Straightforward Big Mac Salad

This Big Mac Salad is everything you love about the classic burger, in a salad bowl! And this cheeseburger salad is not only healthier, it’s even better tasting. It has a more flavorful dressing that surpasses any other regular burger sauce, and a special ingredient that gives the ground beef a satisfying zip that adds an extra layer of flavor! Bye bye, boring burger; hello sophisticated salad.

We used to love Big Macs. We still do, but truth be told, we actually like this salad even better. It’s like a hamburger in a bowl!

It’s all the things we love about the classic Big Mac, but with less carbs and more leafy greens. But you won’t miss out on the, “Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.” They’re all there!

Ground beef is seasoned to perfection and added to lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and plenty of shredded cheddar. Then the whole thing is topped with a satisfying drizzle of a house favorite burger sauce you have ever tasted.

Oh, and we usually have trouble getting our little one to eat her salads. Not anymore! She even asked for and finished a second bowl!

Why Big Mac Salad Recipe stays in the rotation

There are so many reasons to love this hamburger salad, but we're trying to keep this short. So here’s a few of our top reasons:

• It’s straightforward to cook – and is ready so quickly, as quick as going out and getting fast food.
• A lower carb option – if you’re watching your carbohydrate intake or trying to eat a little healthier, this is a great alternative without sacrificing flavor!
• Everything you love about burgers, in a bowl – our entire family loves when we make this tasty salad for dinner. Our little one even asks for seconds!

Big Mac Salad Recipe Ingredients

Salad Ingredients

• Ground beef
• Kosher salt and Ground black pepper
• Onion and Garlic powder – If all you have in your spice cabinet is onion salt or garlic salt, omit the previously mentioned salt from the recipe.
• Worcestershire sauce – Use an anchovy-free variety if you have a fish allergy.
• Red onion – You can also use white or yellow onion if you prefer.
• Tomatoes
• Romaine and Iceberg Lettuce – we like the mix, but you can use all of one or the other.
• Cheddar Cheese – we always find the taste of freshly shredded cheddar is so much better than pre-shredded cheese.
• Pickles – You can use whole pickle chips or diced pickles. Dill pickles are usually the type we grab.
• Bacon (optional)

For the Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• Ketchup
• Sweet pickle relish
• Sugar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Salt & Pepper to taste

Cheeseburger Salad Recipe Variations and Substitutions

• For the Ground Beef – you can substitute the ground beef with ground chicken or ground turkey.
• For the Red Onion – if you aren’t a fan of raw onions, you could substitute them with pickled onions or omit them entirely.
• For the Lettuce – this recipe uses a combination of romaine and iceberg. You could use all of one or the other if you prefer. Any sturdy lettuce will do. We would avoid any lettuce that’s easily prone to wilting quickly, like butter lettuce.
• For the Burger Sauce – you can replace the burger sauce with some Thousand Island dressing. It isn’t an exact replacement, but it’ll do in a pinch!
• Sesame seeds – If you’re missing that sesame seed bun, you can give a good sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds to the top of your salad.
• Vinegar – you can use white vinegar in the salad dressing, but we happen to prefer the milder taste of apple cider vinegar.

How to cook Big Mac Salad Bowl

1. Place the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Season it with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
2. Cook the beef fully, breaking it up until it’s completely cooked through and no longer pink.
3. Add the Worcestershire sauce and mix to combine well. Remove the skillet from the heat and set it aside to let the cooked beef cool.
4. To a large salad bowl, add the romaine, iceberg, onion, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, pickles, and bacon (if using). Top with the ground beef.

How to cook the Burger Sauce Dressing

1. To a separate small bowl or jar, make the burger sauce dressing.
2. Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Mix until it’s fully combined.
3. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and serve it immediately.

Tips & Tricks

• You can make both the burger sauce and the ground beef in advance. But wait to assemble the salad until you’re ready to serve it to avoid it getting soggy.
• If you don’t like chopping lettuce, you can use pre-chopped, bagged lettuce from the grocery store.
• Use freshly shredded block cheddar for a house favorite taste.

Serving Suggestions for Big Mac Salad Bowl

You can serve this cheeseburger-in-a-bowl as a dinner all on its own, or pair it with some from-scratch rolls, soup, another side (like fries), or a main entree option. We enjoy the Air Fryer Roasted Baby potatoes listed here with this salad.

• Honey Rolls
• Straightforward Yeast Rolls for Beginners
• Air-Fried Frozen Sweet Potato Fries
• Air Fryer Baby Potatoes

How to keep Hamburger Salad

We like to store the components for this salad separately in airtight containers. Stored properly, refrigerated leftovers stored individually will be good for up to 5 days.

If you are refrigerating an already-made salad, store it in an airtight container and eat within 2 days.

Big Mac Salad Recipe FAQs