Big Mac Salad | Keto Big Mac Salad Recipe (2024)

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If you're keto and are missing Big Macs, have I got the perfect Big Mac Salad and Big Mac Sauce for you! Super easy and let me tell you--it tastes EXACTLY like the real thing.

Except, of course, this low carb hamburger salad is actually good for you. Homemade Keto Fast food is an excellent choice if you ask me.

Big Mac Salad | Keto Big Mac Salad Recipe (1)

Why You'll Love This Keto Big Mac Salad Recipe

  • Fast. Make a salad the whole family will love in less than 30 minutes.
  • Easy. Cook up your ground beef, slice up your lettuce, make your sauce, and toss.
  • Low Carb. Only 4 net carbs per serving.
  • Affordable. Take out not in your budget this week? Make this for a fraction of the price of hitting your nearby fast food drive thru.

What Is In Big Mac Sauce?

Well, now. Isn't that a huge secret?

Full disclosure--I used to have McDonalds (r) as a client. But they did not give me their secret recipe.

So I have no real idea what's in the McDonald's Sauce Recipe. But I can tell you that whatever it is I cobbled together tastes EXACTLY like McDonald's secret sauce!

Is Big Mac Sauce the Same as Thousand Island Dressing?

I know a lot of people wonder if McDonald's Big Mac Sauce is exactly like Thousand Island Dressing.

Based on my experiment, I don't think it is. This keto Big Mac Sauce has far fewer ingredients than Thousand Island, which is good. Less is better as far as I'm concerned.

What Does This Hamburger Salad Taste Like?

Like a big mac.

No, really! It does. It's been so long since I've had a Big Mac that I asked my friend Jennifer to taste test it. And then, hundreds and hundreds of people made it and they all agree--it tastes just like a Big Mac.

I mean, what's not to love? Not only does it taste just like a Big Mac, but it's homemade, low carb, keto--and best of all, the various components can be made ahead of time.

Anytime you can have homemade food that's essentially like Keto Fast food - I'm voting for that.

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Ingredients You'll Need

Trust me when I say that this secret sauce shouldn't be a secret at all. It's so simple to make, everyone loves it, and it's made with ingredients you likely already have in your fridge.

Here's what you'll need to make this tasty Big Mac Salad recipe:

Big Mac Sauce

Salad

How To Make This Big Mac Salad Recipe

  1. First, gather the ingredients for your hamburger salad.
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2. Get the ground beef browning. I used this Le Creuset tarte tatin pan.

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3. While the ground beef browns, put together the Big Mac Sauce. Start by mixing the mustard, mayo, and vinegar.

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4. Dice onions and pickles that will get added to the sauce.

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5. Season the ground beef.

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6. Assemble the Big Mac Salad. Start with lettuce at the bottom. Add cheese, then add ground beef. Top with onions and pickles. Put the dressing on.

At this point, you can either toss the hamburger salad (as in, MIX it, not toss it into the trash) or save it like this for a while. Since the dressing is sitting on top, it won't make your lettuce all soggy and wilt.

That's it! Eat. Enjoy.

Tips for Making Big Mac Salad

  • The sauce will keep for at least a week in the fridge so make double--or quadruple! Not only does it get better with time, but it also works well with a variety of salads and grilled meats. Great for dipping grilled chicken as well.
  • Use lean ground beef for this so you don't have a greasy mess in your salad.
  • I used plain yellow mustard for this.
  • You can make a layered salad in a mason jar, and take it to work.
  • Use a great nonstick pan to make clean up a breeze.

If you're struggling with missing that fast food, this Big Mac Salad with hit the spot and satisfy those cravings.

Watch How To Make Big Mac In A Bowl

Mason Jar Big Mac Salad

I ate this salad straight from the fridge. You would think cold ground beef wouldn't taste that good, right?

It was actually MOST EXCELLENT. So one thing you could do is turn this low carb Big Mac Salad into a Mason Jar Salad and take it for lunch.

