Keto Bacon Cheeseburger Salad (Print View)

Hearty low-carb salad with seasoned beef, bacon, avocado, cheese, and tangy burger sauce.

# Components:

→ Meats

01 - 8 slices bacon
02 - 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)

→ Vegetables & Fresh Produce

03 - 8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
04 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
05 - 1 avocado, diced
06 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 1/2 cup dill pickles, sliced

→ Cheese

08 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

→ Burger Sauce

09 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
10 - 2 tablespoons sugar-free ketchup
11 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
12 - 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
13 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
14 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Seasonings

15 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
16 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
17 - Salt and pepper to taste

# Preparation Steps:

01 - In a large skillet over medium heat, cook bacon until crisp, approximately 8-10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate and crumble once cooled.
02 - Discard excess bacon fat, reserving approximately 1 tablespoon in the skillet. Add ground beef with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Cook until browned, breaking into bite-sized pieces, approximately 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat and allow to cool slightly.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sugar-free ketchup, yellow mustard, dill pickle juice, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until fully combined.
04 - Arrange romaine lettuce in a large salad bowl or individual serving plates. Layer with cooked ground beef, crumbled bacon, cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, red onion slices, dill pickles, and shredded cheddar cheese.
05 - Drizzle burger sauce over salad immediately before serving to maintain optimal texture and temperature contrast.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • All the indulgent burger flavors land on your plate without the carb crash that usually follows.
  • It comes together faster than you'd think, making weeknight dinners feel less like meal prep and more like a treat.
  • The warm beef and bacon mingle with cool, creamy avocado in a way that feels luxurious, not restrictive.
02 -
  • Don't save the bacon fat—that rendered, savory oil is irreplaceable in this dish and worth every drop.
  • The pickle juice in the sauce is non-negotiable; without it you just have mayo and ketchup, which isn't the same thing at all.
  • Warm beef and bacon on cold lettuce creates a specific textural moment that only works if you're eating it immediately after assembly.
03 -
  • Toast the garlic and onion powder in the warm beef fat for ten seconds before adding the meat so they actually bloom into the dish instead of tasting powdery.
  • Keep your avocado at room temperature before slicing so it's creamy instead of hard, which makes a real difference in how it tastes against everything else.
Return