A Big Mac Salad will fill you up without weighing you down! This low carb, gluten free salad version of the drive-thru classic is packed with protein, healthy veggies, and craveable burger flavor. Do not skip the homemade Special Sauce salad dressing which brings it all together.
“This recipe is an absolute hit in my house, and it’s hard to find something that pleases me, my husband, and our three little boys! It’s extra awesome that the thing that makes us ALL happy is a salad!!”
The last time I had a juicy, loaded cheeseburger topped with special sauce and all the fixins was nearly three years ago. I know this because I still think about how *insanely* delicious it was – and also how awful I felt afterwards.
It was SO heavy, SO greasy, and just not the typical fare I usually partake in.
My Big Mac Burger Salad though? Just as satisfying and packed with burger flavor, but light, low-carb, and gluten free too. It’s the perfect healthy swap for when you’re craving a loaded burger but don’t want a side of regret.
That’s what french fries are for. ;)
Watch How to Make It
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Low-carb and Gluten-free: McDonalds (and most fast food restaurants) is a HARD NO for anyone who needs to eat gluten free but this salad is naturally gluten free, and low carb too. You won’t miss the bun.
- Great for meal prep: this recipe makes enough for 6 satisfying salads which can be portioned into individual-sized containers for easy lunches all week long. More details below.
- Healthy: veggies, meat, and cheese placed on a bed of healthy and hydrating romaine lettuce brings a boost of nutrition to meal time.
- Satisfying: I’m serious when I tell you that a Big Mac Salad satisfies a burger craving – it’s objectively delicious. Thank you, special sauce salad dressing, which really brings it all together.
Main Ingredients Needed
Grab a handful of fridge and pantry staples to whip up these satisfying burger bowls. Here’s what you’ll need:
For the Big Mac Salad
- Romaine lettuce: I like to chop my own, but a bag of pre-chopped is just fine.
- Lean ground beef: lean ground turkey would be fine too.
- Cheddar cheese: I highly recommend you freshly-grate your cheese for a creamy texture and the best flavor.
- Red onion: feel free to use white onion instead.
- Dill pickles: our fridge is always stocked with Grillo’s Pickles, but use whatever you’ve got on hand.
- Tomatoes: these photos show sliced grape tomatoes, though cherry tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, or vine-ripened tomatoes also work.
For the Special Sauce Salad Dressing
My homemade special sauce salad dressing is Thousand Island-esque, so you could use that in a pinch. McDonald’s special sauce actually does not contain any ketchup products, but I like it in here and I think you will too!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Mayonnaise: whatever you’ve got in the refrigerator.
- Prepared French salad dressing: or ketchup.
- Minced pickles
- Minced onion: the same one you use for your burger topping
- Distilled white vinegar: use pickle juice in a pinch.
Feel free to make the Big Mac sauce several days ahead of time – it just gets better as it sits.
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Pin ItMeal Prep Instructions
Like I said, this recipe is perfect for meal prep. Pre-made, healthy, filling, and satisfying lunches all week long? Yes please!
- Step 1: Add the toppings into the bottom of individual storage containers with lids.
- Step 2: Place the romaine lettuce on top then seal with a lid.
- Step 3: Pack the salad dressing separately then drizzle and toss just before eating.
How to Make This Recipe
Step 1: Make the Big Mac Salad Dressing
In a small mixing bowl whisk together:
- Mayonnaise
- Prepared French salad dressing (or ketchup)
- Minced onions (red or white)
- Minced pickles
- Distilled white vinegar
The dressing can be made several days ahead of time and gets better and better as it sits.
Step 2: Brown the ground beef.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat then add lean ground beef and let it sit and sear until the bottom is browned. Add a few dashes of worcestershire sauce then season with homemade seasoned salt and pepper, and then saute until the beef is cooked through.
Scoop the browned ground beef onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool slightly.
Recipe Tip
My method for cooking ground beef restaurant-style is also super delicious in this salad!
Step 3: Assemble the Big Mac Salads.
While the ground beef is sauting and cooling, prep the rest of the burger bowl ingredients. We’ve got:
- Chopped romaine lettuce
- Thinly sliced red or white onions
- Freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped tomatoes
- Minced pickles
Arrange the lettuce into bowls or plates then add all the toppings.
Give the whole thing a generous drizzle of Special Sauce Salad Dressing then dig in!
I hope you love every bite of these enormously filling and super satisfying Big Mac Salads – enjoy!
