Quick + Easy Recipes for Busy Summer Nights
Helloooo June!
I just love these nights when the sun waits longer and longer to disappear! I just lounge around in those extra daylight hours with a cold drink and not a care in the world.
Why is summer SO NOT THIS? More like run, run, run, until we CRASH into bed!
It’s fun to cook up something special like grilled pepper nachos. But I’m not eating cute food all week! I need quick and easy for busy weeknights!
Sometimes I can’t even be bothered to put my burger on a bun!
Ok, nobody is THAT busy. But plenty of people can do without white-bread-quick-carbs. Hear me out. What about a burger…. Salad?
This is so delicious. Seriously, not kidding, I like it more than an actual burger. There is just more flavor throughout! And the texture variety is so much better.
Do. Not. Skimp. On the seasonings here. They are totally necessary to make this dressing taste JUST LIKE a fast food burger.
Big Mac Burger Bowls
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
For the burger meat
1 pound lean ground beef (I used 96% lean)
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
Cracked black pepper
For the sauce
3 tablespoon light mayo
2 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon mustard
1 1/2 tablespoon relish or chopped dill pickles
For the bowls
1 package lettuce of choice
1 pint cherry tomatoes
1 cup sliced dill pickles
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon each: paprika and onion powder
pinch salt and pepper
Directions
Heat a large skillet over medium. Add the lean ground beef and cook until brown (6-7 minutes). Be sure to break it up continuously. Once cooked, add the seasonings and Worcestershire sauce. You can prepare this in advance and store in the fridge or add directly to the bowls.
Mix all sauce ingredients together in a bowl. Prepare ahead of time and store in the fridge or add directly to the bowls.
To build the bowls, start with a good serving of lettuce. Add your toppings of choice, drizzle with some special sauce, and mix! The beef can be served warm or cool. This is a great meal to set up in an assembly line so everyone can choose what toppings they want.
This is a total crowd pleaser if you need something healthy to take to a picnic, too! Everyone will comment on how PERFECT the sauce is. And no one will complain about it being “too healthy!”
I have a few more recipes to share in my Quick + Easy Recipes for Busy Summer Nights meal guide! Grab YOUR copy below!