This delicious Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce combines the satisfaction of a classic cheeseburger with a fresh and flavorful salad. Featuring crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, zingy dill pickle slices, carrots, black olives, red onion, and a generous sprinkle of crispy bacon and salty blue cheese crumbles. A drizzle of zippy Special Sauce provides the crowning touch to this burger-inspired creation.
Jump to:
- Ingredients Needed to Make this Burger Salad
- How to Make Easy Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs
- What’s Special about Special Sauce?
- The Best Toppings for a Burger Salad: Variations
- Keeping it Fresh: Storage and Reheating Tips for Salad with Meatballs
- Essential Tools for Making this Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs
- More Delicious Salad Recipes to Explore
- Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce
Ingredients Needed to Make this Burger Salad
For the meatballs:
- Ground Beef
- Panko Bread Crumbs - You can easily swap these out for gluten-free panko bread crumbs if needed.
- Egg
- Dijon Mustard
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Dried Onion Flakes
- Dried Parsley
- Kosher Salt - Diamond Crystal kosher salt is a staple in my pantry.
- Cracked Black Pepper
- Cheddar Cheese - You’ll want to use block cheese so it can easily be sliced into cubes.
For the special sauce:
- Mayonnaise
- Ketchup
- Dill Pickle Relish
- Dijon Mustard
- White Vinegar
- Dried Dill
- Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Cracked Black Pepper
For the salad:
- Bacon
- Lettuce
- Avocado
- Tomatoes
- Carrots
- Black Olives
- Dill Pickle Slices
- Blue Cheese
- Red Onion
How to Make Easy Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs
Learn how to create irresistible Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs that are the star of this burger-inspired salad. With a simple step-by-step process, you'll master the art of combining succulent ground beef, flavorful spices, and gooey cheddar cheese for a truly mouthwatering batch of cheesy meatballs at home:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit / 190 degrees Celcius. Line a baker’s half sheet with parchment paper and reserve to the side.
- In a mixing bowl, combine ground beef, panko bread crumbs, egg, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, dried chopped onion, dried parsley, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper. Mix until just blended.
- Divide the mixed meat into 4 equal portions, forming quadrants in the bowl. This will help you portion out 12 meatballs evenly (3 meatballs from each quadrant).
- Place a cube of cheddar cheese in the center and mold the beef mixture around it, forming a meatball. Repeat with all the mixture and cheese.
- Arrange the meatballs on the reserved baking sheet and bake for 17-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are golden and cooked through. There will likely be some cheese beginning to seep out of the meatballs and that is perfectly okay. They should still be very cheesy inside.
What’s Special about Special Sauce?
Whether you call it special sauce, burger sauce, fry sauce, fancy sauce, or secret sauce -- This fresh and zesty sauce is the finishing touch that elevates a humble burger into a masterpiece and is a must for this absolutely delicious burger salad. This special sauce recipe is comprised of simple ingredients you will likely already have stocked in your fridge and pantry and can be made in 5 minutes or less!
What is Special Sauce Made From?
Special Sauce starts with a classic pink sauce base of creamy mayonnaise mixed with ketchup but gets a flavorful level up with briny dill pickle relish, zingy white vinegar, herbaceous dried dill, and a kick of spice from Dijon mustard, paprika, garlic powder, and black pepper. This easy sauce marries tanginess, creaminess, and a touch of sweet heat in each delectable drop.
How to Use Special Sauce
This versatile and easy sauce is a flavorful addition to so many dishes. Some of my favorite ways to use Special Sauce are:
- This Cheese-Stuffed Meatball Salad
- Smothered on top of traditional beef or turkey burgers
- On black bean burgers
- On fish burgers or fried fish sandwiches
- As a dip for fried fish, shrimp, or calamari
- As a dip for french fries, potato wedges, roasted sweet potatoes, or crispy smashed potatoes
- As a spread for sandwiches -- It’s particularly good on Reuben sandwiches in place of the traditional Russian dressing, turkey melts, and tuna melts
- Drizzled on top of roasted root vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, turnips, onions, radishes, and rutabaga
The Best Toppings for a Burger Salad: Variations
My favorite way to serve these Burger Salads to a crowd is by setting up a customizable salad bar, allowing everyone to craft their salads with their preferred toppings. Begin with a foundation of crisp salad greens, such as chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce, along with the indulgent Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs. From there, the possibilities for creative salad toppings are as diverse as your taste preferences:
- Bacon - For fans of bacon cheeseburgers, crispy bacon is an essential topping. I typically pre-chop the bacon and pan-fry it for that perfect crunch. Alternatively, you can bake it on a separate sheet in the oven alongside the meatballs and crumble it afterward.
