Dinner

Burger Bowls with Caramelized Onion Aioli Recipe

Bylina Carter October 15, 2025October 15, 2025

Introduction

These Burger Bowls with Caramelized Onion Aioli offer a fresh and flavorful twist on the classic burger experience. Instead of a bun, you get a vibrant bowl loaded with juicy beef patties, crisp romaine lettuce, and a rich, homemade aioli that brings everything together perfectly.

A white bowl filled with a colorful meal is set on a white marbled surface. The bowl has four main parts: on the left side, bright red and yellow cherry tomatoes mixed with green leafy lettuce; on the right side, golden-brown thick potato fries stacked in layers; below the fries, two dark brown grilled beef patties with a coarse texture; in the center, a dollop of creamy, light beige sauce with specks of black pepper on top. Outside the bowl, on the white marbled surface, there are more tomato pieces and fries scattered around, along with a light gray bowl filled with a chunky white sauce. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1/2 large yellow onion, finely diced

1 1/2 tsp brown sugar
1/4 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 lb ground beef (80-85% lean)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For serving: roasted potatoes or French fries (homemade or frozen)
Sliced tomatoes
Romaine lettuce

Instructions

Step 1: Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. When shimmering, add the diced onion and a pinch of salt. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens.
Step 2: Stir in the brown sugar and continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes until the onions turn a deep golden brown, stirring as needed. If the onions start to burn or crisp, add a splash of water to keep them jammy.
Step 3: Transfer the caramelized onions to a bowl. Mix in the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, and garlic powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste and set aside.

Step 4: Divide the ground beef into 5-6 portions and shape each into a patty. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
Step 5: Wipe out the skillet and return it to medium-high heat. Sear the patties for 2-3 minutes per side or until cooked to your preferred doneness.
Step 6: Serve each burger patty over a bed of chopped romaine lettuce with sliced tomatoes, roasted potatoes or fries, and dollops of the caramelized onion aioli.

Tips & Variations

For extra richness, swap plain Greek yogurt with sour cream in the aioli.
Try adding a splash of Worcestershire sauce to the beef before shaping patties for added umami.
Use skip the mayo and yogurt and simply mix caramelized onions into store-bought aioli for a quicker sauce.

Serve with avocado slices or pickled jalapeños for additional texture and flavor.

Storage

Store any leftover caramelized onion aioli separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Cooked burger patties can be refrigerated for 2 days and reheated gently in a pan or microwave. Prepare fresh lettuce and tomatoes when ready to serve for the best texture.