This sweet potato burger bowl is one of those meals I’ll never get tired of. It combines all the tasty layers of an In-N-Out burger, but leans healthier with roasted sweet potatoes and seasoned ground beef as the base. A total win if you ask me!
Why You’ll Love My Sweet Potato Burger Bowl
- It’s a “healthier” burger for weeknight dinners. When you swap a bun for roasted sweet potatoes you get an easy nutrient boost.
- It’s simply delicious. I’m excited to say that my homemade In-N-Out sauce tastes just like the real thing. And when it’s combined with seasoned ground beef, roasted sweet potato, and burger toppings (in chopped form), it tastes pretty darn amazing!
- It’s a true Downshiftology meal prep. Similar to my fall meal prep that also includes sweet potatoes, this is the perfect “make once and eat all week” kind of meal. Just prep and store each ingredient in individual storage containers, then quickly assemble when ready.
Out of all the ground beef bowls and sweet potato bowls I’ve tried making, this burger version is by far my favorite. I may be a little biased because I’m a huge In-N-Out fan (it’s the one fast food chain I’ll make an exception for). But it satisfies my itch for a comforting, nostalgic meal that also includes my favorite meal prep ingredient: roasted sweet potatoes.
I’ve made this sweet potato burger more times than I can count lately…and that’s saying something! Sweet potatoes are one of those wholesome, nutrient-dense foods that just make my body feel good, and pairing them with ground beef for lots of protein + fiber makes this a truly nourishing meal.
The toppings include your standard burger toppings, but you can always adjust these to your liking. Want to make it dairy-free? Omit the cheese. Don’t love pickles? Leave them off. Just don’t forget the In-N-Out sauce, because I think it makes this burger bowl taste truly spectacular!
Burger Bowl Ingredients
- Sweet potatoes: Cut them into true ½-inch cubes. I found that this size gives you tender insides with slightly caramelized edges rather than soft, steamed chunks.
- Lean ground beef: I use 90/10 for the right balance of flavor and leanness. 85/15 works too, just drain any excess fat after browning. Ground turkey or chicken is great for a lighter, leaner bowl.
- Spice blend (onion powder, garlic powder, paprika): I use the same trio on both the sweet potatoes and the beef. And that’s intentional so that everything tastes cohesive, rather than like two separate dishes in a bowl. Plus, I love simplicity!
- Sauce: It’s a scaled-down version of my standalone In-N-Out copycat sauce, made with mayo, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, and white vinegar. And I have to say, it’s the BEST burger sauce!
- Burger toppings: While you can adjust these to your personal preference, I use iceberg lettuce as it’s crispier and more burger-authentic than romaine. And I use Roma tomatoes that are deseeded before dicing, so they’re not watery. For cheese, cheddar cheese is classic, but you could also use Monterrey Jack or even crumbled goat cheese. And white onion feels more burger-ish to me than red onion, but you could of course use red onion if you have it.
How To Make The Sweet Potato Burger Bowl
First, season the sweet potato. Place the cubed sweet potato in a mixing bowl and add the olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss until every piece is evenly coated.
Then, roast the sweet potato. Arrange the sweet potato in a single layer on a sheet pan, ensuring there’s space between the cubes (crowding is the enemy of caramelization). Roast for 30 to 35 minutes at 425°F (200°C, stirring once halfway through, until the edges are golden and slightly crisp.
Meanwhile, cook the ground beef as the sweet potatoes roast. Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Break it up with a spatula as it cooks, then add the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until fully browned with no pink remaining, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain any excess fat if needed.
Next, make the sauce (if you didn’t the day before). In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, white vinegar, and salt until smooth.
Lisa’s sauce tip: If you have a few minutes to spare, let the sauce sit in the fridge while the potatoes finish roasting. The flavors meld together, and it tastes noticeably after it’s had some time to sit.
Lastly, it’s time to assemble the bowls! Add a generous portion of roasted sweet potato to each bowl. Top with ground beef, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced pickles, and diced onion. Drizzle the sauce over the top and dig in!
