The Big Mac Salad Recipe I've Been Making For Over 10 Years

This Big Mac salad recipe tastes like you've just taken a bite out of a juicy Big Mac, just without the sesame seed bun. It's made with seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, and fresh tomatoes, all served with my own homemade low-calorie Big Mac sauce. Take just one bite of this salad, and you'll see why I've been making this recipe for over 10 years now!

My Take on the Big Mac Salad

You read that right. This Big Mac salad has been on rotation in my house for over 10 years now. And it's only gotten more popular since having kids. I'm sure you'll be surprised to hear that kids can actually enjoy a salad - but when it comes to this Big Mac salad recipe, they do!

That's because the taste of this salad is spot on to a Big Mac. It's got all the trimmings of the burger - except for the bun of course - and it packs a ton of volume for a little amount of calories. And that's a huge plus when you're trying to lose weight. 

One of the main reasons I keep going back to this recipe though is that it's so easy to make. In fact, just 2 steps are all you have to follow to make it. Plus, just 15-20 minutes are all that it takes to nail those down. All you have to do is simply cook your beef, assemble your salad, and you're done!

Joe Tip (like "pro tip" but better): Even though this recipe takes only 20 minutes, you can cut the prep time in half by cooking your ground beef in advance. I love to meal prep the ground beef because it's easy to make and can readily be stored all week long. That way, I can whip up this salad the moment the mood strikes.

Ingredients

Alright, so here's everything you'll need to get your salad chock-full of all of those Big Mac flavors 

As I said, all of the ingredients - down to the homemade dressing - are not only fresh and nutritious, but easy to keep regularly stocked in my fridge.

For the salad:

• 1 lb ground beef - I prefer lean ground beef
• 6 cups shredded iceberg lettuce 
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ cup white onion, diced
• ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese - I like the low fat variety
• ¼ cup dill pickles 
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

For the Big Mac Sauce:

• ½ cup light mayo
• 3 tablespoon sugar free ketchup
• 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
• 2 tablespoon dill pickle relish
• 1 tablespoon white vinegar
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon paprika

How to Make This Delicious Big Mac Salad Recipe

As I mentioned before, just a couple of steps are all you have to follow to whip this recipe up.

All you have to do is cook your ground beef and assemble all of the ingredients! Then, just top your salad off with a big dollop of my homemade Big Mac sauce, and enjoy!

No fuss, no muss, just deliciousness.

STEP ONE: COOK THE BEEF

You'll start by cooking your ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. While it's cooking you can season it with salt and pepper.

Next, you'll want to break the beef into chunks as it cooks until the beef is no longer pink. Then, drain it and transfer the cooked beef into a small bowl, and allow it to cool slightly.

STEP TWO: ASSEMBLE THE SALAD

In a large bowl, toss the shredded lettuce, cherry tomatoes, diced onions, shredded cheese, and dill pickles together. Add the cooked ground beef on top and drizzle everything with the homemade low calorie Big Mac salad dressing.

How to Store This Big Mac Salad Recipe

This Big Mac salad recipe stores super well! So, with that being the case, it makes for a great premade grab-and-go lunch or premade dinner. 

Stored in the fridge, it'll last for up to 4 days. Just make sure to transfer everything into an airtight container - or containers - before storing. For what it's worth, I recommend storing your beef, salad, and dressing in separate containers to keep the salad as fresh and crisp as possible.

You could also store the ground beef separately in the freezer using a freezer-safe container. It'll stay good for up to 3 months stored like this. Then, when you are ready to enjoy it again, just place your frozen ground beef in the fridge overnight to thaw.

How to Reheat This Recipe

I like to reheat the ground beef in the microwave. I just reheat it in intervals of 20 seconds until it's warm. Then, I simply top the warmed beef on the salad and finish it with the Big Mac sauce.

FAQs About This Recipe

Can I customize this Big Mac salad? 

This Big Mac salad recipe is completely customizable to fit your specific needs. Some ways to do this are by substituting the ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken for a leaner option. I've done that several times, and while it's not quite as good as it is when it's made with ground beef, it's still quite good.

What If I Don't Have All Of The Ingredients To Make The Homemade Big Mac Sauce?

A quick workaround for the sauce is just using the sugar free ketchup and light mayo, and disregarding all of the other ingredients. The sauce isn't quite as spot on if you go this route but it's still pretty darn close to the "real thing".

Final Thoughts

Man, there's a lot to love about this salad recipe. From the volume-to-calorie ratio of it, to the amount of protein each serving packs, to how low in carbs it is, to just how darn delicious it is...there are more than just a few reasons I've been making it for over a decade now.

Honestly, if you're trying to lose weight, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better/more delicious salad than this. I know when I'm in a "weight loss" phase, I come back to this salad time and time again. So, don't be surprised if you do too!

Anyway, if you do end up making this Big Mac salad, be sure to leave a comment below and let me know what you think.

More Healthy Recipes

If you are looking for even more healthy recipes to try, I've got several on the blog I think you'll enjoy as well.

Give one of these a shot next:

• Healthy granola
• Healthy mashed potatoes
• Healthy egg salad
• High protein macaroni and cheese
• Healthy banana bread
• Healthy smash burgers

Oh, and if you're looking for even more tasty recipes, be sure to check out my Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube channel! I post new ones on them all of the time.