Description
Culinary magic meets classic Big Mac flavors in this playful Big Mac salad that reimagines fast food favorites. Crisp lettuce, tangy dressing, and all the signature ingredients create a lighter, fresher take on the iconic burger that keeps taste buds dancing with delight.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 4 slices american cheese
Vegetables:
- 1 head iceberg lettuce
- 2 medium pickles
- 1/2 medium onion
- 2 medium tomatoes
Dressing and Extras:
- 1/2 cup thousand island dressing
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
- 1/4 cup diced dill pickles
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 2 tbsp mustard
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Thoroughly wash and chop iceberg lettuce into bite-sized pieces, creating a crisp base for the salad.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown ground beef, breaking it into small crumbles until no pink remains, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Drain excess fat from the cooked beef and season with salt and pepper, allowing the meat to cool slightly.
- Dice tomatoes, onions, and pickles into uniform, small pieces to ensure balanced flavor in every bite.
- Whisk together thousand island dressing, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, white vinegar, and additional seasonings to create a tangy Big Mac-inspired sauce.
- Tear American cheese slices into smaller fragments to distribute evenly throughout the salad.
- In a large mixing bowl, layer the chopped lettuce as the foundation, then strategically arrange cooked ground beef over the greens.
- Sprinkle diced pickles, onions, and tomatoes across the beef layer for added texture and traditional burger flavors.
- Drizzle the prepared sauce generously over the salad, ensuring complete coverage.
- Scatter cheese fragments and sesame seeds on top for authentic Big Mac presentation.
- Gently toss all ingredients to combine, allowing the sauce to coat every component evenly.
- Chill for 10-15 minutes before serving to let flavors meld together, creating a refreshing deconstructed burger experience.
Notes
- Toast sesame seeds in a dry skillet for extra nutty flavor and enhanced crunch before sprinkling on the salad.
- Customize sauce by adjusting mayonnaise and ketchup ratios to match personal taste preferences for tanginess.
- Replace ground beef with plant-based crumbles for a vegetarian version that maintains the classic burger profile.
- Store leftover salad separately to prevent lettuce from becoming soggy, mixing ingredients just before serving for optimal texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 1300 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg