This bowl makes my Californian heart burst with joy. Growing up in California, I was raised to be an In-n-out girl. After moving to Texas - the land of Whataburger - I have grown to love and appreciate the in-n-out burger even more! However, wanting a number 2, protein style, with grilled onions and no tomatoes doesn’t mean that I need to be in the drive thru every week waiting for one. Lightened up to a salad, this burger bowl is veggie packed, features lean ground beef, and topped with a delicious copycat in n out sauce that will beat the drive thru line any day!

What’s The Beef?

Sometimes I feel that beef gets a bad reputation. Why, you may ask? It’s because of the saturated fat content. Saturated fat is a concern because consuming too much saturated fat has been linked with increased risk for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in America. Prioritizing a calorie controlled, nutrient dense diet that is low in saturated fat and sodium coupled with maintaining an active lifestyle are two ways to combat cardiovascular disease and promote heart health. With its known impact on heart health, the recent 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) recommend limiting your saturated fat intake to less than 10% of your daily calories starting at age two. Red meat- which includes beef, veal, lamb, pork, and game meats- can be significant source of saturated fat in the American diet. However, when looking beyond the saturated fat content, red meat is also an excellent source of nutrition and contains nutrients such as high quality protein, heme iron, zinc, Vitamin B12, and many others that promote health within our body! With this nutrient density in mind, some red meat can fit into a healthy diet but it is important to consume red meat in moderation and choose lean red meat whenever possible to limit the amount of saturated fat and total calories you are consuming. Within a calorie controlled diet, a moderate amount of lean red meat would be roughly 3 servings per week. Along with consuming lean red meat in moderation, focus on increasing your servings of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to maintain a balanced diet that not only supports heart health but total body health as well.

Let’s Talk Toppings

One thing I love about in-n-out is the simplicity of their burger. I don’t need onion rings or candied jalapeños to be convinced that it’s a good burger. Their ingredients are fresh and their burger is simple yet it never seems to disappoint. So like I mentioned earlier, my go to order is the cheeseburger protein style with grilled onions and no tomato. I personally have never been a raw tomato girl… they truly ruin every dish and burger that they are in. Therefore, they were included in my husbands bowl but not my own. That being said, you have full autonomy over your toppings. Get creative, this bowl is your oyster!

Loaded Burger Bowl Recipe

What’s The Beef?

Let’s Talk Toppings