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My low carb Big Mac salad recipe is like a healthier version of rare childhood memories stopping at McDonald’s. That’s probably not much of an impression for most people, but we very rarely ate out when I was growing up. This included everything from gourmet restaurants to fast food, my parents much preferring home cooked meals.
For the most part, I loved my mom’s home cooked food, too. I won’t lie, though – as a kid, those rare occasions that I got to have “fast food” were a treat.
I’d beg my dad to take me to Burger King or McDonald’s after gymnastics practice, hoping for that rare “yes”. It only came a few times a year, making it all the more special.
I can’t say I blame my parents for leaving the fast food joints to rare occasions, especially knowing what I know now about fast food. My two-year-old has yet to try any, and I hope to keep it that way for as long as possible.
There’s nothing wrong with a rare exception for most people, but I think the majority would agree that frequent fast food is far from ideal.
All that being said, there’s no reason you can’t make your own healthier, low carb fast food version at home! This low carb Big Mac salad recipe (or simply, cheeseburger salad recipe) is just that.
What healthier way to enjoy a homemade Big Mac than as a big ol’ salad, right? Seriously, I don’t even miss the bread when I make this one.
It’s the classic combination of smoky ground beef, crisp romaine lettuce, juicy tomatoes, rich shredded cheese, and salty pickles… all finished with a creamy-sweet Big Mac copycat dressing.
Oh, and it happens to be sugar-free, low carb, and gluten-free! Yesssss.
I used powdered erythritol to sweeten the dressing, but you can absolutely use any sweetener you like. This recipe isn’t fussy at all, so seriously any sweetener you like will work, whether it’s liquid or granulated. Just adjust to taste until you reach your desired sweetness.
As usual, I kept the entire recipe under 10 ingredients total. (Granted, one is repeated in both the salad and the dressing, and I’m not counting salt and pepper.)
That can be a challenge with salads, since the dressing in itself is often quite a few ingredients, but I managed to keep this one simple enough. And to me, it still tastes just like the famous sauce on a Big Mac… minus any weird ingredients, of course!
In many ways, this low carb Big Mac salad reminds me of my popular healthy taco salad. It’s another transformation of a carb-heavy classic into a lighter salad that’s still packed with flavor and hearty enough to be a meal on its own. If that’s your thing, another good one to try is bacon cheeseburger salad in the summer or keto cheeseburger casserole in the winter.
With summer approaching, you’ll want to have meal salad recipes like these on hand. It’s the perfect way to serve dinner with minimal cooking!
Disclaimer: Big Mac may be a registered trademark. This recipe is my interpretation of a similar dish, but is not to be construed as an endorsement of the company or having been endorsed by the company. There is no affiliation between myself and the company. Trademark remains the property of its owner and is used here only to describe the product.Tools To Make Keto Big Mac Salad:
Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- Nonstick Skillet – A nonstick skillet is an essential tool for making this recipe. This set will work great for browning your ground beef.
- Large Salad Bowl – This large salad bowl is the perfect size for this low carb salad.
- Blender – This high-powered blender is one of my favorite kitchen appliances. It will puree the salad dressing ingredients perfectly.
Big Mac Salad Recipe (Low Carb Cheeseburger Salad):
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Big Mac Salad (Low Carb, Gluten-free)
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Salad
Dressing
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Cook ground beef in a skillet over high heat. Season with sea salt and black pepper. Stir fry, breaking up the pieces with a spatula, for about 7-10 minutes, until the beef is browned and moisture has evaporated.
- Meanwhile, puree all the dressing ingredients in a blender. If dressing is thicker than you like, thin out with water or oil and puree again. Adjust sweetener to taste. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Combine the remaining salad ingredients in a large bowl. Add the ground beef. Toss with dressing.
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1/6 of entire recipe
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Nutrition Information Per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Net carb count excludes fiber, erythritol, and allulose, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. (Learn about net carbs here.) We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
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303 Comments
Geoffry Berryman
Was not a fan of the dressing. I think following the recipe but just topping with thousand island would work really well though! Not sure what that does for calories/carbs however.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Geoffry, That sounds great! I have a great recipe for Thousand Island Dressing here. Feel free to enter the recipe into an online recipe calculator to get an accurate view of the nutrition with Thousand Island Dressing.
