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This Big Mac salad is a burger shop style bowl with seasoned ground beef, crisp iceberg and fries piled in with a creamy dressing. You get that familiar tang from pickles and mustard, plus sweetness from ketchup, all tied together with a mayo-based dressing. The texture is the main draw: crunchy lettuce, warm beef, sharp cheddar and fries that soften slightly once the sauce hits. Keep it crisp or mix everything together until it’s messy in a good way. You’ll be lovin’ it the next time you have a burger craving but want something just a little bit different.
Why You’ll Love It
Big Mac salad is a hearty lettuce bowl with seasoned beef, fries and a creamy tangy sauce that hits like a classic burger. Full of fantastic McFlavor!
Fast comfort food energy: It delivers the burger and fries craving in salad form with the same salty, tangy, creamy combo.
Mix it how you like: Keep the ingredients in sections for distinct bites or toss it all together for a saucier bowl.
Make-ahead friendly: Prepare all the components (except the fries) ahead and keep them refrigerated separately to assemble your salad later.
Also try my cheeseburger tacos, cheeseburger wellington, bacon cheeseburger sliders and these meal prep bacon cheeseburger bowls.
Cheeseburger Salad Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Seasoned french fries: These bring the burger and fries vibe and add salty bite throughout the bowl.
Cooked ground beef: Gives the salad its hearty base and that browned, savory flavor. I used 80/20 for the best flavor but you can use lean if preferred.
Iceberg lettuce: Adds crunch and flavor. Chill it before assembly for extra freshness.
Cherry tomatoes: For a fresh pop and a bit of juice against the rich sauce.
Dill pickles and pickle relish: Add tang and that classic burger bite in the salad and sauce.
White onion: Adds sharpness and crunch in the bowl. Dice onions finely for balanced flavor in every bite.
Shredded cheddar cheese: Adds richness and a salty finish once it warms against the beef. I recommend using freshly shredded cheese for a better texture.
Mayonnaise: Forms the creamy base of the special sauce.
Ketchup: Adds sweetness and a familiar burger flavor to the sauce.
Yellow mustard: Adds tang and bite to the sauce.
White vinegar: Sharpens the sauce so it doesn’t taste flat.
Paprika and garlic powder: Spices to season the beef and reinforce the burger style flavor in the sauce.
How to Make a Big Mac Salad
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook the fries: Follow the directions on the package.
Brown the beef: Season the beef and cook over a medium high heat. Let it cool slightly so it doesn’t wilt the lettuce right away.
Make the special sauce: Whisk all the dressing ingredients until smooth.
Assemble the bowls: Add lettuce, toppings, beef and fries, then spoon on sauce to finish.
Substitutions and Variations
Protein swap: Use ground turkey or ground chicken if you want a lighter bowl that still has fast food appeal.
Low carb change: Skip the fries and add extra lettuce or more tomatoes and pickles.
Gluten-free version: Use gluten-free fries and confirm ketchup, mustard and relish are gluten-free since labels vary by brand.
Dairy-free version: Use dairy-free shredded cheese or leave cheese out and add a little extra sauce for richness.
Heat adjustment: Add a pinch of cayenne or splash of Sriracha to the sauce or beef if you want a little kick.
Different cheese: Swap the shredded cheddar cheese for crumbled blue cheese. It’s not very Big Mac-like but if you’re a blue cheese fan, you’ll find it does go well.
Add a tang: A few drops of Worcestershire sauce tastes good in the sauce, or even a little pickle juice.
Different lettuce: Iceberg gives the most classic texture but I tried romaine lettuce and that’s also good. Just use your favorite salad greens.
Add sesame seeds: Sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds on top to give it that Big Mac bun flavor.
Serving style: You can either divide everything between 4 serving bowls or serve it in one large serving bowl. If serving from one bowl, you can either drizzle the sauce on top or toss the salad gently to mix it in.
With another dressing: Not so keen on McDonalds special sauce? Try another salad dressing instead like spicy mayo or blue cheese dressing
Serving Suggestions
With bread: Enjoy sesame seed buns, flatbread, homemade sourdough or Parker House rolls with your Big Mac salad.
With other side dishes: You might also like air fryer onion rings or some sweet relish, pickled green beans or pickled banana peppers with your burger salad.
How to Store
Store: Refrigerate beef and chopped toppings in separate containers for up to 3 days. The sauce will keep for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Freeze cooked beef only for up to 2 months.
Thaw: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: Reheat beef until hot, then assemble with cold components.
Top Tips
Drain the beef well: Excess grease can make the lettuce soggy fast.
Cool the beef slightly: Warm beef is fine, but piping hot beef will soften the lettuce too quickly.
Keep fries separate until eating: Fries hold their texture longer when they aren’t sitting under sauce.
Dice small for better bites: Smaller pickles and onion pieces distribute more evenly through the bowl.
Toss gently: A gentle toss is best, to avoid crushing your lettuce.
Big Mac Salad FAQs
Keep fries on top or on the side and add sauce right before eating.
Moderately. Some ketchup brands run sweet, so reduce the ketchup slightly or add a touch more vinegar if you prefer less sweetness.
It usually needs more tang, so add a small splash more vinegar or a little extra mustard.
Big Mac Salad Recipe
Big Mac Salad
Equipment
- Skillet Large
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 12 Ounces French fries, seasoned
- 1 Pound ground beef
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
- ½ Teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 Cups iceberg lettuce, chopped
- 1 Cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ Cup dill pickles, chopped slices
- ½ Cup white onion, finely diced
- 1 Cup cheddar cheese, shredded
For the Special Sauce
- ½ Cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons ketchup
- 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 Tablespoon dill pickle relish
- 1 Teaspoon white vinegar
- ½ Teaspoon ground paprika
- ¼ Teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
Cook the Fries
- Bake the French fries according to package directions.
Prepare the Ground Beef
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef with salt, pepper, and garlic powder until browned with no pink remaining.
- Drain excess grease if needed, then let cool slightly.
Make the Special Sauce
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together all special sauce ingredients until smooth and creamy.
- Adjust seasoning to taste.
Assemble the Big Mac Salad
- Divide the chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, pickles, diced onion, shredded cheddar cheese and warm ground beef between 4 serving bowls.
- Add French fries to each bowl.
- Serve immediately, with the sauce on the side or drizzled on top.
Notes
Cool the beef slightly: Warm beef is fine, but piping hot beef will soften the lettuce too quickly.
Keep fries separate until eating: Fries hold their texture longer when they aren’t sitting under sauce.
Dice small for better bites: Smaller pickles and onion pieces distribute more evenly through the bowl.
Toss gently: A gentle toss is best, to avoid crushing your lettuce.
Nutrition
If you want burger shop flavor in a bowl, this one does it with the same salty, tangy, creamy notes you love. The key is keeping the parts separate until the last minute so the lettuce stays crisp and the fries don’t turn limp. Once you’ve made Big Mac salad once, it’s easy to adjust the sauce to match how you like your burgers – more tang, more sweetness or extra pickle bite to satisfying any fast food craving. The whole family is going to love the flavors in this McDonalds inspired salad recipe.
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
