
I’m really kicking myself for how this photo turned out during my video shoot…
I grated the cheese instead of slicing it so it over-melted. Which means you can’t really see the cheesy, oozy goodness. But trust me. It’s there.
These burger bowls are a big big favourite in our house on a Friday night. I love them because they’re so quick and it all just cooks in one pan – so minimal cleanup.
My Irishman loves the combo of the meaty beef and the buttery roast zucchini.
The boys love them because I serve theirs in soft butter brioche burger buns. #everyonehappy
And I must tell you – the roast zucchini with the cheese on it is so so good. Definitely my favourite part!

Fast Friday Cheeseburger Bowls
Ingredients
- 500 g (1lb) minced (ground) beef
- 2 large zucchini (500g / 1lb), sliced
- 250 g (1/2lb) cherry tomatoes, halved
- 100 g (3.5oz) sliced cheddar
- salad leaves or parsley to serve
- mayonnaise to serve
Instructions
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Turn your oven to 250C (480F). Place zucchini and tomatoes in a large roasting tray. Drizzle with a little oil and a pinch of salt. Roast for 5 minutes.
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Break meat into bite sized chunks and scatter over the zucchini and tomatoes. Roast for another 10 minutes.
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Stir. Scatter over cheese and cook for another 5 minutes or until the meat is cooked through and the cheese has melted.
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Divide between two bowls. Top with salad / parsley and a big dollop of mayo.
Recipe Video
WINE MATCH: A gutsy red like Shiraz, Cabernet or Zinfandel.
Variations & Substitutions
vegetarian – replace meat with extra veggies like eggplant, mushrooms and peppers. Or use chickpeas. And consider adding more cheese.
dairy-free – just skip the cheese and serve extra mayo. Or add some chopped bacon to brown instead of the cheese. Or for a lux version serve burger bowls with finely sliced prosciutto or salami.
more substantial (carb lovers) – burger buns! Or add torn sourdough chunks to roast with the meat.
more substantial (low carb) – extra mayo, roast nuts or almond burger buns.
more veg – see the vegetarian options.
different accompaniments – I’ve kept it simple just serving with mayo, but feel free to add any of your usual burger accompaniments. Pickles are lovely, or mustard and you could always go for some ketchup if you don’t mind the sugar. Oh and for me sauerkraut is a must!
different meat – any ground meat will work. Or try sausages or chorizo for something different.
old school burgers – replace parsley / salad with finely sliced iceberg or cos (romaine) lettuce.
different cheese – I’m keen to try it with crumbled blue cheese added at the end. OR feta would be good too. Any melting cheese will work in place of the cheddar.
different greenery – I like the parsley leaves but you could serve it on a bed of any cooked greens. And make sure you see the old school burgers’ option above. Shredded kale is a fave.
Waste Avoidance Strategy
minced (ground) beef – freeze it.
zucchini – will keep for 2 weeks or longer in a plastic bag in the fridge. To keep it even longer, cook sliced zucchini in a little butter until just soft then store in an airtight container in the fridge.
cherry tomatoes – either halve and cook in the oven for about 30 minutes (180C / 350F) OR just cook in a pan with a little olive oil. In either case store in an airtight container in the fridge for a few weeks. Or freeze the cooked tomato for longer periods.
cheese – most hard and melting cheeses will keep for weeks wrapped in waxed paper or baking paper and stored in an airtight container (or sealed ziplock bag) in the fridge. If you need to store for longer cheese can be frozen.
salad leaves / parsley – are highly perishable. My first path would be to use them for another meal (salad for breakfast!) but if that isn’t possible you can pop them in the freezer. They will wilt down but can then be used anywhere you’d use wilted greens. At least this way they won’t go slimy.
mayonnaise – unopened in pantry or once opened will keep for months in the fridge.
Prepare Ahead
Yes! Just cook as per the recipe but keep the parsley and mayo separately. Leftovers will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks or can be frozen. To serve, warm in the oven (200C / 400F) for 10-15 minutes or pan fry everything until hot.

More Bowls of Goodness…
- Abundance Bowls
- Taco Tuesday Bowls
- Salmon, Pea & Feta Bowls
- Sunny Parisian Carrot Bowls
- Smoked Trout & Broccoli Bowls
- Smoky Eggplant & Sausage Bowls
- Broccoli & Bacon Bowls
- Roast Chicken, Walnut & Feta Bowls
- Smoky Roast Mushroom Bowls
And whatever you do, have fun in the kitchen!
With love,
Jules x
I made this last night, and loved it. A few variations: cumin, oregano and basil. A little chilli. Chickpeas instead of beef. Feta AND cheddar. I didn’t have tomatoes, but had a tin of baby tomatoes, which worked well with the added juice. No mayonnaise needed. A hit in our household. Thank you for this delicious recipe. A great one to see us through autumn and winter.
Fab Amanda!
And love your work with the variations :)
This was dinner tonight, as is (i.e. no adjustments). Really nice! I was amazed how quickly the zucchini roasted. I did serve the cooked over lettuce, which wilted it pleasantly. Will definitely make again on a time-pressed night. (Which would be almost anytime.)
Awesome Julie!
Made this tonight. My husband loved it and so did I! Thank you for a lovely, simple, yummy recipe.
Excellent Xenabobb!
Jules, is it all right if I post this recipe to my FB page, as long as I link it to your blog and give you the credit? I’d like more people to try it but do not want to trespass onto your territory.
Absolutely! I wish more people would do that :)
Just made this tonight and it was delicious! Fast and yummy, it’ll be on repeat in our place! Thanks Jules
Wonderful Tania!
Thanks for reporting back :)
Hi Jules! Just wanted to let you know how superb your work is. I’ve been following you for a couple of years now, and I love your style, the various helpful tips, waste reduction strategies and of course; your recipes! Thank you for the amazing work that you do, and I wish you all the happiness and success.
Hi HAshma!
Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know. You’ve made my day :)
I loved this. Not only was it delicious, it was quick and easy.
I started this in the frypan with the veg, then popped it in the oven for the meat. I added a little mixed herbs over the top and some mustard and pickle juice into the Mayo.