If you love the flavors of a Big Mac but want something lighter and easier to make at home, this Big Mac in a bowl is the perfect solution. It has all the classic flavors you love including seasoned ground beef, crisp lettuce, pickles, cheese, and a creamy special sauce, all without the bun.
This recipe comes together quickly using simple ingredients and works great for meal prep. I’ve made this multiple times when I want something filling but still lower in carbs, and it always hits that fast food craving in a better way.
I’ve been seeing this recipe for Big Mac Salad pop up on Instagram a lot lately and had to try it for myself and it did not disappoint! The whole entire salad is only 5 smart points and can be easily meal prepped for lunches. Some sesame seed bun croutons would be really good on top of this salad but I didn’t have any. Noted for when I make this recipe again. 🙂
If you love salads for lunch try my recipe for Big Mac Tacos, Strawberry Poppyseed Salad or Dorito Taco Salad.
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Why You Will Love This Recipe
This Big Mac in a Bowl will be another salad recipe that I can add to my favorite salad list and it is delicious! I ate the whole entire salad including the lettuce. Usually, I like to eat everything but the lettuce in the salad or eat around it.
- All the flavor of a Big Mac without the bun
- Quick and easy for busy weeknights
- Great for low carb or keto lifestyles
- Perfect for meal prep
- Uses simple, budget friendly ingredients
- If you're not a low carb person, add some homemade fries to this. It's delicious!
Ingredients for Big Mac in a Bowl
- Ground beef - Is considered better than higher fat options for several reasons. First, it has less saturated fat, which can contribute to heart disease and other health issues. Additionally, it tends to have fewer calories per serving, making it a good option for those watching their weight. The 96% lean ground beef from Aldi is my favorite.
- Onion powder is dehydrated, ground onion that is commonly used as a seasoning. Some people do not like the taste of freshly chopped onion so onion powder is a great substitute if you have a picky eater like that in your house.
- Garlic powder - is made from dehydrated garlic cloves and like the chili powder above it gets pulverized into a powder or flour consistency.
- Worcestershire sauce is a condiment that originated in Worcester, England. It is made from a blend of vinegar, molasses, anchovies, tamarind, onion, garlic, and other seasonings.Iiceberg lettuce, chopped - Romaine or iceberg lettuce can be used for this salad.
- Cherry tomatoes or roma tomatoes halved
- Diced pickles - Pickles are zero points on WW freestyle as long as they are unsweetened pickles.
- Cheese - Reduced-Fat Cheese has a lower calorie count and less saturated fat than regular cheese, but it may also have a different taste and texture. It also helps with keeping the calorie count pretty low for this recipe.
- Big Mac Sauce - The ingredients for big mac sauce are all pretty much found in your pantry. Mayonnaise, pickle relish, ketchup, and mustard. Sometimes I'll switch it up and use a store bought dressing like Thousand Island or French Dressing.
- French Dressing - Making homemade salad dressings really aren’t my favorite thing to make at home and that is why I like to use store bought dressings.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to make Big Mac in a Bowl
Step 1: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess grease. Stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
Step 2: In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, mustard, onion powder, and garlic powder. Set aside.
Step 3: In a large bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, diced pickles, and shredded cheddar cheese. .Add the cooked ground beef to the salad bowl and toss everything together.
Step 4: Drizzle the Thousand Island dressing mixture over the salad and toss to coat evenly.
Serve the Big Mac Salad immediately and enjoy!
Pro Tips for Big Mac in a Bowl
- Chop everything small for that true “fast food” texture
- Use warm beef with cold lettuce for the best contrast
- Make extra sauce because it is the best part
- Store sauce separately if meal prepping
What Makes This Taste Like a Big Mac
The combination of seasoned beef, pickles, onions, and the creamy tangy sauce is what gives this bowl that classic Big Mac flavor. The sauce is especially important, and getting that balance of sweet, tangy, and creamy is what makes this recipe stand out.
Is Big Mac in a Bowl Low Carb?
Yes. This recipe skips the bun, making it much lower in carbs than a traditional burger. It is a great option if you are following a low carb or keto style diet.
Can You Meal Prep This Recipe?
Yes. This is one of my favorite meal prep lunches.
- Store beef separately from lettuce
- Keep sauce in a small container
- Assemble fresh when ready to eat
Serving Suggestions
- Add sesame seeds on top for that Big Mac feel
- Serve with Air Fryer Frozen French Fries or potato wedges
- Add avocado for extra healthy fats
Recipe FAQS
If you're looking to make homemade Big Mac Sauce at home it will have these ingredients in it. Big mac sauce includes ¼ cup Thousand Island dressing, ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, Salt and pepper to taste
Iceberg lettuce gives the most authentic texture
Yes, just skip the cheese or use a dairy free option.
Other Great Recipes to Try
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Big Mac in a Bowl
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Skillet
- Cuisine: Lunch
Description
Big Mac in a Bowl - all your favorite flavors of Mcdonald’s Big Mac burger combined into a salad. It is loaded with ground beef, tomatoes, pickles, cheese, onions, and topped off with some Light thousand island dressing. Low Carb and Weight Watcher friendly!
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 head of iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup diced pickles
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup diced onions
Big Mac Dressing
- 1 cup lite mayonnaise
- ¼ cup of reduced-sugar ketchup
- ¼ cup pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- 2 tablespoons Onion Powder
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess grease. Stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, mustard, onion powder, and garlic powder. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, diced pickles, shredded cheddar cheese, and diced onions.
- Add the cooked ground beef to the salad bowl and toss everything together.
- Drizzle the Thousand Island dressing mixture over the salad and toss to coat evenly.
- Serve the Big Mac Salad immediately and enjoy!
Notes
My WW Personal Points: 9 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 7.4g
- Fat: 20.7
- Saturated Fat: 7.6g
- Carbohydrates: 15.4g
- Fiber: 4.5g
- Protein: 34.9g
Annie says
I ran it through the calculator and am getting 8 points per serving. I'm still going to make it but I show 10 for the beef, 10 for the cheese and 10 for the dressing. That's 7.5 points per serving. What kind of dressing and cheese did you use??
Jenna says
Great idea adding that! I will try next time. 🙂
Juli says
This is so good! Sometimes I add a little liquid smoke to the ground beef and make a “Whopper in a Bowl“.
Jenna says
The picture shows pickle slices. Hope that helps.
Amy says
Is 16 pickles correct? The wording in this has me questioning if it is 16 slices of pickle (like hamburger slices) or 16 whole pickles sliced and then diced. I appreciate any clarification.
Lynda B says
This is one of my favorite recipes of all time. I do love Big Macs but making my own burger is easy too, it just is healthier without all that bread & cheese. I usually use Colby jack, Monterey Jack or cheddar. It’s a perfect summer salad.
Jenna says
That is what the recipe says. 🙂
C says
This recipe looks like it makes 4 servings?
Jenna says
No. I make a whole pound of beef at once and split it between 4 salads.
Rosemary says
Does one salad really use the whole pound of beef?!?!