The attached video shows you how to do this. But basically layer in exactly this order: Lettuce, Cheese, Ground Beef, Onions, Pickles, Big Mac Sauce Dressing

Then, when you're ready for your Keto Big Mac Salad, either shake up that jar well or just tip everything into a bowl, stir, and enjoy.

Can I Freeze This Big Mac Salad Recipe?

Nope, you can't. That lettuce would just absolutely die if you did that. You CAN, however, make up the meat and the dressing ahead of time.

The dressing will keep for a week in your refrigerator if you cover it well.

Other Keto Recipes to Consider

  • Beef Bulgogi Burgers - A burger with a Korean barbecue twist.
  • Keto Mushrooms and Bacon - a great keto side dish.
  • Keto Sushi- A delightfully low carb take on a Spicy Tuna Roll.
  • Antipasto Salad - A delightful Italian salad.
  • Here are all of my salad recipes. Including a Keto Tabouli
  • Keto Pound Cake - The perfect finishing touch to any meal.
  • Keto Peanut Butter Bars - Taste identical to peanut butter cups.
  • Instant Pot Butter Chicken - Trust the "Butter Chicken Lady".
  • French Garlic Chicken - Sauce so good you could eat it on a boot!
  • Low Carb Chocolate Chip Cookies - The perfect Keto treat!
  • Keto Bread - the perfect bread non-eggy bread solution!
  • Keto Fast Food - Stay Keto on the run.
  • Keto Cookies - are the best treat to beat your cookie cravings.
  • Keto Meatloaf- a great recipe without pork rinds.
  • 20+ Low Carb Salad Dressings - There's something for everyone in this list of 20+ keto dressings.
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Pin It!

If you love this Keto Big Mac Salad recipe as much as I do, make sure you share it with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest so they can make it too.

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Keto Big Mac Salad | Low Carb Hamburger Salad

I kid you not, this tastes JUST like a Big Mac, except it's low carb and you know exactly what went into it.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate Recipe

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Course: Main Courses, Salads

Cuisine: American

Keyword: big mac salad, big mac sauce, low carb hamburger salad

Servings: 4

Calories: 625kcal

Author: URVASHI PITRE

Click on highlighted ingredients or Equipment to see exactly what I use to make this recipe

Ingredients

Big Mac Sauce

Salad

Instructions

  • Make the dressing. Mix mayo, diced pickles, mustard, vinegar, onion, paprika and Swerve. Set aside while you get the other ingredients together.

  • Heat a 10-inch sauté pan over medium heat. Add the ground beef, smash it to break up the clumps, and cook until it's almost cooked through. Add salt and pepper and finish cooking it all the way.

  • While the ground beef is browning, chop lettuce. Slice onions and then cut into half. Roughly chop pickles..

  • When you are ready to serve the salad, mix the lettuce, onions, pickles, and cheese. Put into four bowls. Add in ¼ of the ground beef mixture into each bowl. Drizzle with dressing and serve immediately.

Watch The Video

  • The sauce will keep for at least a week in the fridge so make double--or quadruple! Not only does it get better with time, but it also works well with a variety of salads and grilled meats. Great for dipping grilled chicken as well.
  • Use lean ground beef for this so you don't have a greasy mess in your salad.
  • I used plain yellow mustard for this.
  • You can make a layered salad in a mason jar, and take it to work.

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Nutrition

Calories: 625kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 52g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g

Tried this recipe?Follow @twosleevers and Pin it!

Don't forget to check out my other Keto cookbooks.

Keto Instant Pot, Keto Fat Bombs, Sweets, & Treats, and Easy keto in 30 minutes.

Big Mac Salad | Keto Big Mac Salad Recipe (10)
Big Mac Salad | Keto Big Mac Salad Recipe (11)
Big Mac Salad | Keto Big Mac Salad Recipe (12)
Big Mac Salad | Keto Big Mac Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What lettuce is used in a Big Mac? ›

The Big Mac is made with two 1.6 oz (45 g) beef patties, a "special sauce" (similar to Thousand Island dressing), shredded iceberg lettuce, one processed American cheese slice, two slices of dill pickle, and minced onions, served on a three slice sesame seed bun.

