Looking for a healthy, high-protein meal that feels indulgent but is good for you? This healthy burger bowl (aka deconstructed burger) is your answer! Made with crispy chicken patties and roasted potatoes, fresh crunchy veggies, and a creamy lemon yogurt sauce, this burger in a bowl skips the ultra-processed ingredients and keeps it low in calories and saturated fat. It’s an easy, family-friendly weeknight dinner that’s also perfect for meal prep. Whether you’re on a low-carb plan, gluten-free, or just trying to eat more whole foods, this burger without bun is your new go-to.
Why you’ll love this deconstructed burger
- No-guilt: It is a burger without bun and grease, yet full of flavor.
- Nutrient-packed: It’s a chicken burger bowl made with lean patties, fresh veggies and roasted potatoes.
- No-mayo sauce: The lemon yogurt sauce adds creamy, tangy flavor without the heaviness of mayo.
- Meal-prep friendly: You can prep this bunless burger ahead for easy lunches or dinners.
- Customizable: You can replace chicken with turkey, beef or fish. You can also adjust toppings based on your preferences.
- Kid-approved – This burger in a bowl is fun to eat, easy to serve, and perfect for weeknight dinners the whole family will enjoy.
Recipe video
Let’s dive into the recipe!
Ingredients for chicken patties
(You can find the exact measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this page. Here are step-by-step instructions with pictures to help you easily understand the recipe.)
For the ground chicken patties, you’ll need:
- Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs.
- Flavor-makers: Garlic, lemon zest, and spices.
- Herbs: A mix of fresh and dried herbs. Use what you have.
- For richness: Egg and parmesan
- For the crunch: Panko breadcrumbs, which turn out crisper. If not available, use regular ones.
- To fry: Olive oil or any vegetable oil.
Vegetable add-ins
- For roasted potatoes, you’ll need vegetable oil, cayenne, salt and black pepper with dried herbs. Skip the cayenne pepper if you don’t want the heat.
- Other vegetables: lettuce, tomatoes, pickled onions and cucumbers, and any other pickled or salad vegetable you like.
Ingredients for yogurt mustard sauce
The lemon yogurt sauce is the simplest “creamy” sauce you’ll ever make! To make it, you’ll need lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, salt and pepper.
How to make burger in a bowl: Step by step
Make burger patties
Making chicken mince patties is as simple as mincing the chicken with a few spices and herbs and pan-frying.
Chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Finely chop garlic and grate lemon zest.
Add the following to a food processor: chicken, chopped garlic, cayenne pepper, coriander, mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, dried sage, black pepper, salt and an egg. Blend until the chicken is broken down into smaller pieces.
Add lemon zest, grated parmesan and the herbs.
Pulse a few times until everything is combined into a coarse mixture.
Transfer it to a bowl and add breadcrumbs. Mix until well-combined.
Shape the chicken mince mixture into patties. Heat oil in pan and fry them until golden on both sides.
Roast potatoes
Preheat the oven to 200°C/390°F.
Peel and dice the potatoes into 1-inch cubes. In a small bowl, mix olive oil with salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper and dried rosemary.
Add the seasoning to the diced potatoes and toss until they are coated with the mixture.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the potatoes in a single layer.
Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven. Roast the potatoes for 20 minutes.
Toss the potatoes and roast again for 15 to 20 more minutes until they are cooked to a golden brown perfection.
Make yogurt lemon sauce
Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl until smooth and creamy.
Create your healthy burger bowl
- Begin by placing chopped lettuce, tomatoes, pickled onions and cucumbers, and roasted potatoes in a bowl.
- Nestle the crispy chicken patty on top.
- Drizzle the lemon yogurt sauce over your colorful bowl.
- You’ve just turned a classic into a clean, nourishing burger in a bowl. Enjoy every wholesome bite!
Variations to this bunless burger
- Use turkey meat or salmon as an alternative to chicken. You can also make no-potato fish cakes instead of chicken patties.
- Make vegetarian burger bowls with chickpea patties or quinoa patties instead of chicken patties.
- Make roasted garlic sauce or green mange chutney instead of yogurt sauce.
- You can also use Mediterranean-inspired tahini yogurt sauce or Indian-flavored avocado sauce.
- You can top the burger bowl with no-mayo red cabbage slaw.
More chicken mince recipes
- Chicken taco rice bowls
- Easy Thai chicken mince stir fry
- Pan-fried chicken mince kebabs
- Spicy deviled eggs with minced chicken
- Thai chicken lettuce wraps with peanut sauce
- Chicken kofta curry
More salad bowls
- Chicken tikka salad bowl
- Chickpea salad bowl
- Paneer tikka salad
- Quinoa edamame salad
- Mediterranean hummus salad bowl
- Roasted pumpkin quinoa bowl
Deconstructed Burger Bowl Recipe
Ingredients
Minced chicken patties
- 500 grams (1.1 pounds) chicken breasts or thighs boneless, skinless
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried sage
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup parsley (loosely packed)
- ¼ cup green onions (loosely packed, green parts only)
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons parmesan
- ¾ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Roasted potatoes
- 5 Potatoes medium-sized
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Lemon yogurt sauce
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Vegetables
- 1 small head lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup pickled onions and cucumbers
STEP BY STEP IMAGES
Scroll back to find detailed recipe photos!
Instructions
Make burger patties
- Chop 500 grams (1.1 pounds) chicken breasts or thighs into bite-sized pieces. Finely chop 2 cloves garlic.
- Add the following to a food processor: chicken, chopped garlic, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon coriander powder, 1 teaspoon mustard powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon dried sage and 1 egg.
- Blend until the chicken is broken down into smaller pieces.
- Add ¼ cup parsley, ¼ cup green onions, 2 teaspoons lemon zest and 2 tablespoons parmesan.
- Pulse a few times until everything is combined into a coarse mixture.
- Transfer it to a bowl and add ¾ cup breadcrumbs. Mix until well-combined.
- Shape the chicken mince mixture into patties.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a pan. Fry the patties until golden on both sides.
Roast potatoes
- Preheat the oven to 200°C/390°F.
- Peel and dice 5 Potatoes into 1-inch cubes.
- Mix together in a small bowl: ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon dried rosemary and 1 tablespoon olive oil.
- Add the seasoning to the diced potatoes and toss until they are coated with the mixture.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the potatoes in a single layer.
- Place the sheet pan in the preheated oven. Roast the potatoes for 20 minutes.
- Toss the potatoes and roast again for 15 to 20 more minutes until they are cooked to a golden brown perfection.
Make burger bowl sauce
- Place in a bowl: 1 cup Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon honey, ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard, ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
- Whisk together until smooth and creamy.
Create your burger bowl
- Chop 1 small head lettuce and halve 1 cup cherry tomatoes.
- Begin by placing chopped lettuce, tomatoes, pickled onions and cucumbers, and roasted potatoes in a bowl.
- Nestle the chicken patty on top. Drizzle the lemon yogurt sauce over your colorful bowl.
- And just like that, you’ve successfully deconstructed a burger—into a bowl of fresh, wholesome goodness.
Video
Notes
- Mincing the chicken: DO NOT blend the chicken mixture all the way to a smooth paste. You’ll need some texture for the perfect chicken burger.
- Pan-fry the chicken patties on medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes each side until they are golden brown.
- Parmesan: I prefer Parmigiano Reggiano (more flavorful type of parmesan). If not available, use the regular one. But ensure that you buy a block and grate it yourself, rather than buying pre-grated ones.
- Roast potatoes: If you have the time, soak the diced potatoes in water for 20 minutes. It removes some of the starch and helps them brown better.
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