My Famous Burger Bowls

Serves 4.

From "Love Gluten Free" by Megan McKenna, who writes: "I know we can get gluten-free buns these days, but years of not having them has made me love a burger bowl. I packed this bowl with my best burger recipe, burger sauce, pickles and caramelized onions. It's to die for." Note: There are several brands of gluten-free crispy onions available online, or you can make your own. (Hamlyn, 2025)

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp. dried mixed herbs
  • 1 tbsp. red pepper flakes
  • 1 tbsp. granulated garlic
  • 1 tbsp. granulated onion
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • Olive oil, for frying
  • 4 slices cheese
  • 2 heads romaine lettuce, shredded
  • 2 tomatoes, sliced
  • ½ c. mayonnaise
  • ½ c. ketchup
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 4 large pickles, chopped
  • Caramelized Onions (see recipe)
  • ⅓ c. gluten-free crispy fried onions (see Note)

Directions

Place the ground beef in a bowl. Add your egg, mixed herbs, red pepper flakes, granulated garlic and onion and a generous seasoning of salt and pepper. Mix together with your hands and shape into 4 equal patties, each about 1 ¼ inch thick.

Add a drizzle of olive oil to a large frying pan over medium heat. When hot, fry the burgers for 7 minutes on each side. Add a cheese slice to each one for the last minute or so, covering the pan with a lid if you want the cheese to melt quicker.

Transfer burgers to a chopping board and cut into 1 ¼ inch squares.

Place lettuce and tomatoes in a large bowl or four individual salad bowls, then add burger squares.

Combine the mayo, ketchup and mustard in a small bowl and drizzle over the burger bowl. Add diced pickles and a large spoonful of caramelized onions. Finish with a sprinkle of crispy fried onions.

Caramelized Onions

Serves 4.

These caramelized onions take your dishes to the next level — adding them to anything really elevates the flavors. From "Love Gluten Free" by Megan McKenna (Hamlyn, 2025).

  • Olive oil, for frying
  • 2 red onions, finely sliced
  • 2 heaping tbsp. brown sugar

Add a drizzle of olive oil to a frying pan over medium heat. When hot, add onions and brown sugar and cook for 5 minutes, until the onions are soft.

Lower the heat and cook for another 15 minutes, until onions are sticky and brown.