Big Mac Salad Recipe

This Big Mac Salad has all the great flavors of your favorite fast food burger, but without the bun! Super easy to make for a really delicious, protein-packed low carb lunch or dinner.

Don’t miss more of our keto recipes, and if you’re not eating keto or low carb, pair this with a McDonald’s shake!

Growing up, we only went to McDonald’s once every few months – it was considered a real special treat. I always got the Big Mac! “All beef patty, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, on a sesame seed bun.” Yep, still remember the commercial. LOL.

All these years later, it’s still my favorite, but I just can’t handle the calories like my younger self. Sigh. The solution? This Big Mac Salad. It’s super easy to make and tastes just like a Big Mac, but without the bun! Perfect for anyone looking for low carb meals. I’m sort of obsessed with it, eating it frequently for lunch.

This Big Mac Salad recipe has all the elements of a Big Mac Sandwich, minus the bun. (Scroll to the bottom for our easy printable recipe with the complete directions.)

This low carb salad is so easy to make. Here’s brief summary: (Scroll to the bottom for our easy printable recipe with the complete directions and don’t miss the video below.)

Big Mac Salad

This Big Mac Salad has all the great flavors of your favorite fast food burger, but without the bun! Super easy to make for a really delicious low carb lunch or dinner.

Prep: 10min

Total: 15min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 502 kcal, Carbohydrate 9 g, Protein 33 g, Fat 37 g, Saturated Fat 11 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 110 mg, Sodium 1188 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 5 g, unSaturated Fat 22 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons finely diced sweet onion
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar ( (or lemon juice))
• 1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• Nonstick spray
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 6 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
• 1/2 cup finely diced onions
• 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup finely diced dill pickles
• toasted sesame seeds (, for garnish)

Instruction:

1. Make the dressing: Whisk all the dressing ingredients together. (If it’s too thick to drizzle, you can thin it out with just a bit of water.) Set aside while you cook the beef (or cover and refrigerate if using later.)
2. Cook the beef: Warm a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, spray with nonstick spray and add the ground beef. Cook, undisturbed for 1 minute, so it can develop a nice brown color. Then sauté, breaking it up into tiny crumbles, until cooked through and no pink remains. Drain off the fat, then season with the salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Transfer beef to a shallow bowl to cool slightly.
3. Assemble the salad: In rows, divide the lettuce between 4 salad bowls (about 1 1/2 cups each.) Top with about 1/3 cup beef, the cheddar cheese, diced onion, and pickles. Drizzle about 3 tablespoons of the Big Mac sauce over each salad and toss to coat. Garnish with a little bit of toasted sesame seeds and enjoy.

Big Mac Salad (Cheeseburger Salad)

This easy low carb Big Mac salad recipe is ready in just 20 minutes! A gluten-free, keto cheeseburger salad like this makes a healthy lunch or dinner.

Prep: 10min

Total: 20min

Yield: 6

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 368 kcal, Carbohydrate 3 g, Protein 18 g, Fat 31 g, Saturated Fat 9 g, Trans Fat 1 g, Cholesterol 80 mg, Sodium 808 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 1 g, unSaturated Fat 19 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 1 lb Ground beef
• 1 tsp Sea salt
• 1/4 tsp Black pepper
• 8 oz Romaine lettuce ((chopped; or iceberg lettuce if desired))
• 1 cup Tomatoes ((chopped))
• 3/4 cup Cheddar cheese ((shredded))
• 1/2 cup Pickles ((diced))
• Sesame seeds ((optional, for garnish))
• 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp Pickles ((diced))
• 2 tsp Mustard
• 1 tsp White vinegar
• 1/2 tsp Smoked paprika
• 1 1/2 tbsp Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend

Instruction:

1. Add the ground beef to a large skillet over medium-high heat. (You can add a little oil if needed.) Break apart with a spatula and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and moisture has evaporated.
2. Meanwhile, puree all the dressing ingredients in a blender. If dressing is thicker than you like, thin out with water or oil and puree again. Adjust sweetener to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
3. In a large bowl, combine the lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese, and pickles.
4. Add the ground beef. Drizzle the dressing over the salad. Toss to coat.
5. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired.

Big Mac Salad

FAQ

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