Get your burger fix minus the extra carbs
The fella follows a primarily low-carb Keto diet when I don’t accidentally sway him off if it most of the time. He’s also always in the mood for a good burger, and thankfully, so am I (but really, who isn’t?).
While there are plenty of delicious lettuce-wrapped burger options, one of our favorite ways to enjoy low-carb burgers without the saucy, dripping mess is to make them into a loaded Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce. It takes all of the best parts of a properly loaded cheeseburger and skips the excess carbs, the excess mess, and the need for pro-lettuce-wrapping skills.
Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs
What’s better than ground beef? Meatballs. What’s better than meatballs? Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs. Yes, you can simply brown and season ground beef and still make a delicious Burger Salad, but I assure you that making these Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs is super simple and well worth the extra couple on minutes of assembly. Plus, the bonus is that once they’re popped in the oven they’re hands-off, so you can avoid standing over your stovetop browning meat while simultaneously prepping the rest of dinner. Skip double-duty dinner tonight and make things extra cheesy in the process.
Do you need more incentive to keep reading further? Ok, here you go – Bacon, Special Sauce, more cheese.
My favorite low-carb binder
These Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs use a combination of egg + ground pork rinds to bind the meat together so that it stays in a secure ball form.
Though traditionally popular as a gas station snack, I find that pork rinds are most useful as a grain-free, low-carb alternative to Panko bread crumbs. I originally started buying them as a low-carb dipping vessel for Keto dips and spreads, but once I realized their texture worked well as a Panko swap, my low-carb meatballs, meatloaf, and “breadings” have all been getting a serious upgrade. I personally like these Epic Oven Baked Pork Rinds with Pink Himalayan + Sea Salt that I’ve found on Amazon and at Whole Foods.
I prepare pork rinds by blitzing them in my food processor for a few seconds then storing the granules in an airtight container, just like you would traditional bread crumbs.
My Favorite Toppings for a Burger Salad Bar
My favorite way to serve these Burger Salads is in bar form, where everyone can dress their salads with their own preferred toppings. Start with a base of chopped romaine and Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs, then add:
- Bacon – Would it really be a great cheeseburger without bacon? I usually serve this crumbled on the side for a bit of extra salty crunch, but sometimes I mix it right in with the burger meat.
- 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 some.
- Tomatoes – I like sliced cherry tomatoes because my garden is packed full of them right now, but dicing the traditional hothouse tomatoes you’d find on a classic burger is also a fun option.
- Cheese – As if filling the meatballs with cheddar wasn’t enough, I also like to top this salad with a second cheesy option – Bleu cheese is my favorite choice.
- Olives – Though I rarely see a classic burger with olives as a topping option, I just can’t imagine a salad without olives. Black olives are my favorite choice for this salad.
- Crunchies – Shredded or sliced carrots are my favorite neutral topping to add some extra crunch, but you can also add in other fun extras like sunflower seeds or fried onions if you prefer.
- Onions – The fella goes for thinly sliced red onions and I prefer Low-FODMAP-friendly chopped green onions. Have it your way! (…You knew that would crop up eventually.)
- Pickles – We prefer sliced hamburger dills for this salad, but cornichons are also a fun swap if you have them! If you aren’t into pickles, sliced cucumber makes a nice crunchy addition.
Let’s talk about the Special Sauce
I think a good sauce should be able to be thrown together in less than 5 minutes and taste better than anything you can find premade in a bottle. My Special Sauce is comprised of simple ingredients you will likely already have stocked in your fridge and pantry and I feel confident that you’ll wonder why you haven’t been slathering your burgers (and salads) all this time. Grab the recipe for this delicious sauce here.
Does this Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce pack well for leftovers and meal prep?
Yes. When packaging this salad for meal prep, simply store the Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce in their own separate containers from the rest of the salad fixings. I will also generally skip slicing the tomatoes so they don’t weep into the salad greens when storing. When in doubt, stack heavier, moisture-filled things (like pickles) on the bottom and place things that are more likely to wilt, (like salad greens) on the very top.
These are my favorite glass storage containers for salads. To see more of my must-have kitchen tools and other Whip & Wander favorites, check out my shop page here.
