Big Mac Salad

By Angela Lietzke | Updated on April 19, 2023 | Leave a comment | This post may contain affiliate links

It's burger night - but let's make it a salad! This tasty Big Mac Salad packs all of the flavor you love into a much healthier and less processed version of the real deal.

If you prefer a burger between two buns, you will love our famous burger recipe.

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My guilty pleasure is a Big Mac, but on days that I want to indulge without feeling guilty, I make this Big Mac bowl. This Big Mac bowl recipe is quick and easy to make and perfect for meal prepping.

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Ingredients

The seasoned ground beef and thousand island salad dressing makes this Big Mac bowl recipe truly taste like a Big Mac.

  • Ground Beef
  • Lettuce
  • Spices - Season the ground beef to transform the flavor into a burger patty.
  • Special Sauce - aka Thousand Island dressing
  • Toppings: pickles (my favorite!), tomatoes, red onion, cheese, and croutons

How to Make a Big Mac Salad

Skip the drive-thru! This Low-Carb Big Mac Salad is packed with flavor and is so simple to make! A cheeseburger salad with thousand island dressing will have you saying "this tastes like a healthy Big Mac!"

First, brown the ground beef and season it to taste like the perfect burger patty. Cook the ground beef for 8 to 10 minutes or until no pink remains in the middle of the pieces. Ground beef is fully cooked at 160 ºF.

While the beef is cooking, start cutting up your "burger" toppings. I load my real burgers up with pickles, so obviously I do the same with this salad.

Trust me, pickles on a salad is a game-changer! I slice the pickles and cherry tomatoes in half and dice red onions. A true McDonald's Big Mac is made with white onions, but I prefer using red onions on this salad.

Extra cheese please! Give your Big Mac in a bowl a cheeseburger vibe with plenty of shredded cheese. I use Cheddar or Colby Jack, but any cheese will do. After all your toppings are prepped and your beef is cooked, it's time to assemble your salad.

In my opinion, this salad truly has a Big Mac flavor when you top it with Thousand Island dressing. Thousand Island is the perfect keto Big Mac sauce.

Note: The lettuce will wilt and the cheese will melt if you add hot ground beef to the salad. I let the ground beef cool for a few minutes before adding it to the salad.

Hungry for More?

Big mac salad with pickles, tomatoes, onion, and thousand island dressing.
5 from 2 votes

Big Mac Salad

Angela Lietzke
Low Carb Big Mac Salad is a healthier, lower carb, and less processed version of the real deal. Big Mac in a bowl will be your new craving!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 163 kcal

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Equipment

  • Skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • Tablespoon brown sugar
  • Lettuce of choice I use romaine lettuce
  • Thousand Island salad dressing
  • Toppings: pickles, cherry tomatoes, red onion, shredded cheese, croutons

Instructions
 

  1. Add ground beef to a large skillet and cook on medium-high heat.
  2. Mix all spices in with ground beef, stirring occasionally.
  3. Cook the ground beef for 8 to 10 minutes or until no pink remains in the middle of the pieces. Ground beef is fully cooked at 160 ºF.
  4. While the beef is cooking, prep the toppings ingredients. Slice pickles and cherry tomatoes in half and dice red onions.
  5. When beef is fully cooked and the toppings are prepared, you can begin assembling the salad.

Notes

  • The lettuce will wilt and the cheese will melt if you add hot ground beef to the salad. I like to let the ground beef cool for a few minutes before adding it to the salad.
  • I use shredded Cheddar or Colby Jack cheese.
  • Nutrition

    Calories: 163kcalCarbohydrates: 2gProtein: 25gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 658mgPotassium: 432mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.2gVitamin A: 494IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 16mgIron: 3mg
    Made it? Loved it?I'd appreciate it if you left a quick comment and star rating. Thanks! 🤠
    Cuisine: American
    Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course, Salads
    5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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