How I Meal Prep This
If I’m planning ahead, I’ll prep each component on a Sunday morning so that assembly is super quick during the week. Just store everything in its own container (each item should last for around 4 to 5 days in the fridge). When you’d like to assemble, just reheat the roasted sweet potato and ground beef in a bowl in the microwave, then add your burger bowl toppings!
Lisa’s freezing tip: When I’m deep in meal prep mode, I’ll often make a double or triple portion of the seasoned ground beef so that I can freeze it and easily reheat it another month in the future. Then, I just need to prep the other ingredients, which are easy peasy!
More Healthy High-Protein Dinners
- Mediterranean Ground Beef Stir Fry: The easiest stir fry!
- Steak Salad: The best summer dinner.
- Mini Meatloaf Muffins: A true meal prep winner.
- Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas: The sheet pan makes it easy.
- Or check out this list of my favorite high-protein dinner recipes or ground beef recipes!
If you make this sweet potato burger bowl recipe, let me know how it turns out in the comments below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’d like to see more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my email community here.
Description
Video
Ingredients
For the sweet potato
- 2 pounds sweet potato (2 to 3 potatoes), cut into ½-inch cubes
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the burger meat
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
For the sauce
- ¼ cup mayonnaise
- 1 ½ tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoons sweet pickle relish, chopped extra fine
- ½ tablespoon white vinegar
- pinch kosher salt
For the toppings
- 3 cups shredded lettuce
- 4 Roma tomatoes, deseeded and diced
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- ½ cup diced white onion
- ½ cup diced Dill pickles
Instructions
- Season the sweet potato. Preheat your oven to 425°F (200°C). Place the cubed sweet potato in a mixing bowl and add the oil, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Toss to coat.
- Roast the sweet potato. Arrange the sweet potato in a dingle layer on a sheet pan, making sure there's space between the cubes. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring the potatoes halfway through.
- Brown the beef. Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Use a spatula to break it up, then add the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook until browned.
- Make the sauce. In a small mixing bowl, add the mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, white vinegar, and salt. Stir together.
- Assemble the burger bowls. Add a portion of the sweet potato to a bowl. Top with ground beef, shredded cheese, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, diced pickles, and diced onion. Drizzle the sauce on top.
Lisa’s Tips
- Meal prep tip: Prep each component on a Sunday morning so that assembly is super quick during the week! Store everything in its own container (each item should last for around 5 days in the fridge). For assembly, reheat the roasted sweet potato and ground beef in a bowl in the microwave, then add your burger bowl toppings.
Nutrition
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How I Tested This Recipe
To be honest, this one didn’t need much testing after I nailed the recipe for my In-N-Out sauce. The roasted sweet potatoes have been on my website for years. And using the same seasoning on the both the sweet potatoes and ground beef seemed like a no brainer (garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika are such a great flavor combo).
The only thing I debated was adding pickles. I’m not much of a pickle girl, but I do feel like they added that perfect briny touch. I also liked them diced small in this burger bowl, more so than having them sliced on top of a burger. Of course, you can always adjust the toppings to your liking. Enjoy!
I grew up in SoCal and In-n-out was part of regular life, so I was intrigued to read this recipe and try it. Living in Minnesota, we miss In-n-out so much. Wow—-this burger bowl is so delicious and truly reminiscent of the one of a kind In-n-out taste. I will make this again and again—-thank you!!
I’m so happy you think so! And that it brought back fond memories of living in SoCal. :) Thanks, Julie!
This recipe is awesome, I did it as a meal prep. I add the cheese when hearing the layer with the sauce, tomatoes, lettuce and pickles. So good and my Big Mac craving was gone. :-)
So glad you enjoyed it, Wendy! And yes, much healthier than a Big Mac, haha. ;)
We enjoyed this dish – a nice change from our usual ground meat. I used ground turkey and also added corn. Don’t skip the sauce!
Yes, the sauce is what really makes it! So glad you enjoyed it, Connie.
I made this for July 4th, created a little bar with all the fixins. Everyone loved this recipe! I used 50% ground chicken and 50% ground beef.
Wonderful! So happy to hear this burger bowl was a favorite.
