Big Mac Salad Recipe
This easy Big Mac salad tastes exactly like a traditional Big Mac from you know where. With just a handful of simple ingredients, this salad can be whipped up in less than 20 minutes, and makes the perfect lunch or supper for any easy, busy weekday!
Ever since I was little, I’ve loved Big Macs; after all, who doesn’t? Juicy beef patties, topped with lettuce, onion, cheese, and special sauce, on a sesame seed bun, is a combination that, in my opinion, creates one of the best burgers ever!
And while I still love to treat myself to a Big Mac burger every now and then. I also like most people understand that Big Macs aren’t exactly the healthiest meal in the world.
I love a good burger, don’t me wrong, homemade, takeout, fast food, it’s hard to go wrong with a burger. But some days I just want something not only a little healthier but also lighter and less time-consuming to make.
On these days, I find myself reaching for salads more than anything. And over the years, I’ve made and tried my fair share of salad recipes.
Some have been alright, while others have been downright delicious! And I’m happy to say that this Big Mac or cheeseburger salad recipe happens to be one of the latter.
Homemade dressing, ground beef, shredded cheese, and more combine to create the perfect Big Mac salad. A salad that is not only flavorful and just so happens to taste exactly like a Big Mac, only in salad form, but is also super easy to make and perfect for meal prep!
I love to top this recipe with my homemade Thousand Island dressing. But feel free to find a quick and easy copycat Big Mac sauce recipe if you would like to use that instead!
How to make Big Mac salad
Ingredients
- lean ground beef, you can also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
- onion powder
- dried minced onion
- sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper
- crisp lettuce, I love to use crisp iceberg lettuce for this recipe since that is what you get on a Big Mac. But you can easily use any kind of lettuce you like! Crisp romaine lettuce or mixed salad greens are especially good!
- white onion, finely minced, you can also use yellow or red onion
- cheddar cheese, shredded. You can also use cut-up American cheese if you like.
- thinly sliced dill pickles
- sesame seeds
- Big Mac dressing (Thousand Island dressing), homemade or store-bought
Directions
This recipe makes enough for 2 single-serve salads or 1 large salad
Place the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat and season with the garlic powder, dry minced onions, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring often until the beef is browned and cooked through, drain if needed, and set aside until ready to use.
Chop/shred the head of lettuce, and divide it into two small bowls, or place it all in one large bowl.
Sprinkle on the shredded cheese, followed by the cooked ground beef, minced onion, and dill pickles, doing your best to keep an equal amount in each bowl(if you are using a large salad bowl, simply sprinkle everything on top)
Drizzle a generous amount of dressing over the salad, and finally sprinkle the sesame seeds on top.
Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
Any leftover salad can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or placed in an airtight container and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days! This salad can also be prepared in a mason jar, for a quick and easy grab-and-go lunch, perfect for work or school!
Feel free to add any of your other favorite salad toppings to this recipe; grape tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, olive oil, peppers, and olives would all be yummy!
You can also use any of your favorite cheeses in place of the shredded cheddar cheese; pepper jack, Colby, and even mozzarella would all work great!
You can find my homemade Thousand Island Dressing recipe HERE!
Be sure to check out these great salad recipes, too!
Easy Seven Layer Salad with Homemade Dressing
Strawberry Field Salad | with feta and almonds
Big Mac Salad
Ingredients
- 1 lb. lean ground beef you can also use ground turkey or ground chicken.
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp minced onion
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 head iceberg lettuce shredded. I love to use crisp iceberg lettuce for this recipe since that is what you get on a Big Mac. But you can easily use any kind of lettuce you like! Romaine lettuce or mixed salad greens are especially good!
- 1/2 cup finely diced white onion You can also use a yellow or red onion, but I like white onions best for this recipe.
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese You can also use cut-up American cheese if you like.
- Thousand Island dressing to taste. You can use homemade or store-bought dressing. OR use your favorite Big Mac sauce copycat instead!
- sesame seeds optional, for topping
Instructions
This recipe makes enough for 2 single-serve salads or 1 large salad.
- Place the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat and season with the garlic powder, dry minced onions, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring often until the beef is browned and cooked through, drain if needed, and set aside until ready to use.
- Chop/shred the head of lettuce, and divide it into two small bowls, or place it all in one large bowl.
- Sprinkle on the shredded cheese, followed by the cooked ground beef, minced onion, and dill pickles, doing your best to keep an equal amount in each bowl(if you are using a large salad bowl, simply sprinkle everything on top)
- Drizzle a generous amount of dressing over the salad, and finally sprinkle the sesame seeds on top.
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
