Big Mac Salad

Big mac salad bowls are super simple and very easy to put together. This can be thrown together quickly and it’s surprisingly satisfying. Everything you love about a Big Mac burger, such as the meat, cheese, toppings, and sauce all come together in a salad that feels like a complete meal!

Whether you’re a long-time lover of McDonald’s or if you’re craving something different with your traditional salads, this easy Big Mac salad for beginners is a great place to start. It’s bursting with flavor and plenty of protein with the added beef in this mix. You can also make this a healthy Big Mac salad version by swapping traditional ground beef for lean beef or, in some instances, even ground turkey!

Best of all, this simple Bic Mac salad meal can be put together in a matter of minutes. If you have a busy schedule with your kids and extracurricular activities or if you’re working a long week, this recipe is the perfect pick. You can put this salad together without the hassle of handling an excessive number of ingredients. This makes this salad perfect if you’re on-the-go or if you need a salad that includes plenty of nutrients.

So, if you’ve been searching for the best Big Mac salad recipe, this is one recipe you’ll want to store and save for later. The amount of flavor that this family friendly Big Mac salad provides is certain to impress even the pickiest eaters in your household!

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• An incredibly fast yet satisfying meal for quick lunches, and last-minute dinners.
• Everything you love about a Big Mac, but without the bun! A healthy, low-carb, gluten-free meal.
• A very easy recipe with hardly any cooking.
• Easily customizable so everyone can have their own bowl.

Try my Big Mac French Toast!

Ingredients

In order to replicate the Big Mac as closely as possible, this simple recipe uses the following ingredients.

• Ground beef
• Worcestershire sauce
• Seasoned salt and pepper
• Romaine lettuce
• Red onion
• Cheddar cheese
• Roma tomatoes,
• Dill pickles
• Mayonnaise
• French dressing
• Distilled white vinegar

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Ground beef: This salad can be made using ground chicken, turkey, veal, pork, even venison.

Lettuce: Romaine and iceberg lettuce has the best crunch, however any lettuce you prefer can be used.

Dressing: The dressing in this salad is a homemade version of Mac sauce. It’s mayo and French dressing based.

Dill pickles: Using dill pickles (chopped or in chip form) is best for this salad, especially if you want the salad to taste just like a Big Mac burger. However, you can swap the dill pickles with spicy pickles or even bread and butter pickles! Just, keep in mind that you are changing the flavor of the salad, which may not be the same if you have a Big Mac in mind.

The beauty of a salad bowl is how customizable it is. By providing a variety of toppings, everyone can dress their own for a fun family dinner. Here are some of our favorite toppings:

• Bacon
• Jalapenos
• Feta cheese
• Shallots
• Tomatoes
• Hot peppers
• Sausage
• Ground chicken
• Hard boiled eggs

How to Make It

Step 1. Combine the ingredients called for when making the salad dressing into a small mixing bowl. Ensure the ingredients are well-mixed. Set the bowl aside until it is needed.

Step 2. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until it’s cooked through. Browning the meat is a must, as it adds an entirely new layer of flavor that cannot be beat. Do not skip this step if you want maximum flavor in your Big Mac salad.

Step 3. Add the Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper to taste to the mix to combine. Remove the meat from the heat and allow it to cool slightly.

Step 4. Add a handful of lettuce to each salad bowl and top with the ground beef, sliced onion, cheese, tomatoes, and dill pickles.

Step 5. Drizzle the homemade dressing you’ve put together over the salad to mimic the taste of a Big Mac burger, but in salad form. Enjoy!

Tips for Success

• When frying the beef, allow it to sit in the pan undisturbed until it brown. This creates little crispy bits that are perfect for this salad bowl.
• Let the beef cool slightly before adding it to the salad to prevent the lettuce from wilting.
• Instead of French dressing you can use ketchup in the dressing.
• Make a variety of different burger toppings and let everyone dress their own bowl as a fun group activity.

Try my Traditional Mac and Cheese!

Storage and Reheating

If you know you are making this ahead of time for a healthy meal prepped lunch, store the dressing, salad, and ground beef in separate containers.

When you are ready to eat, heat the ground beef and add to the salad, add the desired amount of dressing and toss to coat. You can reheat the ground beef in a skillet or saucepan over medium-low heat, until the beef is warmed (typically between 5 and 10 minutes).

This quick Big Mac salad recipe will only last in the fridge for 1-2 days before becoming soggy.

Serving Suggestions

You can try serving this Big Mac salad on its own. However, if you’re hunting down additional homemade Big Mac Salad ideas and side dishes, consider making grandma’s buttermilk cornbread for a hearty side! You can also try preparing your very own biscuits that pair well with this Big Mac salad. A couple of biscuit recipes I recommend from here on Sweet Pea’s Kitchen include KFC biscuits and even 7 UP biscuits, both super unique!

FAQs

What is this recipe based on?

This salad bowl is based on the Big Mac burger from McDonald’s. Much like the Big Mac, this salad has shredded lettuce, seasoned ground beef, pickles, onions, and cheese. The dressing for the salad resembles the classic Mac sauce and it brings everything together into a delicious and healthy meal.

Can I use a sugar-free salad dressing?

Using a sugar-free French dressing or ketchup is a great way to make this recipe healthier.

Notes

You can add and remove ingredients from this simple Big Mac salad meal to suit your tastes and preferences. There’s nothing like having “McDonald’s at home”, but in salad form!