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Ultimate Low-Carb Big Mac Salad with Copycat Special Sauce

A close-up of a hearty big mac salad featuring seasoned ground beef, shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, and pickles.
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Make this satisfying Big Mac Salad for a quick weeknight dinner or meal prep. You get all the classic cheeseburger flavors—seasoned beef, crisp lettuce, pickles, and cheese—with a homemade special sauce, all without the bun.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 recommended)
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 head iceberg lettuce, shredded
  • 1/2 cup dill pickle chips
  • 1/4 cup finely diced white onion
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional topping)
  • For the Special Sauce:
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

  1. Prepare the special sauce: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, white vinegar, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix well until smooth. Set aside.
  2. Cook the beef: Place the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Break the meat apart as it cooks. Drain any excess grease.
  3. Season the beef: Stir the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper into the cooked ground beef. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Remove from heat.
  4. Assemble the salad: Place the shredded iceberg lettuce in a large bowl or divide it among individual serving bowls.
  5. Layer the toppings: Top the lettuce evenly with the seasoned ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, diced white onion, and dill pickle chips.
  6. Serve: Drizzle the homemade special sauce generously over the salad ingredients. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if you are using them. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For meal prep, store the special sauce separately and add it just before eating to keep the lettuce crisp.
  • You can substitute ground turkey for beef if you prefer a leaner option.
  • To mimic the sesame seed bun flavor, lightly toast the sesame seeds before sprinkling them on top.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameal.com/big-mac-salad-recipe-quick-low-carb/