Craving a Big Mac but not the carbs? This Big Mac Salad is a fun, fresh twist on the classic burger (without the bun), packed with crisp veggies, seasoned ground beef, and a creamy special sauce that’ll trigger nostalgia in your taste buds!
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This salad is good. SO GOOD! You’re going to make this salad – and the special sauce – on repeat, trust me. 🙂
Why You’ll Love This Big Mac Salad
- Each generous serving contains only 8g net carbs, making it the perfect low carb salad recipe. It’s also a high-protein meal with 26g protein per serving.
- It includes irresistibly delicious homemade Big Mac sauce. Creamy, tangy, and irresistibly delicious, the homemade Big Mac sauce is the star of the show, bringing the whole salad to life. It’s so good, you’ll be tempted to pour it on everything!
- It’s not just for dinner – it’s also great for picnics, gatherings, and parties. You can serve this salad in individual portions for an easy at-home dinner, or it can be served buffet style at picnics, parties, and gatherings.
Ingredients Needed to Make This Big Mac Salad Recipe
Ingredient quantities for this salad side dish are located in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Ground beef
- Garlic
- White onion
- Salt
- Pepper
- Mustard
- Worcestershire sauce
- Iceberg or romaine lettuce
- Grape or cherry tomatoes
- Cheddar cheese
- Sill pickles
- Sesame seeds
- Mayonnaise
- White vinegar
- Ketchup
- Paprika
- Onion powder
- Swerve Granular or other sugar substitute
- Relish
How to Make Big Mac Salad {Quick Overview}
This is just a quick overview of some of the steps involved in making the salad. For the recipe in detail, including exact measurements used at each step, scroll to the recipe card at the end of the post.
This salad is really easy to make. Start by making the sauce, which you can either place in the fridge or leave out while you make the rest of the salad as long as you’re moving fast.
✨ TIP: If you want to make the sauce ahead of time, it can be stored in the fridge for up to three days. Or, if you omit the minced onion, it will store for up to two weeks.
Start by sautéing the beef with the onion and garlic. Once it’s cooked through, turn off the heat and drain any excess fat. Then, stir in the salt, pepper, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Honestly, sometimes I whip up some ground beef just like this for meal prep throughout the week. It has such a great flavor!
Now gather the remainder of the salad ingredients. You have three options with this salad:
- Plate each salad individually
- Allow people to plate their own from individual ingredients served buffet-style
- Allow people to plate their own from one large salad served buffet-style
Don’t forget the sauce! You may need to make extra if serving this to a crowd; I always do. 🙂
You can serve the salad with the ingredients partitioned off or tossed, like below. No matter how you serve it, you’ll love the flavor!
Enjoy! This Big Mac salad is perfect for cookouts, picnics, BBQs, holidays, and just because.
More Cookout Side Dish Recipes
If you’re planning to serve this Big Mac Salad for a cookout and want a few more cookout side dish recipes, here are a few to try:
- Bring the crunch to your cookout with this Low Carb Broccoli Salad! Refreshing, flavorful, and the perfect match for your favorite grilled dishes.
- This Low Carb Egg Salad is a creamy and filling must-try! Scoop it as a side or as your main course for a quick, delicious lunch.
- Creamy, crunchy, and totally irresistible, this Low Carb Coleslaw is the ultimate sidekick for any main course!
- Satisfy your savory cravings with Bacon and Green Beans. Smoky, simple, and downright delicious, it’s the cookout addition you didn’t know you needed!
- Indulge in Cauliflower Mac and Cheese, the cheesy, low-carb comfort food that’s perfect for summer gatherings.
- Make your picnic unforgettable with this Easy Antipasto Salad. Packed with flavor and guaranteed to wow any crowd!
- During cucumber season, make this Cucumber Ranch Salad! Creamy, delicious, and topped with crispy bacon for the ultimate crunch.
- Bright, zesty, and totally irresistible, this easy Greek Salad adds a burst of color and flavor to every bite.
Nutrition Facts for This Keto Big Mac Salad Recipe
Per serving (6 total servings):
- 413 calories
- 29g fat
- 26g protein
- 8g net carbs
Low Carb Summer Salads
Looking for other low carb salads that are perfect for summer? Give these a try:
- You have to try this Low Carb Chicken Salad—it’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser that’ll have your whole family coming back for seconds!
- This Cobb Salad is packed with flavor and perfect for lunch or dinner. It’s a guaranteed hit every single time!
- The Chicken Strawberry Salad with its dreamy summer maple balsamic dressing is love at first bite, you won’t be able to get enough!
- Obsessed with tacos? Meet your newest favorite: Low Carb Taco Salad. It’s like a deconstructed taco in a bowl, bursting with bold flavors and made even better with our homemade taco seasoning.
- Looking for a lighter take on tacos? Say hello to this Turkey Taco Salad—lean, flavorful, and guaranteed to wow your taste buds!
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Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 1 lb 93% ground beef
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 white onion chopped
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp mustard
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 12 or more cups iceberg or romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced dill pickles
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds optional
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 tbsp white white vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp mustard
- 1/2 tbsp ketchup
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tbsp Swerve Granular or other sugar substitute
- 1 tbsp minced onion
- 1 tbsp relish
Instructions
Sauce Instructions
- Prepare the sauce by thoroughly combining all sauce ingredients.
- Cover the sauce until it’s ready to be used. If you’re not making the salad immediately, place the sauce in the fridge (for up to three days, or up to two weeks if you omit the minced onion).
Salad Instructions
- To a skillet over medium heat, add crumbled ground beef, garlic, and onions. Cook, stirring frequently, until the beef is browned and cooked through.
- Remove the skillet from the burner and drain any excess fat. Then, add salt, pepper, mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Mix to combine.
- Assemble individual salads or one very large salad from the beef and remaining ingredients, including the sauce.
- I typically place the lettuce on the bottom, then add the beef, tomatoes, cheese, and dill pickles. Then I drizzle on the sauce and sprinkle on the sesame seeds. Sometimes I eat the salad as is, and other times I toss either all of the ingredients or the toppings only (leaving the lettuce in a bed at the bottom). Do whatever you prefer!
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutrition facts are included as a courtesy only. They are accurate to the best of our knowledge based on the ingredients and brands used, but their accuracy is not guaranteed. If applicable, sugar alcohols have already been removed from the total carb count.
On this site, you will find keto, low carb, gluten-free, and healthy recipes that don’t sacrifice flavor. 🍰 Thanks for visiting!
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