Enjoy the flavors of your favorite burger in a tasty salad! This Big Mac Salad features seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, cheese, dill pickles and that signature sauce!
A Big Mac salad is a tasty dish inspired by McDonald’s ultra-popular sandwich. This meal includes ingredients similar to those found in a Big Mac but arranged in a salad form. I love this dish because it is easy, low-carb, and always satisfying.
For this recipe, I stuck with the basic ingredients that are on a Big Mac such as ground beef, pickles, onions, and shredded cheese. And of course my version of the iconic Big Mac sauce, which is a creamy, tangy dressing. However, this is such a versatile dish you can certainly add any other vegetables such as tomatoes, avocados, shredded cabbage, or carrots if desired. You can also switch up the protein by using ground turkey, or chicken or adding a handful of chopped bacon. The options are limitless! This salad offers a healthier alternative for those who prefer a lighter meal or are following a low-carb or gluten-free diet.
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Easy: this dish is super simple. The only cooking involved is browning the hamburger meat. Aside from that you only need to chop the lettuce and onion (or purchase prepared vegetables if you are short on time), and mix the dressing!
- Minimal Ingredients: no tricky ingredients or long grocery lists here! The dressing is made with staples you probably keep on hand, making it easy to whip up anytime!
- Easy to Prep: are you into meal prep? You are in luck!
Ingredients for Big Mac Salad
As always, this is a quick overview of the ingredients needed to make this protein-packed salad recipe! For the complete, printable recipe scroll to the printable recipe card below. You will need:
- Hamburger Meat: I use lean ground beef for this recipe, but other proteins such as ground turkey, or bison will work.
- Worcestershire sauce: a true flavor maker that helps you get that authentic burger flavor.
- Spices: salt, pepper, garlic powder
- Iceberg Lettuce: any lettuce will do, but I prefer iceberg for the crunch. Alternatively, you can use a mixture of lettuce and cabbage if desired.
- Onions: white or sweet onions work best in this recipe.
- Pickles: dill pickles of course!
- Shredded Cheese: shredded cheddar or American cheese.
How do you make Big Mac Sauce?
For the dressing that tastes just like Big Mac Sauce, you will need mayonnaise, diced onion, sugar-free ketchup, yellow mustard, dill pickles, pickle juice, paprika, salt, and pepper to taste. The dressing requires no difficult prep simply measure and mix! This sauce keeps up to 7 days if stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
How to Make a Keto Big Mac Salad
- To make the salad dressing add all of the ingredients to a bowl and whisk until smooth.
- To make the hamburger meat, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Spray the pan with cooking oil and brown the hamburger meat. Cook the meat, breaking it up as you go. When the meat has been cooked through drain off the grease and add the salt, pepper, Worcestershire, and garlic powder. Set the meat aside.
- To make the salad divide salad ingredients among 4 bowls and top with the hamburger meat and add the dressing to taste.
Serve
This is really a complete meal and will certainly fill you up! However, if you would like to expand the meal a bit and add a side these are some great options:
- Keto Dinner Rolls: need bread with your salad? I get it, these rolls are soft and delicious!
- Crispy Zucchini Fries: the perfect crunchy addition to this tasty salad!
- Perfect Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies: finish off your meal with something sweet!
How do you keep salad fresh?
To keep this salad fresh, you can follow these tips:
- Proper Storage: Keep individual salad ingredients, such as lettuce, vegetables, and herbs, properly stored in the refrigerator. Place them in sealed containers or resealable bags to prevent moisture loss and maintain their freshness.
- Dry the Ingredients: Before making this salad, ensure that the ingredients are thoroughly dried. Excess moisture can make the salad wilt faster, so use a salad spinner or pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel.
- Store Dressing Separately: If you’re not serving the salad immediately, it’s best to keep the dressing separate from the rest of the ingredients. Store the dressing in a small, airtight container or a dressing bottle.
- Quick Assembly: To retain maximum freshness, assemble the salad just before serving. This helps prevent wilting and maintains the texture and taste of the ingredients.
How long can you store a salad?
The storage time for a salad can vary depending on freshness and the type of container you use. In general, a freshly prepared salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days. However, it’s important to note that the quality and crispness of the salad may decline over time, and certain ingredients may wilt or lose their texture. Use a container specifically for salads and it can help your foods last much longer.
Flavor Variations
- Proteins: switch out the hamburger meat for ground turkey, chicken, or bison. You can also use leftover rotisserie or grilled chicken for a different spin.
- Salad Base: I used Iceberg lettuce to mimic the flavor of the traditional burger. However, this salad is amazing with other bases such as mixed greens, finely chopped cabbage, or with a handful of sprouts or microgreens added.
- Add-ins: the options for tasty additions to this salad are endless! Chopped tomatoes, bell peppers, chopped bacon, pickled jalapeno, shredded carrot are all great toppings for this salad.
Other Salad Recipes
- Keto Taco Salad: This easy Keto Taco Salad is easy, delicious, and healthy! Top your favorite greens with seasoned meat, tomato, avocado, peppers, and more for a lunch or dinner full of flavor and about 7 net carbs.
- Grilled Zucchini Salad: This Grilled Zucchini Salad with a homemade red wine vinaigrette will be your repeat meal of the summer!
- Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad: This Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad is the best no-cook, meal prep dish!
- Classic Wedge Salad: This Easy Wedge Salad is the perfect keto side dish! Crisp lettuce is topped with creamy blue cheese dressing, crumbly bacon, and diced tomatoes!
- Grape Salad: Learn how to make the best Grape Salad! This no-cook dish is ready in less than 10 minutes and perfect for potlucks! You will love this refreshing fruit salad on a hot summer day!
Big Mac Salad
Ingredients
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon finely diced onion
- 2 tablespoons sugar-free ketchup
- 2 teaspoons yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoons dill pickles finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon pickle juice
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- salt and pepper to taste
Hamburger Meat
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Salad
- 8 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
- 1/2 cup finely diced onions
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup sliced dill pickles
Instructions
- To make the salad dressing add all of the ingredients to a bowl and whisk until smooth.
- To make the hamburger meat, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Spray the pan with cooking oil and brown the hamburger meat. Cook the meat, breaking it up as you go. When the meat has been cooked through drain off the grease and add the salt, pepper, Worcestershire, and garlic powder. Set the meat aside.
- To make the salad divide salad ingredients among 4 bowls and top with the hamburger meat and add the dressing to taste.