- Avocado - Avocado is a universal favorite and I just don't know if there's a salad that wouldn't be 2 x tastier without the creamy richness it adds.
- Tomatoes - While I prefer the vibrant sweetness of sliced cherry tomatoes, you can also opt for diced hothouse tomatoes, akin to the classic burger. If available, the robust heirloom tomatoes are also a superb choice.
- Cheese - As if filling the meatballs with cheddar wasn't enough, I also like to top this salad with a second cheesy option. A salty blue cheese is my favorite choice, but feta cheese or mozzarella balls are also a great alternative.
- Olives - Despite being an unconventional burger topping, I find it essential in a salad. Black olives, with their briny richness, harmonize impeccably with this salad combination.
- Crunchies - Adding texture is key, and my preferred method is shredded or sliced carrots for an extra crunch. For a playful twist, introduce sunflower seeds or other delightful crunch-enhancing elements.
- Onions - A burst of oniony goodness can be achieved through thinly sliced red onions, vibrant chopped green onions, or the satisfying crunch of crispy fried onions.
- Pickles - While our preference leans toward sliced hamburger dills, cornichons offer an equally enjoyable alternative. For those who aren't pickle enthusiasts, sliced cucumber offers a refreshing crunch.
- Sauce Options: Enhance your Burger Salad with a finishing sauce. While I recommend the zesty Special Sauce, which perfectly complements the ingredients, you can also try classic options like ranch (This Buttermilk Jalapeno Ranch Dressing is really tasty!), tangy Thousand Island, or rich French dressing.
Keeping it Fresh: Storage and Reheating Tips for Salad with Meatballs
If you are meal-prepping this salad into storage containers, arrange heavier, moisture-filled ingredients (like pickles and tomatoes) at the bottom, and place more delicate elements (like salad greens) on top. I prefer to store the Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce in separate containers from the rest of the salad fixings so that the meatballs can be easily reheated and the sauce can be added just before serving.
Essential Tools for Making this Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs
- A cutting board
- A chef’s knife
- A kitchen scale (or measuring cups for less precise measurements)
- Measuring spoons
- A large mixing bowl and a smaller mixing bowl
- A baker’s half sheet lined with parchment paper
- A silicone spatula
Are you looking to upgrade your cooking tools or replenish your pantry?
Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.
More Delicious Salad Recipes to Explore
Love this tasty Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce recipe? Check out these delicious salad recipes that will satisfy your cravings for fresh and flavorful meals:
- BBQ Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Jalapeno Ranch Dressing
- BBQ Pulled Pork Salad with Peaches and Cornbread Croutons
- Wedge Salad with Horseradish Blue Cheese Dressing
- Caesar Salad with Spicy Roasted Chickpeas, Jammy Eggs, and Avocado
- Tuna Nicoise Salad
Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salads & Dressings, Mains
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This delicious Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce combines the satisfaction of a classic cheeseburger with a fresh and flavorful salad. Featuring crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cherry tomatoes, zingy dill pickle slices, carrots, black olives, red onion, and a generous sprinkle of crispy bacon and salty blue cheese crumbles. A drizzle of zippy Special Sauce provides the crowning touch to this burger-inspired creation.
