Satisfy your cravings for a Big Mac with this healthy twist - a Big Mac Salad with homemade dressing. Find out how to make this delicious, guilt-free meal here.
The appeal of Big Mac Salad lies in its ability to satisfy cravings for the flavors of the beloved fast-food staple while offering a lighter, low-carb, gluten-free alternative. It is very delicious, especially for those who enjoy the combination of ingredients found in a Big Mac. Plus, since it's a salad, it can be customized to suit personal preferences and dietary restrictions.
Overall, the quality of a Big Mac Salad depends on the ingredients used and how well it captures the essence of the original Big Mac flavor profile. With fresh, high-quality ingredients and a well-balanced dressing, it can be a tasty and satisfying meal option. Let's take a look what is needed to make a bowl of this goodness at home.
Video tutorial
Ingredients
- For the beef.Lean ground beef, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- For the dressing. Mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard (or Dijon), and relish.
- For the Salad.Romaine lettuce (or iceberg lettuce), dill pickles, tomatoes (grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes are best), cheddar cheese, and onion.
How to make Big Mac Salad
1. Cook the beef. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat then add the ground beef. Cook the beef for about 5-7 minutes breaking it into pieces as it cooks. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute or two, remove from heat, and set aside.
2. Make the dressing. Stir all of the ingredients (mayo, ketchup, mustard, and relish) in a small mixing bowl.
3. Assemble the salad. Arrange the lettuce on a serving platter and place the beef, tomatoes, pickles, onion, and cheese on top. Drizzle with the dressing and enjoy. Alternatively, you can toss the salad with the dressing, mix well, and then transfer onto a serving platter.
Helpful tips and tricks
To make the best Big Mac Salad, you'll want to pay attention to both the ingredients and the dressing. Here are some tips to help you achieve that:
- Quality Ingredients: Start with fresh, crisp lettuce as the base. Use high-quality ground beef or grilled chicken for protein. Choose ripe tomatoes, tangy pickles, sharp cheddar cheese, and finely diced onions for toppings.
- Big Mac Sauce: The special sauce (our salad dressing) is a key component of the Big Mac flavor. To recreate it, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, and mustard. You can experiment by adding a teaspoon of white vinegar, a pinch of garlic powder or onion powder, and paprika. Adjust the ingredients to suit your taste preferences. Some people suggest that Thousand Island dressing pairs well with this Big Mac Salad recipe.
- Customization: Feel free to customize the salad to suit your preferences. You can add or omit ingredients based on personal taste or dietary restrictions. For a lighter option, you can use lean ground turkey or skip the meat altogether for a vegetarian version.
Recipe variations
- Beef or chicken. Use ground chicken instead of beef, if you prefer. For vegetarians, tofu can be used instead.
- Seasoning: Season the ground beef (or chicken) with salt, pepper, and your favorite seasonings to enhance the flavor to your liking
- Garnish. Toasted sesame seeds make a great garnish for this salad.
How to store this salad
This salad tastes best when served fresh. That said, you can store the leftovers in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap for about a day in the fridge. To keep it longer, store the undressed vegetables in one container while storing the dressing in another. Only combine them when you’re ready to serve them. This way, you can keep them fresh for up to 3 days.
What to serve with Big Mac Salad
This salad makes a filling meal on its own, however, here are a few more recipes that would go well with it.
- Pasta. Enjoy this salad alongside some Angel Hair Pasta, Paccheri Pasta in Creamy Tomato Sauce, or Cheesy Cavatappi Pasta.
- Bread. Serve a toasted sesame seed bun on the side. Pair it with an Easy Hummus Wraps, Air Fryer Garlic Bread, or a Potato Flatbread.
- Soup. Soup and salad make a great combo, so serve this one with a bowl of Quick Orzo Soup, Lemon Lentil Soup, Moroccan Chickpea Soup, or Red Lentil Soup.
- Proteins. Try this Iceberg Lettuce Salad with some Crispy Fried Tofu, Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breast, Baked Black Bean Taquitos, or Baked Cod.
Try this recipe, and create a delicious Big Mac Salad that captures the essence of the classic burger while offering a lighter, keto-friendly salad-based alternative. Enjoy your homemade creation!
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or drop an email. The printable recipe and nutrition information are in the recipe card below.
More tasty salad recipes:
Big Mac Salad
VIDEO TUTORIAL
Ingredients
For the beef
- ½ lb. ground beef
- ⅓ tsp. sea salt or to taste
- ⅓ tsp. garlic powder or to taste
- ¼ tsp. black pepper or to taste
For the dressing
- ¼ cup mayo
- 2 tbsp. ketchup
- 1 tbsp. dill relish
- ½ tbsp. Dijon mustard or your favorite kind
For the salad
- 4 cups washed and chopped Romaine lettuce
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- ½ cup sliced pickles
- ½ cup shredded or cubed cheddar or your favorite cheese
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
Instructions
- Cook the beef. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat then add the ground beef. Cook the beef for about 5-7 minutes breaking it into pieces as it cooks. Season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cook for another minute or two, remove from heat, and set aside.½ lb. ground beef, ⅓ tsp. sea salt, ⅓ tsp. garlic powder, ¼ tsp. black pepper
- Make the dressing. Stir all of the ingredients (mayo, ketchup, mustard, and relish) in a small mixing bowl.¼ cup mayo, 2 tbsp. ketchup, 1 tbsp. dill relish, ½ tbsp. Dijon mustard
- Assemble the salad. Arrange the lettuce on a serving platter and place the beef, tomatoes, pickles, onion, and cheese on top. Drizzle with the dressing and enjoy. Alternatively, you can toss the salad with the dressing, mix well, and then transfer onto a serving platter.4 cups washed and chopped Romaine lettuce, ½ cup chopped tomatoes, ½ cup sliced pickles, ½ cup shredded or cubed cheddar, ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
Notes
Recipe variations
- Beef or chicken. Use ground chicken instead of beef, if you prefer. For vegetarians, tofu can be used instead.
- Seasoning: Season the ground beef (or chicken) with salt, pepper, and your favorite seasonings to enhance the flavor to your liking
- Garnish. Toasted sesame seeds make a great garnish for this salad.
Ani says
I don't like mcdonalds but I LOVED this salad. Found it by accident on Pinterest and I am glad I did. I shared a photo on the pin. Thanks!
Tania Sheff says
Thank you, Ani! Headed over to Pinterest to see your yummy creation!
Rachel R. says
Wonderful salad! One of my favorites. Sesame sprinkles definitely add a nice touch.
Tania Sheff says
Thank you, Rachel!