Big Mac salad is a great copycat of a healthy McDonald’s option. Low carb and keto dieters rejoice because this salad recipe is perfect for you with net carbs! Meal prep a lunch or light dinner with an authentic Big Mac sauce that taste like the real thing!
A quick background, my first job was at McDonald’s. I have had more Big Macs than you can count. The sauce does not and doesn’t even include the same ingredients as thousand island dressing. Granted thousand island dressing is good but it isn’t Big Mac sauce. McDonald’s has the ingredients on it’s site and there isn’t a tomato in sight. Next, it may be personal preference but there isn’t tomato on a Big Mac either. Yet, just like the sandwich you are welcome to add them in this recipe.
Is Big Mac Sauce Thousand Island
No, no and no it is not! People try calling everything in restaurants thousand island dressing from animal to bang bang sauce. As mentioned, the ingredients can be found online and there is no tomato or mustard in the Big Mac sauce. It is light in color and you can see the spices going through it.
Is Big Mac Sauce Keto
This one is and due to using keto approved sweeteners and dill relish instead of sweet. Sauce in the restaurant also contains soybean oil which I would advise against and has sugar added according to the McDonald’s website.
Helpful Recipe Tips
- Sweet relish or dill relish, to keep it authentic sweet relish is used in the sauce but if you’re keto using regular dill relish is the best option.
- Best ground beef, use the fattiest ground beef you can find. Lean is going to be very dry but of course if you enjoy it, go for it!
- Make ahead, making the sauce and ground beef are literally the only things that you have to prepare. Make those and set them to the side. Then, when ready to eat simply pull out lettuce, diced onion, shredded cheese then top and eat.
How To Make A Big Mac Salad
First, prepare the Big Mac sauce. When making a homemade dressing the longer it sits the better it gets.
In a hot pan add ground beef. I used 80/20 but the lower the better for the fat content and flavor. Salt and pepper is all you need to season the meat. I wouldn’t get fancy with the meat because the what stands out in the Mac is the sauce itself.
Now, in a salad bowl add lettuce. The real burger uses dehydrated onions but in this recipe I simply suggest diced or slivered. Unless, you have access to the dehydrated onions that is.
Build the salad! All the hard work is done. Lettuce then hamburger meat, top with cheese, onions and pickles. Finally, slather that sauce up there and please share your thoughts!
Great Recipes For Dinner
Big Mac Salad
Ingredients
Big Mac Salad
- 8 ounce ground beef
- 4.5 ounce shredded lettuce (I used Fresh Express shreds green leaf)
- 1/2 diced onion
- 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 ounce hamburger pickles
- 1/2 teaspoon fine salt
- 1/4 teaspoon fine black pepper
Big Mac Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayo (not Miracle Whip)
- 1 tablespoon sweet relish (see notes)
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar ()
- 1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
Big Mac Sauce
- Simply combine all ingredients, mix then cover and refridgerate until ready to use
Big Mac Salad
- In a hot pan add ground beef and season with salt and pepper until browned and fully cooked
- In a bowl add lettuce, ground beef, cheese, onion, pickle and then top with sauce. Serve.
Notes
Helpful Recipe Tips
- Sweet relish or dill relish, to keep it authentic sweet relish is used in the sauce but if you're keto using regular dill relish is the best option.
- Best ground beef, use the fattiest ground beef you can find. Lean is going to be very dry but of course if you enjoy it, go for it!
- Make ahead, making the sauce and ground beef are literally the only things that you have to prepare. Make those and set them to the side. Then, when ready to eat simply pull out lettuce, diced onion, shredded cheese then top and eat.
This recipe totally cures your craving for a Big Mac! Easy to prepare especially if you have ground beef already prepped! The sauce is to die for! I have made other versions of this salad and this one is the best by far! Make it….you won’t be disappointed!