Description
This Healthy Cheeseburger Salad offers all the classic flavors of a cheeseburger in a light, fresh salad form. Featuring lean ground beef, crunchy iceberg lettuce, colorful veggies, and shredded Colby jack cheese, topped with tangy Thousand Island dressing, it’s an easy, satisfying, and nutritious dish perfect for a quick lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds very lean ground beef, browned and drained
- 6 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded Colby jack cheese
- 1 cup diced Roma tomatoes
- 1 cup sliced red onion
- 1/2 cup diced dill pickles
- Thousand Island dressing, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the lettuce: Add the chopped iceberg lettuce to an extra-large serving bowl, creating a fresh and crunchy base for the salad.
- Cook the beef: Brown the very lean ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked, then drain excess fat to keep the salad healthy and light.
- Assemble the salad: Evenly sprinkle the cooked ground beef over the lettuce in the serving bowl to add savory flavor and protein.
- Add the toppings: Sprinkle the shredded Colby jack cheese, diced Roma tomatoes, sliced red onion, and diced dill pickles over the beef, distributing the classic cheeseburger ingredients throughout the salad.
- Toss and serve: Gently toss all ingredients together to combine flavors, then drizzle your desired amount of Thousand Island dressing over the top. Serve immediately for optimal freshness and taste.
Notes
- For a lower fat option, use extra-lean ground beef or substitute with ground turkey.
- Customize your salad with other toppings like avocado, jalapeños, or bacon bits for extra flavor.
- To keep the salad crisp, add the dressing just before serving.
- If preferred, substitute Thousand Island dressing with a light vinaigrette or your favorite dressing.
- This recipe is great for meal prep; store components separately and assemble when ready to eat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