This was a delicious recipe. Not to time consuming. I ate leftovers for several days and cooked more sweet potatoes to add to it. The sauce is incredible.
So glad you enjoyed it, Sonora!
This is truly the best way to eat a burger! The whole family loved it. Our guest raved about it and asked for the recipe!
Yay, always love to hear that!
This was delicious and very satisfying!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, Janie!
Thank you Lisa 💖 this is such a satisfying bowl!
I’m happy you loved it, Hanne!
I came home from taking care of my MIL in the hospital wondering what to cook for dinner, and here was this recipe with ingredients I had on hand. What a gift! We ate well, and I will definitely keep this in my back pocket for good eating and simple prep. Thank you!
I made it tonight and will 100% make again. We both love it. My husband said “this has it all”. He meant flavor, veggies and protein. Wonderful!
Yay, I’m happy you both think so! I too think “it has it all.” :) Enjoy!
Loved the meal prep of this…perfect for summer meals. Will definitely be making again.
So glad you enjoyed it, Jennifer!
Simply Delicious! I meal prepped for lunches during our hot weather. Will definitely make again.
Thrilled to hear you’re loving this burger bowl, Caryn!
Fast, easy and so good! We’ve spent some time in CA and the sauce is on point👍🏼. Love the versatility of this recipe to use ground turkey and add different toppings like avocado or an egg!
Happy to hear this recipe was a success, Cathy! It really is true California vibes in a bowl.
So good, perfect as a mid week meal, and that sauce is amazing!
I’m glad you loved everything about this burger bowl recipe, Bec!
A simple and delicious recipe! Thank you so much. I followed the recipe exactly, but used russet potatoes instead of sweet potatoes. It came out perfectly.
Yay! Glad this worked out great with regular potatoes instead of sweet. Enjoy, Carrie!
I followed the recipe for the potatoes, beef and the sauce-even though I debated the sauce because I’m not a mayo girl-it all came together even with the diced pickles, outstanding recipe! Next time I may add black beans for more fiber!
Yummy,
Sandy B.
Glad you ended up loving everything about this recipe, Sandra! Black beans would be a wonderful addition, especially for extra fiber. 😉
I made it for dinner tonight! Everybody ate it. Even the 11 year old and the 4 year old! I’ll be making it again!
Happy to hear the whole family loved this burger bowl recipe, Rachel!
What a delicious meal. Simple to make and my wife ate it which is always a plus cause she’s super picky. Used napa cabbage in place of lettuce since I didn’t have any though. Will definitely make this again.
Love the idea of using napa cabbage instead for a different kind of crunch! Enjoy, Mark.
This recipe is easy and delicious. It’s a keeper!
I’m so glad you’re loving this sweet potato burger bowl, Amy!
Hi, you have the most amazing recipes! The burger bowl is one of my favorite. We love sweet potatoes. I usually make sweet potato fries in the oven with our burgers, but it’s too much carbs for me. This recipe combines both in a healthy way. I bought your cookbook 🥰 so many great hacks and batching ideas to make cooking easier.
Aww, thanks so much, Rebecca! I’m so glad you enjoyed this burger bowl. And thank you for buying my cookbook as well! :) x
Hi Rebecca – Glad this burger bowl hit the spot! I’m so excited for you to get your new book as well :)
Amazing recipe! Very tasty and filling. We might try it with ground turkey next time
Happy to hear you loved this sweet potato burger bowl, Lilian!
Delicious! So much flavor.
I’m happy you loved it, Emily!
I made the recipe as stated. So quick and easy to assemble and so delicious. This will definitely be on repeat. Thanks so much!
Yay! I’m so glad you loved how easy and delicious this burger bowl recipe is, Lenora.
So easy and super delicious! I used ground sausage instead of beef (that’s what I had on hand) and it was fantastic! Thank you for another great recipe Lisa!!
Glad this recipe worked out great with ground sausage instead, Holly!
I made this Sweet Potato Burger Bowl last night and it was DELICIOUS ! Definitively is a top favorite quick & easy meal.
