you are used to cooking oil-free, go for it!
I Need a Lower Salt Option. What Can I Do?
The primary salt components in this are the actual salt, the condiments in the thousand island dressing, the pickles, and the cheese alternative. You can reduce the amount of salt, if used to the taste of lower salt cooking, source lower sodium condiments, and/or omit the pickles and cheese alternative.
What Cheese Alternative Do You Recommend?
My favorite anytime slices are Follow Your Heart and Chao brands. For homemade, this Dairy-Free Swiss Style Cheese is quite tasty and can be sliced or cut into cubes. You could alternatively use cheese crumbles. Follow Your Heart and Violife make feta crumbles, or for something unique, get Follow Your Hear Blue Cheese Crumbles. You can also make your own dairy-free feta.
Do You Have any Other Topping Suggestions?
Why yes, I do! Sautéed sliced mushrooms, sliced black olives, or chopped roasted red bell peppers would be delicious. And if you want a little crunch, I’d add croutons or cut the romaine with some thinly sliced cabbage.
Special Diet Notes: Cheeseburger Salad Bowls
By ingredients, this recipe is dairy-free / non-dairy, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, and soy-free. Just be sure to choose the cheese alternative and condiments that suit your dietary needs. See the post above for ingredient and egg-free options.
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1⁄2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoons sweet pickle relish
- 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
- Pinch black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey or beef
- ½ medium onion, chopped
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 9 ounces romaine hearts, cored and chopped
- 4 slices dairy-free cheese alternative, chopped
- 2 Roma tomatoes, chopped
- 1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
- ¼ cup chopped dill pickles
- In a small bowl, whisk the vinegar with the sugar until the sugar dissolves.
- Whisk in the mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, salt, and pepper until smooth.
- Use immediately or refrigerate for several hours to allow the flavors time to meld.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat and onion, and cook for 8 minutes or until browned, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Add the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Divide the romaine between 4 bowls. Top with the cooked ground meat and onions, cheese alternative, tomatoes, avocado, pickles, and dressing.
More Dairy-Free Dinner Salad Bowl Recipes
Healthy Chinese Chicken Salad
Ranch Salad with BBQ Roasted Cauliflower
Speedy Chicken Burrito Salad Bowls
