Big Mac Salad
Big Mac Salad is a low-carb, high-flavor bowl that transforms the iconic fast food burger into a healthy, satisfying meal. It’s made with seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, pickles, cheese, and a creamy “special sauce” dressing—perfect for keto, paleo, or anyone craving a burger without the bun.
Ingredients
For the Salad:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 cups shredded romaine or iceberg lettuce
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- ½ cup dill pickles chopped or sliced
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup diced red onion optional
- Sesame seeds for garnish (optional)
For the "Special Sauce" Dressing:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook beef: In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef with salt, pepper, and garlic powder until browned and fully cooked. Drain excess grease and set aside to cool slightly.
- Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
- Assemble salad: In a large bowl or 4 individual bowls, layer shredded lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, cheese, and red onion (if using).
- Top with beef: Add warm or room-temperature ground beef over the top of the salad.
- Drizzle dressing: Spoon the special sauce dressing generously over the salad. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired.
- Serve immediately: Toss to combine or serve as is.
Notes
- Great for meal prep: store components separately and assemble before serving.
- For added crunch, sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds or chopped iceberg.
- You can swap ketchup with sugar-free ketchup for a stricter low-carb/keto version.
- Want more "burger" flavor? Add sliced pickled jalapeños or a chopped boiled egg.