Lisa
Hi,
I’m making this recipe right now! I’m just noticing the lack of diced onions in the recipe, and I know that Big Mac’s have onions on them. No one has mwntioned this in the reviews. Were onions omitted on purpose?
Thanks!
Lisa
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Lisa, Onions provide a few extra carbs. Feel free to add them if that is your preference.
JUDY THODAY
In the original Big Mac…there’s no tomatoes..substitute onion for tomatoes!!
Rich Hvizdos
Really Appreciate this article, can I set it up so I get an update sent in an email when there is a fresh post?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Rich! Yes, definitely! You can sign up for my newsletter here – I’ll send you a free keto food list to start and notifications about my new recipes in my newsletter afterward.
Daphne
Excellent! I will be making this again!
Erika
Soooo Good! I added a bit of diced onion as well
Lori Kohls
Can’t wait to try this recipe! I have regular Paprika, not smoked. Will this make a difference in the recipe?
Thank you!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Lori, It will have a slightly smokey flavor, but it will still be great!
Kym Martin
Delicious! We make often!!! Thank you for sharing this recipe
Natasha
Love this recipe. It’s easy and the knock off sauce is spot on!
Lisa
I just made this last night for me and my fussy fiance. I used one tablespoon of organic maple syrup as the sweetener. The dressing was outstanding. He really loved it and this recipe is a keeper. Thanks!
LLD
Big Macs don’t have tomatoes 🙂 “Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun.” (No buns for us keto-ers) But tomatoes are a delicious addition to the salad! Maybe McD’s will start adding them!!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi LLD, Ah, you caught me! Tomatoes are so delicious, how could I not add them? Enjoy 😉
CL
Just made this and omg! It’s like eating all the sloppy leftovers that fall off when you are eating a Big Mac! Big Mac salad recipe….where have you been all of my life???
Kathy Davis
Should you wait to mix all together until you actually eat? Will it get soggy if mixed early?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Kathy, If you are using this recipe to meal plan your lunches or dinner, then yes, I would wait to dress the salad until the last minute.
Regina
So, so good!
I even goofed and added too much liquid to the dressing. Thought it was 2 tbsp vinegar, so to layer flavors I added a tbsp of dill pickle juice AND tbsp of vinegar. When I reread recipe I saw it was only 1 tbsp! ♀️ I thought for sure it was ruined, but it was super forgiving and still so great! The smoked paprika really made it come alive!
I also mixed up the dressing portion of the diced pickles (this time on purpose) by using one tbsp of sweet gherkins (the kind made with splenda) and 1 tbsp dill pickles. This recipe was so refreshingly simple!
People: just throw it in your bowl and eat it!
Thanks so much for creating and sharing!
Jack Harris
So, I’m a particularly lazy cook in the kitchen so that’s my angle with this question. How much different is this dressing recipe than, say, something like 1000 island dressing with chopped pickles in it? I’ve not tried recreating Big Mac sauce before and I have so many spices in the cabinet which are “one use” wonders so I’m not sure picking up smoked paprika is heavy on my “to do” list. Your thoughts?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Jack, You can certainly use Thousand Island Dressing if you wish. Your salad will still be delicious. The dressing in this recipe is a copycat version of the special sauce you get at the local fast food burger stop, but it will work with whatever dressing you have on hand. As for the smoked paprika, I think it’s a great kitchen staple spice. It’s used in many recipes on this site and gives protein a nice kick without adding any additional heat.
Hope
Delicious! I’m not on keto. But trying to eat better since I’m in my second trimester and this HIT my craving for burgers. Thanks a bunch!!! ❤
Beth
Just made this for dinner, it was delicious and tasted just like a Big Mac !
Marlene
So good you don’t even need the fake sugar.
Ash
Do you think this would taste just as good with ground turkey? I made this with hamburger and it was fantastic, just looking to cut down the calories 🙂
Wholesome Yum A
That would be great, Ash!