More Plate-Busting Salads
- Italian Quinoa Salad
- Steak and Sweet Potato Bowls
- Italian Sub Salad
- Steak Salad with Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Chicken Caesar Salad Pasta
- Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing
- Jennifer Aniston Salad
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- worcestershire sauce
- homemade seasoned salt and pepper
- 3 heads romaine lettuce, chopped then washed
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- freshly shredded cheddar cheese
- 3 Roma tomatoes, chopped, could use cherry, grape, or vine-ripened tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped dill pickles
- sesame seeds, optional, for garnish
For the Special Sauce Salad Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup French dressing, could use ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons minced pickles
- 2 Tablespoons minced white onion, could use red
- 1 Tablespoon distilled white vinegar
Directions
For the Special Sauce Salad Dressing:
- Add the ingredients to a small mixing bowl then whisk to combine and set aside. Can be made several days ahead of time — the dressing just gets better as it sits.
For the Big Mac Salad:
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat then add the ground beef. Let the beef sear undisturbed until the bottom has browned then add a few shakes of worcestershire sauce, and season with homemade seasoned salt and pepper. Saute until the beef is cooked through then scoop onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain and cool slightly.
- Once slightly cooled, divy the chopped lettuce between plates or bowls then top with the cooked ground beef, sliced red onion, shredded cheddar cheese, chopped tomatoes, and dill pickles. Drizzle with Special Sauce Salad Dressing and sesame seeds if using, then serve.
Notes
- To meal prep: add the toppings into the bottom of an individual storage container then top with the lettuce and place a lid on top. Pack the Special Sauce Salad Dressing separately then add and toss just prior to eating.
- Estimated nutritional information includes entire dressing recipe.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
Note: not all Worcester sauce is gluten free. Check those lables!
That’s correct! As always, you need to be your own advocate in the grocery store by checking labels when shopping. Lea & Perrins is gluten free at the time of this writing (11/23) in the United States.
I made your cheeseburger quesadillas(so good) and had the ground beef mixture leftover and made this salad with it. SOO delicious.
Made this last week! Delicious! It’s going into our monthly rotation of Iowa Girl dinners! YUMMM!
Fabulous!! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Hello! I am excited to try your recipe this week. Do I have to make a batch of the homemade salt and pepper? Instead can I use Lawry’s seasoned salt or just a few shakes of regular salt and pepper? Thank you so much.
Absolutely! Lawry’s or salt and pepper is just fine. :)
I made this today and it was a hit with the family.
Made this the other night for an easy supper. Rave reviews from all of the family members!
Thrilled to hear that, Larissa! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
This was super tasty and I would make it again! There is no Russian dressing where I live, so I made the special sauce with ketchup and mayonnaise. Even after letting it sit for a day, it was still on the bland side. Adding another two tablespoons of minced onions and a clove of garlic (just put it in the garlic press) made it taste a lot closer to Big Mac sauce.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Erica!
After spending the last 3 weeks in the hospital searching for a GI diagnosis for the issues I’ve had. I have spent many of those days writing your different recipes down. Thank you so much for opening my eyes and soon to be taste buds to a gluten free life. I don’t feel like I lost any foods, I feel as though I gained many more
Such a positive attitude to have, Nicole – and it really makes all the difference. So important to focus on all the foods you CAN have vs the ones you can’t.
Hi Kristin!!
This is Jen, the gal you sat by in the airplane TWICE this past week. How crazy was that?
I wanted to reach out to you to say hello again, and also to share that your Big Mac salad recipe was a serious hit with our family this evening. So, so good!
Thanks for the good conversation last week, and thanks so much for all the wonderful recipes you have so graciously given the gf community. You’re awesome!
Warmest Regards,
Jen Stover
I’m so glad you reached out, Jen!! Totally agree – it was so nice to meet you guys and chat on the way home. After this year, I appreciate good conversation more than ever! I’m so glad you guys liked the salad too. ? Best of luck in your transition at work – it seems like it will be a great fit for you!!
Do I uses sweet or dill pickles for the sauce?
Dill. :)
We don’t need gluten free but we love salads with protein in them. Sounds delicious!
Yes, same! I hope you love this one, Barbara!
Made this for dinner. Better than a Big Mac and healthier. It’s a keeper!
So glad you enjoyed the salad, Connie! Really appreciate you coming back and leaving a review + recipe rating!
I really need to stop reading recipes at night before bed—I’m starving now! Making this ASAP. Your cheeseburger quesadillas are a favorite! Thanks for sharing.
Haha, I can relate! I’m always sending myself recipes to try while scrolling in bed! ;) I hope you love this recipe, Alicia!