A note for special diets
Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce is gluten-free, grain-free, low-carb, refined sugar-free, and friendly for Keto diets.
This salad can also be very friendly for Low-FODMAP diets with a few intentional choices. Swapping the sliced red onions for chopped green onions (green tops only) and ensuring that the cheese choice you select is a natural, aged cheese so that it’s low-lactose. Cheddar and bleu cheese are both generally considered Low-FODMAP options.
Print
Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 portions 1x
- Category: Salads & Dressings, Mains
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce takes all of the best parts of a properly loaded cheeseburger and skips the excess carbs, the excess mess, and the need for pro-lettuce-wrapping skills.
Ingredients
For the meatballs:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 3 tbsp pork rinds (I like Epic Oven Baked Pink Himalayan + Sea Salt), crushed or blended until fine and granular
- 1 large egg
- 2 tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tsp Worcestershire
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
- 4 oz cheddar cheese, cubed into 12 equal portions
For the salad:
- 2 heads romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled (sometimes I will add this directly to the meatball mixture instead)
- 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/2 cup black olives
- 1/2 cup dill pickle slices
- 1/3 cup bleu cheese crumbles
- 1/4 cup red onions (sub for green onions if Low-FODMAP)
- 1 large avocado, sliced
For the special sauce, see this recipe.
Instructions
For the meatballs:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 C). If using a cast iron pan to bake these, go ahead and add the pan to the oven now so it begins to preheat as well.
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine ground beef, granulated pork rinds, egg, Dijon, Worcestershire, parsley, and pepper.
- Roll the seasoned beef into 12 equal meatballs. Press cubes of cheddar into the center of each meatball and cover the cheese, rolling each back into a meatball.
- Remove the cast iron pan from the oven and carefully place each meatball onto the hot pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until they reach in internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Some cheese may seep out from the meatballs.
For the salad:
- Assemble romaine, bacon, tomatoes, carrots, olives, pickles, bleu cheese, onions, and avocado. Add meatballs to the top, then drizzle with Special Sauce.
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.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4th recipe + 2 tbsp Special Sauce
- Calories: 783
- Sugar: 4
- Sodium: 1849
- Fat: 60
- Saturated Fat: 20
- Carbohydrates: 13
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 49
- Cholesterol: 203
I am so loving this Burger Salad with Cheese-Stuffed Meatballs and Special Sauce! It looks really delicious and the colors make me want to eat this right now!
★★★★★
WOW. This is quite a meal! Looks very hearty, and such a fun way to eat burgers 😉
Awesome combination and a filler meal too. I love the Bowl.
★★★★★
This is perfect for getting my burger fix! I like any recipe that uses Worcestershire sauce!
★★★★★
Oh wow this is my kind of salad! Cheese stuffed meatballs and special sauce?! Can’t wait to try this!
★★★★★
I’m always looking for good ideas for weekday lunches so this salad is going on my list!
★★★★★
You’re sure pulling out all the stops with this recipe! Looks and sounds over-the-top delicious. I cannot think of anything better right now than cheese-stuffed meatballs in a gorgeous salad. YUM!
★★★★★
I love a creative salad and this certainly fits the bill! Especially love that it has all those burger things in there like pickles and special sauce!
★★★★★
Using the ground pork rinds is such an innovative way to find a keto substitute for panko crumbs! This whole salad looks divine and like the perfect swap for a traditional burger
Whoa what a decadently delicious sounding salad! Love the pic of your hand holding the meatballs! It’s so precious :).
I love cheese stuffed meatballs! I never would have thought to make them into a salad. This looks absolutely delicious—can’t wait to try!
★★★★★
This salad looks beyond amazing. What a fun create way to incorporate yummy burger flavors and make them healthy!
Mmm… I love the sound of this salad! Everything about it makes me hungry. And I just had lunch. Haha!
★★★★★
Burger salads are seriously my favorite and this looks amazing! Those meatballs are calling my name.
★★★★★
You had me at cheese-stuffed meatballs! This salad is amazing! All of the flavors and textures are superb!
★★★★★
Oh my gosh! This salad sounds heavenly. I totally love the ingredients. Its making me drool and hungry all over again even though I just had my lunch. I am definitely making this tonight.
