Big Mac Salad

We've never been much of a McDonald’s person, but sometimes a nice juicy Big Mac just hits different! Having a Big Mac regularly is obviously not an option, but turn that bad boy into a salad, and now we’re talking. This Big Mac Salad is truly what dreams are made of. It’s so flavorful and filling it will turn even the biggest salad skeptic into a salad junkie.

What stands out

Just envision this: crisp lettuce, sweet, caramelized onions, melty cheese, perfectly browned ground beef, topped with a tangy mac sauce dressing. This low-carb deconstructed Big Mac will definitely become one of your weekly staples.

Salads are often criticized for being too time-consuming to make and not filling enough. Well, this Big Mac Salad solves both of those problems. Not only is this salad quick and straightforward to prepare, but the ground beef serves up a generous portion of protein, which will keep you full for hours. Best part? Once you make the mac sauce dressing, you can use it to jazz up any other salad or dish.

How to Prepare

Slice and dice the iceberg lettuce, then place it in a bowl.

Finely dice pickles or use relish.

Mix ingredients for the dressing, set aside.

Heat oil in a pan, add ground meat, and fry until golden and the liquid is gone.

Season with salt and pepper, add onions and garlic, sauté for 2-3 minutes.

Add cheese, and then turn off the heat.

Once the cheese melts, place the meat mixture on top of the lettuce.

Add Big Mac sauce and enjoy!

Kitchen tip

In this recipe, you have the option to use only mayo, and if you are avoiding dairy, it’s recommended to use Vegenaise. Alternatively, you can use only yogurt, but the flavor will be more tangy and light. Another option is to use a combination of all three ingredients, which is what we did.

Big Mac Salad Variations and Substitutions

1. Use romaine lettuce or mixed greens instead of iceberg lettuce for a different flavor and texture.
2. Try this salad with barbecue sauceranch or aioli instead of Big Mac sauce.
3. Feel free to add toppings such as diced tomatoes, sliced olives, or avocado.
4. Customize the dressing by adding mustard, ketchup, or a splash of vinegar.
5. Instead of the pickles, feel free to use sweet pickle relish.
6. Try different cheeses such as Havarti, Swiss, or pepper jack.
7. Experiment with different ground meats like turkey, chicken, or a plant-based substitute for a vegetarian version.
8. To make this recipe dairy-free be sure to use dairy-free sour cream and yogurt. Alternatively, just use 1/2 cup Vegenaise and skip the sour cream and yogurt.

Questions

strong Can we use a different type of lettuce for this recipe?

Yes, you can use romaine lettuce or mixed greens instead of iceberg lettuce.

Can we make the dressing with just mayo or just yogurt?

Can we make this Big Mac Salad dairy-free?

Yes, feel free to use a dairy-free sour cream or a yogurt alternative.

What can we use instead of pickles?

Instead of the pickles, you can use sweet pickle relish.

how can we make this dish less spicy?

The sriracha or hot sauce adds a nice balance of heat but feel free to leave it out.

How can we make this recipe vegan?

To make the dressing vegan, use 1/2 cup Vegenaise and no sour cream or yogurt. Use plant-based ground meat and leave out the cheddar or use a vegan cheddar instead.

Ingredients

Makes 3 servings

The Dressing

• ¼ cup mayo, I love Vegenaise or Primal Kitchen
• ¼ cup sour cream
• ¼ cup plain yogurt, or leave it out
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons sriracha, optional
• 2 tablespoons honey Dijon mustard
• 2 pickles, finely diced
• 2 tablespoons pickle juice

The Salad

• 1 iceberg lettuce, chopped
• 400 grams lean ground beef, any meat works or plant-based meat
• 2 teaspoons avocado oil, any oil
• ½ onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, finely diced
• salt + pepper, to taste
• ½ cup cheese, grated cheddar

Equipment

• Nakiri Knife
• Redmond Real Salt
• Cutting Board
• Measuring Cups + Spoons
• Mixing Bowls
• Ceramic Pans

Method

1. Note: This recipe makes 3 portions so please divide everything equally into 3 bowls OR add as much as you like according to your lifestyle.

The Dressing

1. Finely chop the pickles or use relish. Combine with remaining ingredients for the dressing. Mix well and set aside.
2. Now, slice and dice the iceberg lettuce. Divide it equally into 3 bowls and set aside.

The Salad

1. In a pan on medium high heat, add the oil and let it heat up.
2. Add ground beef (or meat of choice) to the pan and fry until browned, making sure to evaporate all the liquid.
3. Once browned, season with salt and pepper, add the onions, garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add the cheese on top, and turn off the heat.
5. Once the cheese melts, you can put the cheesy meat topping on top of the lettuce, add as much Big Mac sauce as you'd like and enjoy!