I’m so glad you loved this sweet potato burger bowl, Leo!
Your recipes are very good. I’d like to make this one. I would prefer pinning it. Or I would like to print it. But I’m not seeing anywhere to do either one. You are my favorite recipe developer, but I don’t have time to scroll back and forth trying to find a way to actually have the recipe. I don’t have room for a computer in my small kitchen. I don’t want to scroll on my phone…I get messy hands and touching the screen requires endless hand washing. I realize pirating recipes is a huge problem. I have actually called others out when I can see it’s a stole recipe, bio, photo, and all the other fraud going on. But how can I just have the recipe?
Hi Janet – You can always print the recipe using the print button in the recipe card! Also, you can pin the recipe using the share button in the recipe card as well. Hope that helps!
Thank you!! I will make it tonight, and i’ve got it pinned.
OMG! So simple, yet so good. I swapped ground turkey for the beef but otherwise followed exactly. I don’t usually add the sauces but you need very little of this to get the flavor punch. Very easy to make and meal prep for a few days. This will definitely be in rotation. You hit this out of the park. 🔥
Glad this recipe worked out with ground beef instead, Faith!
This was very tasty! The sauce was an awesome addition. I used venison for the meat and it turned out so delicious!
I make downshiftology recipes several times/ week and we are always trying new things but this one will definitely be repeated! Easy, healthy, and yummy! Win win win
Glad this worked out so well with venison meat instead! And happy to hear my recipes have become a staple in your weekly cooking. Enjoy, Mary!
This was delicious. I used ground turkey instead of beef. I made enough for lunch all week
Thrilled to hear you loved these burger bowl so much with ground turkey instead, Kelly!
This was so delicious! It is already is a favourite for us. I loved how easy it was to prepare and making it in stages made it easier for me to accommodate my health challenges.
Yay! Thrilled to hear this burgr bowl has been such a hit so far, Carol.
Made this last night and it was so good. I love how easy it somes together.
One change I made was I pan grilled the onions with a bit of the spices. IMO, it helped the flavors of this already tasty dish.
Yay! Happy to hear you enjoyed this sweet potato burger bowl, Carolyn. Also, love the idea of searing the onions with spices for an extra kick of flavor!
Ive been thinking what I wanted to do wth the sweet potatoes that needed to be used up before they sprouted, so it was very timely! I used 1 eachL white, orange and purple sweet potatoes and loved the complexity it added, and it was a favourite combo to my son. I also added pickles and onions to the toping and to was a hit! My son is adding this to his college repertoire!
p.s. we had leftovers, so it was a great way to make a hash in the morning.
Thrilled to hear you and your son loved this burger bowl recipe so much, Vesta! The breakfast hash sounds amazing as well.
As soon as I saw this recipe, I knew I had to make it. I had all the ingredients on hand, so I made it immediately. I love an In-N-Out burger except for the bun, so this appealed to me because I love sweet potatoes too. Well, this was an instant family favorite and I’ve already made it twice. I substituted yogurt for the mayo in the sauce and it was every bit as good as the mayo version. Definitely a 5 star recipe that I will be making many times for my family.
Glad the Greek yogurt worked well as a substitute for the mayo, and that you and your family enjoyed this recipe so much, Cynthia!
Delicious! My whole family loved this ❤️
Happy to hear the whole family loved this burger bowl recipe, Steph!
I made this, delicious and filling, i add cottage cheese for extra protein.
Love the idea of adding cottage cheese for extra protein. Enjoy, Nawal!
Three of us enjoyed this flavorful recipe last night.
Some chopping involved. Next time, I would do more prep than make the sauce ahead.
Mise en place, it comes together quickly.
Thank you, nice recipe!
Yay! Happy to hear everyone enjoyed this burger bowl do much. And yes, you can definitely prep a lot of items ahead of time, especially the sauce!
This meal was a hit with my family! They asked if I would add it to the weekly rotation! Delicious!!!
I’m so glad this sweet potato burger bowl became an instant favorite for your family, Jen!
This sounds amazing but I only have ground chicken and wondering if that will hamper the flavor too much? Can’t wait to try it!