★★★★★
This is my kind of salad! Colors, textures, and those meatballs were delicious thank you!!
★★★★★
I love this idea of enjoying a Loaded Burger without the extra carbs from the bun, etc. These cheese stuffed meatballs looks and sounds like such a scrumptious idea!
Wow. This is amazing. There’s so much packed into this salad and I loved every bit of it.
★★★★★
This looks INCREDIBLE. Those cheeseburger meatballs have me drooling. And all of those textures? I die. Definitely adding this to the meal plan!
★★★★★
Whoaaa this burger salad is all I need right now. Not only it has all my favorite ingredients, but those meatballs with pork rinds and cheese make this salad extra special.
★★★★★
Wow, I love your version of this idea! My family will go wild for this. Totally love the cheese in meatballs angle!!!
★★★★★
There are so many levels of yum going on here!! Cheese-stuffed meatballs!? It sounds AMAZING!!!
★★★★★
This is a salad even my hubby could get on board with! Cheese-filled meatballs and bacon will make him happy!
★★★★★
Now, this is my kind of salad!! I love the extra touch with the cheese-stuffed meatballs in it too.
★★★★★
The guys in my house follow a low carb lifestyle also and they love a good burger bowl..This one though, wow!! Those cheese stuffed meatballs alone sound fabulous. Your salad is packed with so much goodness you would never miss the bread . Sounds great, pinning this to my low carb board to treat my husband and son to this beauty.
★★★★★
WOW.
This is so colourful and flavour-packed. LOVE the cheese stuffed meatballs!!
Perfect salad with so much going on!!
★★★★★
A total filler meal. SO colorful and delicious. I am totally in love with this. Thanks for sharing.
★★★★★
Oh yum!! I’ve never had anything like this before but it’s amazing! Such a different variety of flavor!
★★★★★
I dream of a salad this glorious! In fact, this is how I often stack my burrito bowls. Full of fresh ingredients just like this yummy burger salad!
★★★★★
Those cheese stuffed meatballs are genius! They look perfect. And you’re right, eating a burger is one hot mess and this will definitely make it so much easier. Yum!
★★★★★
Now this is my kind of salad. Love cooking those meatballs in that cast iron pan. You would NOT miss the bread. I know this would be a hit in my house any night of the week. Perfect for an easy weekend dinner too.
My family is going to go crazy over these cheese stuffed meatballs. I love that I can enjoy a yummy salad while the kids enjoy the cheesy meatballs.
★★★★★
What a delicious and creative recipe! I’ve never had a burger salad until coming across this recipe, which clearly was a mistake. Those meatballs and add-ins are so tasty together. Thanks for sharing!
★★★★★
My daughter loves cheese and meat balls and combining them into one is a superb idea. I am now sorted for the weekend, she would surely love this. Delicious share.
★★★★★
Those egg stuffed meatballs look AMAZING. I love having cheese ooze out when cutting into a meatball. Plus the combination the bleu cheese is just perfect!
★★★★★
This salad is the ultimate low carb meal. That sauce sounds amazing too!
★★★★★
What a deliciously looking recipe. I love using pork and beef in my meatballs too. What a beautiful dish and pictures too. Great combination!
★★★★★
Cheese stuffed meatballs— yummmmmmm!!! We’re trying to cut our carbs so this is perfect. And I love the sound of that dressing!
★★★★★
This is a really fun alternative to a traditional burger! I am not a fan of the lettuce wrapped version myself but I can get behind a burger salad, great idea!
your Salads are always so refreshing and delicious. I am so gonna make this with some falafels. That dressing !!
★★★★★
Special sauce? I like the sound of that! The presentation of this meal is truly beautiful <3
★★★★★
Gorgeous AND delicious. And that special sauce? Oh my gosh I’m putting it on everything. Seriously, everything! Love love this salad!
★★★★★
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.
★★★★★
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!!
★★★★★
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!
★★★★★
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!
★★★★★
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.
★★★★★
Salad with meatballs? That sounds fabulous. The salad looks spectacular and definitely in my to do list.
★★★★★