Here’s a fun and delicious way to eat a cheeseburger without a bun. Try this Cheeseburger Ranch Salad with a juicy beef patty on a bed of baby spinach topped with melted cheese, sliced tomatoes, and drizzled with Ranch dressing!
After that cheesy chicken over pesto quinoa on Tuesday and this burger salad today, I guess you could say I’m in the mood for melted cheese this week. That’s really no different than any other week if I’m being honest. You may have noticed a lack of burgers around here lately. Since I can’t eat regular buns, and my husband still can’t really eat normally after his injury, we’re both too lame to eat burgers like normal people. That’s where this bunless solution comes in.
I’m a fan of gluten-free crackers, cookies, pasta, and most bread. I can hardly even tell I’m not eating regular wheat. When it comes to hamburger and hotdog buns, it’s a different story. I expect those to have a very specific texture, and I just don’t think it can be achieved without wheat, at least in my experience. Sometimes I eat burgers on sandwich bread, which is a perfectly fine option, but just eliminating the bun altogether is sometimes easier.
You might notice that I’m not calling this a low-carb dinner because of the mound of potato chips alongside the cheeseburger salad. This pictured salad with chips was my lunch, and we had fries with our burger salads at dinner the night before. I’m just not really into eliminating carbs, but if you are, you could just have something else on the side.
I made spicy burger patties myself for this recipe, but you could of course use any kind of burger patty you want, even pre-made frozen ones for a super easy meal. This recipe is also perfectly suited for grilled chicken breasts instead of burgers. Make it your own, and have fun!
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 15 minutes |
| Servings |
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- 16 ounces lean ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons sriracha hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 4 cups baby spinach leaves
- 3 Roma tomatoes sliced
- 1/2 cup Ranch dressing (approximate measure)
Ingredients
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- Stir together beef, garlic powder, onion powder, hot sauce, salt, and egg until mixed well. Divide into four balls, and shape into patties.
- Spray a large skillet with cooking spray, and heat over medium-high heat. Place burger patties in hot skillet, and cook approximately seven minutes per side or until cooked to desired level of doneness. Place cheese slices over patties for last 2-3 minutes of cooking to allow cheese to melt.
- While burgers cook, arrange a bed of spinach on four plates. Place cooked cheeseburgers on the spinach, arrange sliced tomatoes over each burger, and drizzle with Ranch dressing. Dig in!
This isn’t my first time at the cheeseburger salad rodeo. Try this fun and healthy recipe too!
Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files says
Now this is my kinda burger! I always go sans that burger anyways so I love how you added ranch. What else could I need?!
Andi says
I love Ranch on just about everything. Thank you, Meg!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet says
I found some gluten free crackers at Aldi that I just love and I don’t even need to eat gluten free but they are the best! I am totally loving that this is spicy!
Andi says
I usually buy GF and wheat crackers since I’m the only one GF in our house, but everyone always eats up the GF crackers first! I’m glad they like them, but I don’t want to run out of crackers! ;) Thank you, Nancy!
Heather | girlichef says
I love carbs, but I’m totally down with eating a burger this way, too. I mean, I’d probably wind up just piling the chips on top anyway, so…. ;) Yum!
Andi says
Ha, yes! I have a sandwich recipe here with chips on it, and I need to remember to do that more often. Love the crunch! Thanks, Heather.
amanda @ fake ginger says
I loooooove a burger salad! I hope I have ranch in the fridge because now I’m totally craving this.
Andi says
Thanks, Amanda! I like as much meat in my salad as possible ;)
Beth says
Ever since I had to go gluten free, this is how I eat my burgers too, and I actually prefer it that way!
Andi says
I think it’s better than GF buns for sure! Thank you, Beth!
Kelley says
I have hamburger patties in the fridge leftover from my daughters birthday party.. I’m having this for dinner! YUM!
Andi says
Hope you liked it, Kelley. Thank you!
Amy @ A Healthy Life For Me says
I couldn’t agree with you more. I can make almost any recipe gf and not tell a difference but there is a big difference with the buns. I love a good ol’ cheeseburger and usually go with no bun and enjoy it just the way your recipe describes!
Andi says
It depends on my mood if I’d rather have a burger salad or on sandwich bread, but I am never in the mood for GF hamburger buns! ;)
Jen @ Yummy Healthy Easy says
I love that this is bunless! I’m not into totally cutting carbs, like you said, but for a weeknight dinner, it’s nice to have something light. (I would gladly take the fries and/or chips on the side too, lol!) Great recipe, Andi – pinned!
Andi says
Thank you Jen! xoxo