Hi Deb – A few other community members have tried using ground turkey and said it still tasted delicious, so I’m sure ground chicken could work!
Wow, Lisa! You most definitely nailed the flavors with this recipe! Incredibly good! For the lettuce I used a mix of finely chopped baby kale, chard and spinach, but other than that, I stuck with your ingredients. Every mouthful was an absolute delight! YUM! This is a recipe I’ll be making over and over again for sure.
Thanks for your feedback, Rennie! Happy to hear you loved this sweet potato burger bowl. I also love the idea of adding other chopped greens instead of lettuce.
So good. This will be a regular rotation.
Happy to hear you loved this burger bowl so much, Michelle!
OMG! Love, love , love.… A must try!
Woohoo! Happy to hear this sweet potato burger bowl was such a hit, Victoria.
Hi Lisa
What is sweet pickle relish please. I’m in the uk, thanks x
Hi Anne-Marie – Sweet pickle relish is simply finely chopped pickled cucumbers in a sweet, tangy brine. It’s commonly sold in the condiment aisle in the U.S. If you can’t find it in the UK, you can finely chop sweet gherkins (or another sweet pickled cucumber) and use those instead. It’ll taste almost identical. Hope that helps!
Made this tonight…delicious!!
So happy you loved it, Marianne!
This is delicious!! I made this for family dinner, and everyone loved this from my parents, to my husband, to my littles. My mom and oldest son both asked when I could make this again!! We added a few extra vegetables for toppings…soooo fresh and delicious!! The sauce is awesome!!
Yay, I’m happy to hear your entire family loved it. And more veggies is always a good thing. :) Thanks, Becca!
I’ve been waiting for this recipe ever since you first posted testing it out on IG so I was so very excited to see this posted and had to try right away. Thank you so much!! This was a hit, absolutely delish and will be on rotation in our home for sure.
Yay, I’m happy you loved it, Megan! Thanks for patiently waiting for it. :)
Love at first bite! The whole family loved this last night. Super easy and the “in and out” sauce mixed in perfectly to give it that juicy burger taste! A keeper!
Amazing! Happy to hear everyone enjoyed these sweet potato burger bowl, Niki.
I wanted to eat out, and then I saw this recipe on Instagram. It looked so good, so I decided to make this instead. I had all of the ingredients and it was healthier than grabbing take out. It did not disappoint. My husband and I both loved it, and he told me that we could definitely make this again. Thank you, Lisa, for an amazing recipe! It will be on repeat at our house.
Oh yes, this is so much better than eating out! I’m so glad you both enjoyed it. Thanks, Stephanie!
I cannot believe this just landed in my inbox. I was just looking for a high protein recipe with sweet potato! I will make this, this weekend and come back with my review. Based on the ingredients I expect it will be a winner. Thank you!
The only thing I would do different is grilled onions which is a must for all of my In-n-Out burgers. This looks great and will become part of my meal rotation!
Grilled onions would be amazing on this! Enjoy, Mark!
This looks amazing! Excited to try it but am not a mayo person- could I try Greek yogurt instead? Would love to hear your suggestions or if you tested it with any other ingredients. Thank you!
Hi Amy – I haven’t tested every variation, but I often find Greek yogurt works really well in dressings like this. You could also add a little extra lemon juice or a pinch of salt to balance the flavor if needed. Hope you enjoy it, it’s a fun one!
This Sweet Potato Burger Bowl really caught my eye, but not being a big beef fan, I will make it with ground turkey. Also the sauce is very similar to my Remoulade sauce, so I’ll probably replace the relish with balsamic capers. On the menu for tomorrow night, thank you!!
Does the calorie content contain the sauce? If so, how much per serving? Also, although obvious to add sauce last, adding the sauce was omitted from the recipe. I am really enjoying your recipes.
Hi Janet – yes, the calorie content includes the sauce. And thanks for the note on the last step, I just fixed it! :)
Great looking recipe! For each serving, how much sweet potato and hamburger do you recommend?
Hi Karen – there are 4 servings in this recipe, so just divide everything between 4 bowls. Enjoy!