Veggie Burger in a Bowl

Can't decide between a burger and a salad? This Veggie Burger in a Bowl Recipe is the best of both worlds! Made with homemade veggie burgers and layered into a bowl with burger toppings, salad, and a vegan burger sauce, it's the perfect light meal while still packed with plant-based protein. Make this deconstructed bunless burger bowl for an easy lunch or dinner any day of the week!

Do you ever feel intimidated by a burger bun?

I mean, I'm not afraid of the bun by any stretch of the imagination. I'm a lover of carbs in all of their beautiful forms, but sometimes a burger + a bun + all the fixings = one hell of a daunting mouthful.

Also, for all the veg heads in the house, sometimes veggie burgers can be packed full of breadcrumbs or oats or other things to bind them together, so you're taking a kinda bready burger and putting it between more bread and it's just too much, ya know?

You want to know the solution? It's a Burger in a Bowl!

Can't decide between a burger and a salad? Make a burger bowl!

Don't eat gluten and want to skip the bun? This recipe is for you!!

In the mood for something light and fresh with lots of plant-based protein? Let's do this!

Seriously, this bunless burger is one of my favourite things to eat, and it takes only a few minutes to throw everything together for a simple, delicious, and healthy meal.

What do you need to make a burger in a bowl?

You need a burger, and you need a bowl. Beyond that it's up to you. Here's what I used to make my veggie burger bowl:

• Veggie burgers --> I used these Chipotle Black Bean Burgers.
• Lettuce --> I used classic iceberg lettuce here because I love the crunch, but you can use any green you want.
• Quinoa --> Just a little scoop to make my bowls more substantial.
• Tomatoes --> Baby plum tomatoes is how I roll.
• Pickles --> I used cornichons, because who doesn't love a tiny pickle? (<-- that's what she said!)
• Avocado --> Gotta love those healthy fats!
• Pickled red onions --> Taking it home with these Spicy Pickled Red Onions! I also love these Crispy Fried Onions for burger toppings.
• Vegan burger sauce --> A l'il tahini dill concoction we'll talk more about below.

How do you make a veggie burger bowl?

You guys, you guys. Here's what you do:

Step 1: Put the burger topping ingredients into the bowl.

Step 2: Add the burgers to the bowl.

Step 3: Drizzle with vegan burger sauce.

Step 4: Eat your bunless burger bowl!

What kind of burger is best for a burger bowl?

The best kind of burger is your favourite burger. These Chipotle Black Bean Burgers are my current fave, but if you don't  have the time or desire to make a batch of veggie burgers from scratch, your favourite store-bought veggie burger is perfectly fine.

If your home, like mine, has a mix of vegetarians and meat eaters, let everyone top their bowl with their preferred burger type. Easy peasy.

Can you make burger bowls in advance?

You can definitely prep all of the components in advance, but I recommend assembling the bowls more or less at the last minute.

Having said that, I do think that these bowls makes a delicious packed lunch, and as long as you keep the wet ingredients (like pickled onions and burger sauce) off until it's time to serve, they'll last for a few days pre-packed in the fridge in an air-tight container.

Is this bunless burger healthy?

Totally depends on how you make your bowl, my friends. Make it with healthy ingredients then you will have a healthy burger bowl. It's as simple as that.

Other tasty recipes you might enjoy:

Vegan Sheet Pan Fajita Bowls
Roasted Cauliflower Hummus Bowls
Vegan Rice Noodle Bowls
How to Make a Meal Bowl Without a Recipe

 

This recipe was originally published May 15, 2014 It was retested, rephotographed, and updated on July 18, 2019.