Cheeseburger Salad

 

Love the taste of a cheeseburger... but cringe at the calories and carbs?  Well cringe no more....  the perfect solution awaits you.... a Cheeseburger Salad!

Okay.. it still has a considerable number of calories... but... it is minus the bun... so it does cut out some calories and carbs.. after all... what is the bun for anyway... but a burger vehicle to your awaiting taste buds.

I added shredded cheddar cheese for a little more flavor.. totally optional.

Truly .. I am in love with this salad... quick.. easy and delicious!

TIPS

Add whatever ingredients you love on the burger... like bacon cheeseburgers?... well then.. just add chopped cooked bacon!

I have a "McDonald's Special Sauce" recipe copycat... honestly... you can use Thousand Island dressing just as easily... it's close enough.

I do use warm cooked cheeseburgers... if I make them ahead.. I just give them a quick nuke in the micro before adding them to the salad. 

For the salad greens.. use whatever salad mixture you prefer... remember if you're aiming for a copycat cheese burger flavor from your favorite burger joint.. then use a mixture heavy on Iceberg and/or leaf lettuce ... other lettuces have a slightly different flavor.

Go forth and enjoy your cheeseburger... minus the bun!

Recipe:  Cheeseburger Salad

All you need:

Lettuce (iceberg and/or leaf lettuce)

Lean ground beef

American cheese slices

Hamburger pickles, chopped

Tomatoes, chopped

Onions, chopped

Thousand Island dressing or "Special Sauce"

For the Special Sauce:

1/2 cup Hellman's Mayo

1/2 tablespoon yellow mustard

1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish

1 teaspoon white wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon paprika

All you need to do:

Form the ground beef into patties (I make the equivalent of a 1/4 pound burger for each salad)... cook them in a non-stick skillet until almost fully cooked... top with cheese and cook until cheese is melted.

Allow the burgers to cool while you prepare the salad.... mix the lettuce, onions, tomatoes and pickles in a bowl or layer the ingredients on a large plate.

Cut the cheeseburger up into bite size pieces and distribute the pieces on top of the prepared salad.  Drizzle with dressing or add small dollops of Special Sauce.

Special Sauce:  mix together the ingredients in a small bowl... it will not be as runny as regular dressing... so the best you can do is do little dollops over the salad.