Our Big Mac Salad is bold, beefy, tangy, cheesy, crunchy, and saucy in every bite, and it’s out to prove that salad never has to be boring. This cheeseburger salad’s got all the flavors of a Big Mac piled high in a bowl of crisp lettuce and juicy beef, with a much smaller bill and zero regret.
This is the kind of meal that hits every fast food craving without making you feel like you need a nap afterward.
Our Big Mac Salad brings the flavor and doesn’t hold back. Savory seasoned beef, crunchy lettuce, sharp cheddar, punchy pickles, and that creamy copycat sauce all show up like they mean it.
Made with fresh vegetables, no bun in sight, and nothing processed or artificial, it’s a healthier take that feels good going down and even better afterward.
Our Big Mac Salad recipe is fast enough for a weeknight dinner and tasty enough to win over the whole family, even the salad skeptics.
With simple ingredients, quick prep, and all the flavors of a Big Mac burger, it’s a meal that’s almost impossible to mess up.
A side of Creamy Coleslaw fits right in with our Big Mac Salad, like it was always meant to be part of the tray.
And if you’re after a healthier swap for fries, try it with Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries for that sweet, golden bite, or Fried Zucchini Sticks for a warm, earthy crunch that rounds out the plate perfectly.
Ingredients
Gather the ingredients to prepare our Big Mac Salad recipe. Culinary professionals call this the “Mise en Place,” which means “everything in its Place.”
Setting up your ingredients not only helps speed up the cooking process but also ensures you have all the necessary ingredients on hand to make the recipe.
How Can I Adjust the Ingredients?
There’s plenty of room to make this Big Mac Salad your own without losing the flavors of the classic burger.
We made our recipe with lean ground beef, but you can use ground turkey or chicken if you’re after a lighter option.
For extra richness, replace the grated cheddar with chopped up American cheese slices, just like the original burger.
If you’re after a little more crunch, try swapping the iceberg lettuce for romaine, or toss in some shredded cabbage. You could even sprinkle on a few sesame seeds for that classic burger bun touch.
We used red onion, but you can swap in white onion for a milder bite.
If you like a little heat, toss in some sliced jalapeños or a dash of hot sauce to wake things up.
And if you’re looking for a serious flavor boost, crumbling in some crispy bacon takes this salad straight into delicious Whopper territory. But we won’t tell Ronald.
How to Make a Big Mac Salad
Follow along with my simple step-by-step instructions to learn how to make a Big Mac Salad in your home kitchen.
- Rinse the iceberg lettuce in cold running water, then dry with paper towels or a salad spinner. Then chop the lettuce.
- Cut the grape tomatoes in half lengthwise.
- Thinly slice the red onion and set aside with the rest of your salad ingredients.
- To begin the copycat Big Mac sauce, place the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, and white vinegar into a small bowl.
- Whisk to combine all of the ingredients.
- Add the granulated sugar, sweet paprika, table salt, garlic powder, and onion powder to the sauce ingredients.
- Whisk to combine.
- Set up the salad bowls with chopped lettuce, then add the cheddar cheese, dill pickles, onions, and tomato. Leave room for the crumbled “beef patties”.
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef.
- Cook for 2–3 minutes until browned and there is no pink showing in the meat. Drain excess grease from the skillet and season with salt and black pepper.
- Add the cooked ground beef to the salad.
Drizzle the homemade Big Mac sauce over the top and serve immediately.
Our Big Mac Salad is perfect for fun weeknight dinners, backyard get-togethers, or even game day when you want something that’s a little lighter but still big on flavor.
One bite in, and you’ll be wondering why Big Macs ever needed a bun to begin with.
How to Store and Reheat
Store any leftovers in the fridge for 2–3 days. Keep the salad greens in one airtight container, and the cooked beef and special sauce in their own separate containers.
When you’re ready to eat, reheat the beef in the microwave until warmed through, then reassemble and drizzle with sauce. Or enjoy it cold, straight from the fridge, for an easy, no-fuss lunch.
You can freeze the cooked beef on its own if you’re prepping ahead. Let it cool completely first, then store it in an airtight container or freezer bag.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can build single-serving salads by layering the ingredients in mason jars with lettuce on top and the heavier items like beef, cheese, and pickles at the bottom. When you’re ready to eat, just shake it up or pour it into a bowl and add the sauce. The layers keep everything separated enough until you’re ready to dig in.
You can, but it won’t taste quite the same. Our copycat Big Mac sauce skips the ketchup and leans on pickle relish for that signature tangy flavor.
Absolutely. The Big Mac sauce is just one option, so you can swap in any burger sauce or salad dressing you like, or skip it altogether. Every component is optional, so if there’s something you’re not into, just leave it out. Have it your way. Sorry, Ronald.
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Big Mac Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Big Mac Sauce
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon table salt
Salad
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 head iceberg lettuce -chopped
- ½ cup dill pickles slices
- 1 small red onion -sliced
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese -shredded
- 1 cup grape tomatoes -cut in half (or cherry tomatoes)
Instructions
Big Mac Sauce
- Place the mayonnaise, pickle relish, yellow mustard, and white vinegar into a small bowl. Whisk to combine all of the ingredients.
- Add the granulated sugar, sweet paprika, table salt, garlic powder, and onion powder to the wet ingredients and whisk to combine.
Salad
- Rinse the lettuce in cold running water, then dry with paper towels or a salad spinner. Then chop the lettuce.
- Cut the grape tomatoes in half lengthwise.
- Thinly slice the red onion.
- Set up the salad bowls with chopped lettuce, then add the cheese, pickles, onions, and tomato. Leave room for the ground beef.
- Add the olive oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and there is no pink showing in the meat. Season with salt and black pepper.
- Add the cooked ground beef to the salad.
- Drizzle the Big Mac sauce over the top and serve immediately.
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