Big Mac salad is a fun spin on the classic burger served as a chopped salad with all the same great flavors including the secret sauce!
This Big Mac salad recipe is the perfect salad option for when you’re craving that tasty drive thru burger but don’t want to leave home! Serve this salad with Brussels sprout soup, cheesy pull apart bread, and homemade cinnamon bread.
Big Mac Salad
Big Mac Salad
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Why you’ll love this recipe!
📌 All the flavors of McDonald’s Big Mac in a salad version.
📌 A homemade special sauce recipe that tastes just like the real thing.
📌 Make the salad to your liking with or without some of the toppings.
Big Mac Salad Ingredients
- Beef – Ground beef.
- Worcestershire sauce – This adds amazing flavor to the beef.
- Seasonings – Seasoned salt, ground black pepper.
- Lettuce – Romaine lettuce, chopped.
- Tomatoes – Chopped.
- Red onion – Chopped.
- Pickle – Dill pickle, chopped.
- Cheese – Shredded cheddar cheese.
- Special sauce – Mayonnaise, ketchup, dill relish, yellow mustard, white vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika.
We used romaine lettuce, but go ahead and use whatever you love!
How do you make a big mac inspired salad? (step-by-step)
⭐ First, make the sauce by combining all the sauce ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir until smooth and set aside.
⭐ Next, brown the ground beef and drain. Add the worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt and black pepper and cook until combined.
⭐ Then, put the chopped lettuce in a large bowl, add the cooked ground beef, tomatoes, onion, pickles and shredded cheese.
⭐ Finally, top with the prepared sauce and toss to combine.
Scroll down to the printable recipe card toward the bottom of this article for ingredient measurements and detailed cooking instructions.
I love a pop of color with red onion, but sweet yellow onion or a mild white onion would also be great.
Preparation
Can you make Big Mac salad ahead of time?
The best way to prepare this ahead of time would be to prep all the ingredients and store separately in the fridge.
- Chop the romaine, tomatoes, onions and pickles and store separately in the refrigerator. Brown the ground beef and add the Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Store in the fridge.
- The sauce can also be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.
- When ready to serve, toss all the vegetables and ground beef together and top with the Big Mac sauce.
What type of lettuce is best to use for Big Mac salad?
We used chopped romaine lettuce but you could also use iceberg lettuce or even a mix of spinach and arugula.
Can’t forget about that special sauce. Works perfectly as a salad dressing!
Storage and leftovers
How long does Big Mac salad last?
Leftovers will keep 1-2 days if the salad is dressed. If not dressed, the leftovers will keep slightly longer in the fridge. Keep the Big Mac salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
How long does the dressing last?
If you make and store the dressing separately it will keep for 3-5 days in an airtight container in the fridge.
Creamy perfection!
Tips and tricks
✅ We used dill relish in the sauce but sweet relish will also work well.
✅ Add or remove toppings to your liking!
✅ Toss in some croutons if desired.
✅ Add some cayenne pepper to the big mac sauce to give this a spicy kick!
This tastes spot on!
Frequently asked questions
Can I use a different type of meat in the Big Mac salad?
Yes, you can substitute ground beef with ground turkey, chicken, or even a plant-based meat substitute for a vegetarian version.
Can I add more vegetables to the Big Mac salad?
Absolutely! Feel free to add additional vegetables like bell peppers, cucumbers, or avocados to the salad for extra flavor and nutrition.
Can I use a different type of cheese?
Yes, you can substitute the cheddar cheese with any type of cheese you prefer, such as American cheese, Swiss cheese, or a low-fat cheese option.
How do I keep the lettuce crisp if making the salad ahead of time?
To keep the lettuce crisp, store it separately from the other ingredients and only mix it into the salad just before serving.
Can I serve the Big Mac salad warm?
The salad can be served warm by keeping the beef hot and combining it with the cold salad ingredients just before serving.
Feel free to bulk it up with lots of veggies!
What to enjoy with your Big Mac Salad (serving suggestions)
This is such a simple throw together dish that tastes so much like the actual sandwich, you’ll be shocked! We like to enjoy it with potato leek soup or air fryer french fries, and oatmeal cream pies for dessert!
This is also great with ground chicken or ground turkey.
More delicious salad recipes
- 7 layer salad
- Butternut squash salad
- Antipasto salad
- Brussels sprout salad
- Broccoli salad
- Cobb salad
- Taco salad
- See all our easy salad recipes!
Other awesome copycat recipes
- Twix bars recipe
- Homemade hostess cupcakes
- Almond joy cookies
- 3 Musketeers candy
- Big mac meatloaf
- Bang bang cauliflower recipe
- See all our easy restaurant copycat recipes!
😍😍😍
Tools we love
- Kitchen tongs – Every kitchen needs a good pair of tongs.
- Stainless steel mixing bowls – Classic, basic, mixing bowls that everyone should have in your kitchen. You’ve seen me use them on the cooking show at least seventy bajillion times.
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How to Make a Big Mac Salad
Big Mac Salad
Ingredients
SALAD INGREDIENTS
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 head romaine lettuce chopped
- 1 large tomatoes chopped
- ½ medium red onion chopped
- ½ cup dill pickle slices chopped
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
SPECIAL SAUCE INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 tablespoons dill relish
- ½ tablespoon prepared yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef, drain. Add the worcestershire sauce, seasoned salt and black pepper and cook another minute or two.
- While beef is browning, whisk together the sauce ingredients and set aside.
- Add lettuce, cooked ground beef, tomatoes, onion, pickles, and shredded cheese to a large bowl.
- Top with sauce and toss to combine.
Notes
Nutrition
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Big Mac Salad
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Beth says
This is such a delicious salad. It really is a Big Mac in a bowl. I’ll be making this one again.
Erin says
It really did taste like a deconstructed Big Mac! We enjoyed all the flavors of the burger without the bun! Definitely adding this recipe to my meal plan again!
Sandra says
This was delicious! I can taste the Big Mac but in a healthier version! My family loved it too!