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Home » Meal Ideas » Big Mac Salad Bowl

Big Mac Salad Bowl

Meal Ideas

5 Jun

An easy to make weeknight dish, this healthier alternative offers all the deliciousness of a Big Mac in a light and tasty dinner salad!

Big Mac Salad Bowl is an awesome combination of meat and salad. It’s a delicious and surprisingly satisfying meal. Much like our Grilled Chicken Fajita Salad, this one makes a great light dinner choice.

The tang of the chopped pickles and the creamy Big Mac dressing really give it all the same flavors as biting into a Big Mac. Relatively easy to put together, this is a great summer meal that the whole family loves!

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Finished Big Mac Salad Bowl, up close.

What You’ll Need to make Big Mac Salad Bowls

  • Mayonnaise – we use regular but light mayo can be used instead.

  • Dill Hamburger Pickles – or chopped regular dill pickles.

  • Pantry Condiments – Ketchup, yellow mustard, white vinegar, Worcestershire Sauce.

  • Pantry Spices – Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt & pepper,

  • Ground Beef – fat is drained from the cooked meat before adding to the salad so you do not need to buy lean ground beef. Any ground beef will work!

  • Soy Sauce – Regular soy sauce or use Coco Aminos for the Keto version

  • Romaine Lettuce – Cleaned and chopped or use bagged salad to make dinner prep even faster!

  • Shallot – we love the mild flavor but red, purple, white or yellow onion may be substituted.

  • Cherry Tomatoes – substitutions include grape tomatoes or Roma tomatoes quartered

  • Shredded Cheese – we use a Colby Jack blend but any variety will work!


Finished Big Mac Salad Bowl, ready to eat.

How to make Big Mac Salad Bowls

Big Mac Salad is a different but delicious meal idea. Great for a weeknight or when you want something a little lighter, it is a surprisingly satisfying meal.

The dressing is a homemade Thousand Island that ties the whole meal together. This dinner boasts all the same flavors as a Big Mac without the bun.

Relatively easy to put together, this is a great summer meal that the whole family will love!

Ingredients for Thousand Island dressing in a glass bowl prior to mixing.

In a small bowl combine 1/2 cup mayo, 2 tbsp chopped dill hamburger pickles, ketchup, mustard, vinegar, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder.

Mixed Thousand Island salad dressing in a bowl with a spatula.

Stir until well combined. Cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.

This can be made ahead and stored for up to three days.

Ground beef with seasonings in a skillet prior to cooking.

Heat a skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef, garlic powder and onion powder and cook until completely browned and cooked through (about 10 minutes). Drain off excess fat.

Cooked ground beef being seasoned with hamburger condiments in a skillet.

Reduce heat to low. Add ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt, pepper and oregano leaves and stir to combine.

Finished Big Mac Salad, up close.

Divide the lettuce evenly between four bowls. Top the lettuce with the meat mixture, followed by equal portions of the Big Mac dressing.

Top each salad with shredded cheese and then add the chopped shallot, tomatoes and pickles. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Finished Big Mac Salad, in a bowl, ready to eat.

Other Easy Weeknight Favorite Recipes

Mom’s Easy Weeknight Chili – Hearty, satisfying and ready in about 30 minutes!

Spinach and Sausage Spaghetti Pie – packed with good stuff and super easy to make.

Simple Weeknight Meatloaf – Simple, easy comfort food that’s a throwback to childhood!

Creamy Garlic Spinach Chicken Thighs – tender baked chicken thighs in a delicious creamy garlic sauce.

Easy One Pan Egg Roll Bowl – all the delicious flavors of an egg roll in a bowl.

Big Mac Salad Bowl

An easy to make weeknight dish, this healthier alternative offers all the deliciousness of a Big Mac in a light and tasty dinner salad!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 607kcal

Ingredients

Big Mac Dressing

  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 2 tbsp dill hamburger pickles chopped
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder

Ground Beef Mixture

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp ketchup
  • 1/2 tsp yellow mustard
  • 1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 tsp soy sauce or Coco Aminos
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/8 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves

Salad Ingredients

  • 6 cups Romaine lettuce cleaned and chopped
  • 1/4 cup shallot (or purple onion) finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes cut in half
  • 1/2 cup dill hamburger pickles chopped
  • 1 cup shredded cheese any variety
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Instructions

  • In a small bowl combine the Big Mac Dressing ingredients, stirring until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  • Heat a skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef, garlic powder and onion powder and cook until completely browned and cooked through (about 10 minutes). Drain off excess fat.
  • Reduce heat to low. Add ketchup, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, salt, pepper and oregano leaves and stir to combine.
  • Divide the lettuce evenly between four bowls. Top the lettuce with the meat mixture, followed by equal portions of the Big Mac dressing.
  • Top each salad with shredded cheese and then add the chopped shallot, tomatoes and pickles. Serve immediately. Enjoy!

Nutrition *

Calories: 607kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 50g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 14g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 114mg | Sodium: 949mg | Potassium: 681mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 6658IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 220mg | Iron: 4mg
* The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator.
Have you tried this recipe? Post a pic and mention @TheRecipeBandit or tag #therecipebandit!

  • Michelle Mundy

    As a busy working mom with kids on the go, I know how important it is to be able to make simple and delicious meals using everyday ingredients. The recipes shared here are family friendly with easy to understand step by step instructions. Tried and true, from our family to yours. Welcome to The Recipe Bandit! Click here to read more about me.

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About Me

  • Michelle Mundy

    As a busy working mom with kids on the go, I know how important it is to be able to make simple and delicious meals using everyday ingredients. The recipes shared here are family friendly with easy to understand step by step instructions. Tried and true, from our family to yours. Welcome to The Recipe Bandit! Click here to read more about me.

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