NYC Ground Beef Cheeseburger Bowl (20-Minute Dinner)

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Prep: 5 mins | Cook: 15 mins | Total: 20 mins
Serves: 4 | Best for: busy weeknights + meal prep

If you love the classic New York City cheeseburger vibe—juicy beef, melty cheese, tangy pickles, and that creamy “special sauce”—this bowl is about to become your new favorite dinner. It’s everything you’d want in a burger, but faster, less messy, and perfect for weeknights.

Instead of building burgers one by one, we cook the beef in a skillet, whisk up a quick burger sauce, and serve it all over fluffy rice (or fries-style potatoes if you want the full diner feel). The toppings are the fun part: crunchy lettuce, diced tomatoes, red onion, extra pickles—build it like your dream burger.

Want more fast dinners like this? Start here: American Ground Beef Recipes: 12 Easy City-Inspired Dinners.

Why You’ll Love This Bowl

Tastes like a cheeseburger, but it’s faster and easier
One pan for the beef + a quick sauce bowl
20-minute dinner with simple ingredients
Meal-prep friendly (everything stores well)
Easy to customize: spicy, low-carb, extra cheesy, etc.

Quick Tips Before You Start

Use 80/20 ground beef for the best burger flavor (juicy, not dry).
Don’t over-stir while browning—let the beef caramelize for that “grilled” taste.
Pickles matter: dill pickles give the best real cheeseburger vibe.
If you’re making rice: use leftover rice when possible—it reheats perfectly and stays fluffy.

ingredients for cheeseburger bowl with beef, cheddar, and pickles — Everything you need for a cheeseburger bowl—ground beef, cheddar, pickles, fresh toppings, and that special sauce.

For the bowl

1 lb 450–500 g ground beef (80/20 recommended)
1 small onion diced (or 1/2 red onion)
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp paprika optional
½ tsp mustard powder optional
2 cups cooked rice white or brown

Burger-style toppings (optional)

shredded lettuce
diced tomatoes
sliced pickles or pickle relish
thin-sliced red onion
shredded cheddar or American cheese
sesame seeds optional

The “NYC Diner” Burger Sauce

⅓ cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp yellow mustard
1 tbsp pickle relish or finely chopped pickles
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp smoked paprika optional
pinch salt
pinch black pepper

Make the burger sauce:

In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, ketchup, mustard, relish, garlic powder, smoked paprika (if using), and a pinch of salt and pepper. Taste and adjust, then set aside.

Brown the beef:

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Add diced onion and cook 2–3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic for 20–30 seconds until fragrant.

Season:

Add salt, black pepper, paprika, and mustard powder (if using). If there’s excess grease, drain most of it.
Melt the cheese: Reduce heat to low, sprinkle cheese over the beef, and cover for 30–60 seconds until melted. (Or stir it in if you don’t have a lid.)

Build the bowls:

Divide rice into bowls, top with cheesy beef, then add lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and a generous drizzle of burger sauce. Finish with sesame seeds if desired.

For best flavor, use 80/20 ground beef. Keep fresh toppings and sauce separate if meal prepping, then add after reheating.
No lid for melting cheese? Just stir it into the hot beef for a creamy cheesy texture.