Your favorite burger… without the bun! This Big Mac Salad has all the flavors you know and love – including copycat Big Mac Sauce – in a delicious, hearty bowl that’s even better than the real deal!
Big Macs are classics. We know them, we love them, and chances are… we’ve all had them. And if you haven’t? Well, you’re definitely missing out. The ONLY downside to them, of course, is that they’re not exactly the healthiest option. Which is why this Big Mac Salad is exactly what we all need!!
It has all the flavors of McDonald’s Big Macs… minus the bun… in a hearty cheeseburger salad that’s both healthy and delicious.
These Big Mac Bowls are the perfect option for anyone on a keto, low carb, or gluten free diet. And best of all, they’re SO incredibly easy to make. Just brown the meat, layer the ingredients, and to top it with ALL the special sauce… and you have yourself a completely satisfying meal you’ll want to make on repeat.
What you need for this big mac salad recipe
Lettuce – I used one head of iceberg lettuce, cut into quarters and roughly chopped. Feel free to substitute Romaine lettuce if you prefer, or bagged salad mix to save time!
Ground beef – 1 pound of ground beef is the perfect amount for 4 people (think quarter pounder)! I used 73% lean ground beef, but you can substitute 80% or higher if you prefer.
Cheese – While traditional Big Macs are topped with American Cheese, I used shredded cheddar in this salad. I always prefer buying a block of cheese and shredding it myself, but pre-shredded is great as a time saver.
Pickles – Sliced pickles add tons of delicious flavor to this recipe. I used fast food style hamburger dill pickles.
Onion – 1 Tablespoon of finely chopped onion is just enough for this Big Mac Salad. I used red onions, but white, yellow, or sliced green onions would work as well.
Seasonings – I kept the seasonings mild to let all the other Big Mac flavors come through. Just a little salt, pepper, and fresh minced garlic is all you need!
Big Mac Sauce – Finally, no salad (or Big Mac) is complete without some type of dressing! A simple homemade Big Mac Sauce is easy to make and the perfect finishing touch.
how to make a big mac salad
Chop the lettuce – The first step is to thoroughly wash and dry your lettuce, then chop it to your desired size. I usually leave the pieces a little larger, but finely chopped or even shredded works as well.
Cook the meat – The next step is to season and brown the ground beef in a large skillet, crumbling it as you go, until the meat is fully cooked through.
Layer the ingredients – Layer the lettuce, ground beef, cheese, pickles, and onions in a large bowl.
Garnish – Finally, garnish your salad with Big Mac Sauce, sesame seeds, and black pepper & enjoy!
how to make big mac sauce
Combine the following ingredients in a small bowl and mix well:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons French dressing
- 4 teaspoons dill pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Recipe Variations
- Use any type of lettuce. Big Macs are traditionally topped with iceberg lettuce, but for this Big Mac Bowl recipe you could substitute Romaine, Bibb, Butter, spinach, or mixed greens.
- Switch up the meat. Use ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork in place of ground beef.
- Make it vegetarian. Make it vegetarian by substituting your favorite veggie crumbles for the ground beef.
- Add tomatoes. While Big Macs aren’t traditionally topped with tomatoes, they would make a delicious addition to the other ingredients in this recipe.
- Switch up the cheese. I used shredded cheddar cheese, but American, Colby Jack, Cheddar Jack, Mozzarella, or even Swiss would be delicious in this recipe.
- Switch up the sauce. Drizzle with ketchup and mustard instead of Big Mac Sauce.
Time Saving Tips
Use a bag of salad mix instead of chopping a head of lettuce
Substitute store bought Thousand Island dressing
Substitute jarred minced garlic or garlic powder or the fresh garlic in the recipe
Use pre-shredded cheese
Cook the meat in advance, then simply reheat for a quick & easy meal!
What to pair with Big Mac Salad Bowls
- Air Fryer Potato Wedges
- Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
- Air Fryer Onion Rings
- Air Fryer Pickles
- Air Fryer Cheese Curds
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Sparkling Mint Lemonade
More Bowls You’ll Love!
So many classic recipes can be made into a bowl! These are some more of our favorites:
Big Mac in a Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon cooking oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 head iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup dill sandwich pickles
- 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
- 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds
- Big Mac Sauce
Instructions
- Wash & dry the lettuce, then chop it to desired size.
- Heat the oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the minced garlic; saute 1-2 minutes. Add the ground beef, salt, and pepper. Brown the meat, crumbling it as you go, until fully cooked through. Remove from pan using a slotted spoon to drain the grease.
- Layer the lettuce, ground beef, cheese, pickles, and onions in a large salad bowl.
- Garnish with Big Mac Sauce, sesame seeds, and black pepper.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Time Saving Tips
- Use a bag of salad mix instead of chopping a head of lettuce
- Substitute store bought Thousand Island dressing
- Substitute jarred minced garlic or garlic powder or the fresh garlic in the recipe
- Use pre-shredded cheese
- Cook the meat in advance, then simply reheat for a quick & easy meal!
Big Mac Sauce
- ½ cup mayo
- 2 Tablespoons French dressing
- 4 teaspoons dill pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
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