Is Thousand Island dressing like Big Mac sauce? ›

The answer is no… but they are similar. Both of the condiments have a creamy consistency and include pickle relish. But, McDonald's Big Mac Sauce includes vinegar and has a bit more pickle relish in it than Thousand Island dressing.

What is like Big Mac sauce? ›

Big Mac sauce and Great Value Secret Sauce are nearly identical in terms of ingredients.

Why can't I order a salad on McDonald's app? ›

Our salads are highly perishable compared to other menu items. Our decision to remove the salad items from our delivery menu is to eliminate any risk that may result in food safety and hygiene issues during the delivery process. Our salads are still available in our restaurants for dine-in or takeaway.

Does the McDonald's salad have more calories than the Big Mac? ›

McDonald's new “healthy” kale salad has more calories than the fast food chain's signature sandwich. A new salad released in Canada, the “Keep Calm, Caesar On,” has a higher caloric content than a Big Mac—730 calories to 540 calories, respectively.

What is the closest thing to the Big Mac sauce? ›

Haracz continued, saying fans of the popular fast food chain's sauce who are looking for something that's both “store-bought” and “already purchased” should try Walmart's Great Value Secret Sauce. The sauce, Haracz said, is “closest” to the Big Mac sauce that is “served in the restaurant.”

What is the Big Mac sauce made of? ›

Ingredients: Soybean Oil, Sweet Relish (diced Pickles, Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Corn Syrup, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Chloride, Spice Extractives), Water, Egg Yolks, Distilled Vinegar, Spices, Onion Powder, Salt, Propylene Glycol Alginate, Garlic Powder, Vegetable Protein (hydrolyzed Corn, ...

Where do McDonald's get their lettuce from? ›

Our lettuce is predominantly sourced from the U.K. during spring and summer, and Spain during autumn and winter. However, there's also a small percentage that also comes from Holland and France.

What mayonnaise does McDonald's use? ›

McDonald's sources their mayonnaise packs from various suppliers depending on the location and country. In the United States, one of the primary suppliers of mayonnaise packs for McDonald's is the company Kraft Heinz. However, McDonald's may use different suppliers in other regions.

Is Secret Sauce just Thousand Island? ›

McDonald's initially kept the ingredients of the Big Mac's secret sauce vague, but they've since revealed the contents to be mayonnaise, relish, vinegar, spices, and sweeteners—which is basically a riff on Thousand Island without the tomato.

What kind of pickles are on a Big Mac? ›

McDonald's uses dill pickles in their burgers including in the Big Mac®.

Will McDonald's sell you Big Mac sauce? ›

Available in restaurant, in Drive-Thru, via the My McDonald's App, and also via McDelivery, now is the time to try Big Mac® Special Sauce with any McDonald's menu items whether that's Chicken McNuggets, Veggie Dippers... or perhaps a Big MacFlurry…?

Why did they stop selling Big Mac sauce? ›

McDonald's refuses to sell Big Mac sauce and other products in retail outlets because the owners of their restaurants would want a cut of any profits, a top former employee has claimed.

Why is Big Mac sauce so good? ›

The common misconception is that it's just Thousand Island or Russian dressing. It's close to those for sure, but they're not quite the same. Big Mac sauce definitely contains more pickle relish than either of those concoctions, and there's another flavor element that makes it slightly tangier.

Is McDonald's back to selling salads? ›

Salads, which McDonald's first introduced decades ago and only made up a very small percentage of sales, are still available in certain local markets, but they're no longer listed on the McDonald's website. There are no plans to bring them back nationally right now.

Is McDonald's selling salads again? ›

All McDonald's restaurants in the United States have removed salads and other healthy options from their menu as of 2022.

How do you get a fresh Big Mac at McDonald's? ›

For instance, McDonald's famous Big Mac comes with a special sauce, pickles, lettuce, onions, and American cheese. If you're concerned that your burger may have been sitting around for a bit after being premade, request the Big Mac without sauce, or onions, or pickles.

Does McDonald's do custom orders? ›

We want you to be happy with your McDonald's meal, so we encourage you to customize your order to appeal to your taste preferences. Less special sauce? You got it. More pickles?

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