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This easy Big Mac Salad tastes like a juicy McDonald’s burger, but healthy, low carb and keto. Drizzled with homemade Big Mac sauce, this meaty salad will satisfy your cravings and keep you full hours.
Matteo, what about going to McDonald’s today? I still remember the excitement. Just at hearing McDonald’s, little Matteo would jump all around the house looking forward to his meal. McBacon, McToast, fries and a medium Coke – plus an Happy Meal toy (but not the meal, it was too little for me). That was the menu I used to get, every single time.
Growing up in a rural town of Italy, eating at McDonald’s was a rare event. The closest restaurant was 40 minutes from home and my parents did not want us to have junk food that often. So, we would go to McDonald’s only once every couple of months. It was pure happiness, an event.
Many years have passed, and even though I live in a metropolis, I still rarely eat fast food. This would have never happened as a child, but now I am more conscious about my food choices. Don’t get me wrong, I do eat fast food from time to time. But not every day. That’s where this recipe comes into play. Craving cheeseburger, last night I made Big Mac in a bowl. Served with my homemade Big Mac sauce, it was so good that I had to share the recipe with you.
Why you’ll love Big Mac Bowl
- Made with ground beef, cheddar cheese, pickles and McDonald’s sauce, this salad has all the good flavors of a Big Mac in a bowl.
- This cheeseburger salad comes together in just 20 minutes and is perfect for meal prepping.
- Tasting like Big Mac without bun, this healthy McDonald’s salad is low carb, keto, gluten-free and packed with protein.
- This tasty dish is perfect for satisfying lunches, dinners, family meals and barbecues.
The ingredients in Big Mac salad
This easy Big Mac salad recipe comes together in under 20 minutes, with just a handful of simple ingredients. Check out the list down below to learn all details, tips, and replacements.
- Lean ground beef. I used 95% lean ground beef because it makes the meal healthier and lower in calories, but any fat percentage is fine. You can replace with ground chicken, ground turkey, or vegan ground meat if desired.
- Seasonings. This simple recipe uses sea salt, black pepper and a hint of garlic powder to give flavor to the meat.
- Vegetables. To make this Big Mac bowl recipe you’ll need romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce, tomatoes and yellow onions.
- Pickles. Dill pickles are a must, they will give your keto salad McDonald’s signature taste.
- Cheddar cheese. Shredded cheese is what makes keto Big Mac salad tastes like the original burger, but without bun. Choose regular cheddar cheese or low fat alternatives, if you are looking for a low calorie bowl.
- Homemade Big Mac Sauce. Made with mayonnaise, yellow mustard, white vinegar and sweet pickle relish, my copycat Big Mac Sauce makes this salad as tasty and satisfying as a McDonald’s burger.
How to make Big Mac salad
Cook the meat. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. When it is hot, add the lean ground beef, salt, pepper and garlic powder to the pan. Cook until the beef is browned, then adjust with salt and pepper to taste if it is needed. Set aside and let cool while you are assembling the salad.
Prepare the salad. In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped salad with diced tomatoes, diced onions, sliced pickles, cheddar cheese and cooked beef. Drizzle the homemade Big Mac Sauce over the salad and toss very well.
Serve with secret sauce. Portion your cheeseburger salad into bowls, then serve drizzled with more McDonald’s sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
How to store
Before storing, let your Big Mac keto salad cool completely. This ensures that the vegetables keep their freshness and don’t get soggy. Once it has cooled, place the salad into a large airtight container or into individual food containers and refrigerate. In the fridge, it will last for up to 3 days. Before serving, toss in some more homemade McDonald’s sauce.
Recipe tips
- Use fresh lettuce and fresh tomatoes to ensure the best flavors and a crispy salad texture.
- Replace beef with ground chicken, ground turkey or your favorite meat. Also vegan ground beef works great, in case you follow a vegan diet.
- I recommend adding the sauce only before serving, if you store keto Big Mac salad in the fridge. This maintains freshness of the ingredients and prevents your salad from getting soggy.
- Portion hamburger salad into mason jars and bring it at the office or school for a satisfying healthy lunch that tastes like fast food.
- Serve with more sauce, (keto) croutons, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds to imitate the iconic sesame seed bun from McDonald’s.
Yes, this dish tastes like Big Mac in a bowl, but without the bun. One serving provides approximately 7 grams of carbohydrates only.
Yes, make this Big Mac bowl recipe with vegan ground meat such as beyond meat. Besides this, you’ll need to prepare the sauce with dairy-free vegan mayonnaise.
I recommend romaine lettuce or iceberg lettuce because they have a crunchier texture and do not get soggy that fast. Use fresh lettuce for the best result.
Yes, definitely. The base recipe remains the same, with the only exception that you’ll need to adjust all ingredients quantities proportionally.
What to serve with cheeseburger salad?
- Low carb egg white wraps
- Low calorie fries
- Potato fritters
- Air fryer zucchini fries
- Veggie nuggets
- Deviled egg potato salad
- Chickpea nuggets
Big Mac Salad
Ingredients
Big Mac Salad
- 1 lb (400 g) lean ground beef, replace with ground chicken or ground turkey
- ½ tbsp olive oil
- ¾ to 1 tsp sea salt, or more to taste
- ⅓ tsp ground black pepper, to taste
- ⅓ tsp garlic powder
- 4 cups (300 g) romaine lettuce, chopped, replace with iceberg lettuce
- 3 medium tomatoes, diced
- ⅓ cup dill pickles, finely sliced
- yellow onions, finely diced
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- sesame seeds, optional, to serve
Big Mac Sauce
- homemade Big Mac Sauce, get the recipe here on this link
Instructions
How to Make Big Mac Salad
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- When hot, add the lean ground beef, salt, pepper and garlic powder to the pan. Cook until the beef is browned, then adjust with salt and pepper to taste if needed. Set aside and let cool while assembling the salad.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine chopped salad with diced tomatoes, diced onions, sliced pickles, shredded cheddar and cooked beef.
- Drizzle homemade Big Mac Sauce over the salad and toss very well.
- Portion cheeseburger salad into bowls. Serve drizzled with more Big Mac Sauce and a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
How to Make Big Mac Sauce
- Follow my easy recipe for homemade Big Mac Sauce.
Wow!! Never imagined I could make the big mac salad recipe at home!! It’s actually one of my favorite things to order at McDonald’s !!
Hey dear Ella,
thanks a lot for your comment. I’m glad you like, this hamburger salad is the best. It makes Big Mac healthier and lower in carbs, but still so tasty!
Excellent homemade!
Hey dear Liza,
thank you very much for your comment. I am so glad you liked this recipe!
Have a great day,
Matteo