Ingredients
For the cheese-stuffed meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 30 g (½ cup) panko bread crumbs (can use gluten-free if needed)
- 1 large egg
- 15 g (1 tbsp) Dijon mustard
- 10 g (2 tsp) Worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp dried chopped onion
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp cracked black pepper
- 6 oz cheddar cheese, cut into 12 cubes
For the special sauce:
- 112 g (½ cup) mayonnaise
- 68 g (¼ cup) ketchup
- 30 g (2 tbsp) dill pickle relish
- 15 g (1 tbsp) Dijon mustard
- 6 g (1 tsp) white vinegar (distilled, rice, or white wine)
- ½ tsp dried dill
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp cracked black pepper
For the salad:
- ½ lb bacon
- 1 hearts of romaine, chopped (about 500 g)
- 1 large avocado (about 7-8 oz)
- 125 g (¾ cup) cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 43 g (½ cup) carrots, shredded
- 70 g (½ cup) black olives
- 113 g (½ cup) dill pickle slices
- 2 oz (⅓ cup) blue cheese, crumbled
- 43 g (¼ cup) red onion, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit / 190 degrees Celcius. Line a baker’s half sheet with parchment paper and reserve to the side.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ground beef, panko bread crumbs, egg, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, dried chopped onion, dried parsley, kosher salt, and cracked black pepper. Mix until just blended.
- Divide the mixed meat into 4 equal portions, forming quadrants in the bowl. This will help you portion out 12 meatballs evenly (3 meatballs from each quadrant).
- Place a cube of cheddar cheese in the center and mold the beef mixture around it, forming a meatball. Repeat with all the mixture and cheese.
- Arrange the meatballs on the reserved baking sheet and bake for 17-20 minutes, or until the meatballs are golden and cooked through. There will likely be some cheese beginning to seep out of the meatballs and that is perfectly okay. They should still be very cheesy inside.
- Cook the bacon (while the meatballs are baking): In a skillet over medium-high heat cook bacon until crispy, stirring occasionally to make sure that the bacon gets evenly browned, then reserve to a paper-towel-lined bowl to the side. Drain any residual grease.
- Mix the Special Sauce: In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, dill pickle relish, Dijon mustard, white vinegar, dried dill, paprika, garlic powder, and cracked black pepper. Stir until the sauce is well blended, then reserve to the side.
- Assemble the Burger Salad: You can assemble the salad ingredients in a large salad bowl and serve it family style, or assemble it into individual plates or bowls. To plate individual servings, arrange the chopped romaine, avocado, cherry tomatoes, shredded carrots, black olives, dill pickle slices, and red onion on each plate. Top with a few Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and generously drizzle the Special Sauce over the entire creation.
Notes
Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
8/10/23 This recipe was updated and may no longer fit specified dietary preferences from previous versions of this post. Previous version 8/21/19.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ¼th recipe + 2 tablespoon Special Sauce
- Calories: 857
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1923 mg
- Fat: 63 g
- Saturated Fat: 23 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 51 g
- Cholesterol: 212 mg
Lathiya says
Salad with meatballs? That sounds fabulous. The salad looks spectacular and definitely in my to do list.
Debra says
Oh my, doesn't this just have the best options for a make it yourself bar. Definitely going to do this for book group when I host next month. Everyone will find things they like...and that bowl is beautiful too.
Dana says
Holy cannoli, this is genius. I'm ALL about turning crave-worthy carb-y meals into huge meal-worthy salads. But I've *never* thought to do it with the concept of a burger! And I'm always craving a burger. Ever since I got pregnant, that was one of my constant cravings, and it never went away after having the baby. Lol 😉
I can't wait to devour this!
Mikayla says
Oh my gosh pork rinds??! You're a genius! The flavor alone those impart is reason enough for me to try them. Honestly I'm not a huge salad person, but this is a salad I actually want to eat, it has everything I like, pickles, olives, a great, sauce, flavorful protein, it's brilliant!
Marisa F. Stewart says
I simply love this idea. I do like bread but sometimes the bun either falls off of the burger or it overwhelms it. This way I can get my delicious cheeseburger plus my salad at the same time. It's a win-win!!
Sean@Diversivore says
First of all, the recipe looks amazing. But the pork rind bread crumb sub? WHAT?! That's so cool! I've never heard of that, and I can picture all kinds of handy-dandy ways you could use that in recipes. I'll be the first to admit that I adore carbs (perhaps a bit too much at times), but I can easily see how these amazing meatballs would satisfy a burger craving without the need for bread. Awesome stuff.
Tracy says
Gorgeous AND delicious. And that special sauce? Oh my gosh I'm putting it on everything. Seriously, everything! Love love this salad!
Cathleen @ A Taste of Madness says
Special sauce? I like the sound of that! The presentation of this meal is truly beautiful <3
Sophie says
your Salads are always so refreshing and delicious. I am so gonna make this with some falafels. That dressing !!