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We have taken all the iconic flavors of the McDonald’s Big Mac and transformed them into an incredible Big Mac salad. Then, the salad is tossed in our own homemade creamy Big Mac special sauce. Instead of a bun, iceberg lettuce is the base, which makes this recipe gluten-free, WW-friendly, keto-friendly, and low-carb! We have lightened it up and used much healthier ingredients without losing the mouthwatering flavors of a Big Mac. This is a crave-worthy salad I know you will have on repeat.
Why You Will Love Big Mac Salad
- It has the flavors of a McDonald’s Big Mac burger, in salad form.
- This cheeseburger salad is delicious while being lightened up.
- This recipe is made with simple and healthy ingredients.
- We have made a lightened-up special sauce to go with it.
- It is low-carb, gluten-free, and WW-friendly.
What Is Big Mac Salad?
Big Mac salad is a salad that features the ingredients you would find in a McDonald’s Big Mac burger. Iceberg lettuce is used as the base of this salad instead of a burger bun. This salad has the classic flavors of a Big Mac burger. We even made a lightened-up special sauce that tastes like the one from McDonald’s!
Ingredients Needed
For The Big Mac Salad
- Ground Turkey: We used 1% fat ground turkey breast to lighten up this recipe. You can also use lean ground beef.
- Seasonings: Season the ground turkey with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Lettuce: Thinly slice iceberg lettuce.
- Onion: Finely dice a white or sweet onion.
- Tomatoes: Use one large tomato or 3-4 Roma tomatoes for this recipe. Also, finely dice the tomatoes.
- Cheese: Use light cheddar cheese or a light cheese blend.
For The Special Sauce
- Greek Yogurt: Use 0-fat Greek yogurt as the base of the sauce. The yogurt helps lighten the sauce and reduces the mayonnaise you need.
- Mayonnaise: You only need a little bit of light mayonnaise.
- Relish: Add pickle relish or sweet pickle relish to the sauce.
- Ketchup: Adds flavor to the special sauce. You can use regular ketchup or sugar-free ketchup.
- Vinegar: A small amount of apple cider vinegar adds a bit of acidity.
- Seasoning: Season the sauce with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. This helps add flavor and enhance the flavors of the sauce.
How To Make Big Mac Salad
First, lightly spray a nonstick pan with oil. After that, add the ground turkey breast to the pan and season it with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Then, cook the turkey over medium heat until it is fully cooked. Also, use a spatula to break up the meat into small pieces.
Next, thinly slice the iceberg lettuce, finely dice the onion, and finely dice the tomatoes.
After that, make the homemade special sauce. Add the 0-fat Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, pickle relish, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a bowl and mix.
Then, evenly distribute this salad and assemble it on multiple plates. Add the iceberg lettuce as the base of each salad. After that, add fully cooked ground turkey, onion, tomatoes, and light cheddar cheese. Next, pour special sauce over top and enjoy!
How To Serve
Assemble this salad and serve it in bowls or on plates. This recipe makes four servings or two larger servings. Add the special sauce to the salad and mix the ingredients. Also, you can sprinkle some sesame seeds on top. Then, dig in and enjoy!
Tips For Making Big Mac Salad
How To Store Salad
We do not recommend storing this salad once it is assembled. However, you can prep the components beforehand and store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Then, you can easily assemble this salad again. To do this, make the special sauce ahead of time and store it in an airtight jar in the refrigerator. Also, cook the ground turkey and then place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Additionally, you can chop the lettuce and dice the onion beforehand.
Cook The Meat
Use a nonstick pan to cook the ground turkey. Season it with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Then, fully cook it and use a spatula to break it into small pieces.
Thoroughly Mix The Sauce
Combine all of the ingredients to make the special sauce in a bowl. Thoroughly mix the sauce, add it to the salad, and enjoy!
Big Mac Bowl Variations
- Use Your Meat Of Choice: We made this salad with ground turkey breast. If you prefer, you can use lean ground beef instead. Or, you can use ground chicken breast.
- Iceberg Lettuce Substitution: This salad uses iceberg lettuce as the base. If you don’t want to use iceberg lettuce, you can substitute it for chopped romaine.
- Onion Substitution: Use diced white, sweet, or red onion in this recipe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Big Mac Salad Healthy?
Yes, this Big Mac salad is healthy. It is gluten-free, low-carb, Weight Watchers / WW, and keto friendly.
What Does Big Mac Salad Taste Like?
Big Mac salad tastes like a Big Mac burger without the bun in salad form. Iceberg lettuce is the base instead of a burger bun.
Can I Make This Salad Ahead Of Time?
You can prep the ingredients for this salad ahead of time. Store the prepped ingredients in airtight containers in the refrigerator. However, do not assemble this salad ahead of time. Only assemble it when you are ready to eat it.
What Kind Of Lettuce Is Used In A Big Mac?
A Big Mac contains iceberg lettuce. This salad has the flavors of a Big Mac and uses sliced iceberg lettuce as the base.
How Long Does Big Mac Salad Last?
Big Mac salad is best enjoyed after assembling it. We do not recommend storing this salad. However, you can store the ingredients in separate containers to easily assemble this salad.
Is Big Mac Salad Low Carb?
Yes, this salad is low-carb! Instead of a burger bun, lettuce is the base of this recipe. Also, there is no added sugar in our homemade special sauce recipe!
More Recipes To Try Next!
- Viral Smash Burger Tacos
- Healthy Chicken Burgers
- Easy Mediterranean Turkey Burger
- Healthy Bacon Cheeseburger
- Caesar Salad Dressing
- Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe
- Join us on our YouTube channel for recipe videos!
If you try this recipe please be sure to leave us a comment and star rating ★★★★★ letting us know how it turns out for you. We hope you enjoy this Big Mac salad recipe!
BIG MAC SALAD
Ingredients
For This Big Mac Salad
- 1 pound ground turkey breast 1% fat or lean ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 4-6 cups thinly sliced iceberg lettuce, 1 head of iceberg lettuce
- 1/3 cup finely diced white onion or sweet onion
- 1 cup finely diced tomatoes, about 1 large tomato or 3-4 Roma tomatoes
- 1 cup light cheddar cheese or light cheese blend
For The Special Sauce
- 1/4 cup 0-fat Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon light mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon pickle relish or sweet pickle relish
- 2 teaspoons ketchup or sugar-free ketchup
- 1/2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Lightly spray a nonstick pan with oil. Then, add the ground turkey breast to the pan and season it with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Cook the turkey over medium heat until it is fully cooked while you use the spatula to break up the meat into small pieces.
- Thinly slice the iceberg lettuce, finely dice the onion, and finely dice the tomatoes.
- Make the homemade special sauce. Add the 0-fat Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, pickle relish, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a bowl and mix.
- Evenly distribute this salad and assemble it on multiple plates. This recipe serves four, but if you would like larger servings, it can serve two. Add the iceberg lettuce as the base of each salad. Then, add fully cooked ground turkey, onion, tomatoes, and light cheddar cheese. After that, pour special sauce over top, mix, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Meat Of Choice: We made this Big Mac salad with ground turkey breast. If you prefer, you can use lean ground beef instead. Or, you can use ground chicken breast.
- Iceberg Lettuce Substitution: This Big Mac salad uses iceberg lettuce as the base. If you don’t want to use iceberg lettuce, substitute it for chopped romaine.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
You’ve got to try this Big Mac Salad made with ground turkey it’s low-carb and packed with all the flavors you love, plus our secret sauce that’s lightened up but still delicious! It’s the perfect lighter version of your favorite classic, making it a satisfying meal you can enjoy anytime!