Vicky Rybarczyk
This sounds so Delish! I will have to for sure make this!!
Julie
Hi Maya! As I stated a while ago … my hubby and I LOVE this recipe!!! We are experiencing the beginning of cooler days and I was wondering if this recipe could be adapted to a soup. I can see it being served over a bed of lettuce, but am not sure if you’d recommend heating the dressing. Have you any suggestions?
Wholesome Yum A
Hi Julie, my best suggestion would be to try my bacon cheeseburger soup instead!
Laura Johnson
I loved this recipe. Have already made it three times. I even had my nephews try it. And the one that NEVER cooks wanted the recipe. He really like it too.
BAM
I make this delish salad for family and make it tripled for work to share for special occasions. Everyone loves it even those who are not salad people.
Lisa
Delicious. I made it New Mexico style and added green chili to the ground beef and some chopped avocado to the salad. This is a family favorite.
Mary Tsamasiros
I’m eating this right now! I came home after work and was so hungry. I found this recipe on your website, and quickly threw it together. Love the sauce. Thank you so much!
Samantha Rae
This was better than expected! Who doesn’t love a good greasy burger every now and then? With this recipe you will get the burger without the sacrifice! Highly recommend and will definitely be making this one again.
Michele
This Big Mac salad was delicious! I have never had a salad with pickles in it but lt’s good! Using grass-fed ground beef always helps flavor and the dressing is really tasty. I ate the whole salad myself ( over a couple of days). It was really easy to make and I’ll be using the dressing for other salads. Thanks Maya!
Julie
This salad is absolutely wonderful, Maya! I typically run chilly, so cold foods are not a favorite of mine; also, I’m not much of a salad lover. Consequently, I was amazed at how much I loved this recipe! Hubby and I devoured it the first time I made this and within the week I was already making the dressing to have on hand for use in a few days. The recipe is simple (I loved that!), few ingredients (and common ingredients, at that–very good), but soooo delicious!!! thank you so much for this recipe … I can’t wait to make it for our next church’s next potluck!
Linda
I made the dressing with coconut oil and it turned out VERY thick to the point I could barely spread it, let alone toss it. Any suggestions to make it thinner? I added about 1/4 cup more of coconut oil but no luck.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Linda, This is because coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so even if you melted it, it probably cooled down when mixed with the other dressing ingredients. I recommend using a different oil that’s liquid at room temperature, such as olive or avocado oil, or refined coconut oil that comes in a bottle.
Karen Joy
Oil??Where is there oil listed in this recipe?Am I missing something?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Karen, The recipe does not call for any oil because the dressing contains mayo. If you were going to make your mayo from scratch, you would need oil. The best oil for making mayo is avocado oil, as it doesn’t solidify at room temperature. I hope this clarifies things.
Crystal
Not sure what I did wrong, but my dressing just tasted like mayonnaise and mustard.
Wholesome Yum
Hi Crystal, sorry to hear that. Feel free to add more paprika next time if you need more flavor.
Angie
Hi
I am not a fan of dill pickles, can I omit and still have a great flavor. I dont want to use sweet as I am a diabetic. Ty
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Angie, Sure, you can skip the pickles if you don’t like them.
Ryvir
I have been making this every so often for about 2 years. I only just got smoked paprika because I could never justify getting it for just a single recipe. It totally changes the dressing, in a good way. It reminds me a little more of 5 Guys sauce now. I like the smoked better but regular paprika for color was also nice.
Christina
Thank you so much for this recipe. It has become a weekly staple in our home!
Denise DeBerardino
Sounds delicious but I don’t want to screw it up! Dill or sweet pickles?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Denise, Either will “work”, but the recipe calls for dill pickles because sweet ones wouldn’t be low carb.
Jennifer
I have made this before for dinner and is was a big hit! I’m making for a party tomorrow. Can I cook the meat tonight and add it all together tomorrow or is it better fresh?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Jennifer, Yes, you can cook the meat ahead if you’d like. I’d probably lightly fry to reheat it before adding to the salad on the day-of.
Tracey
Yes dill all the way
Susan
I made this for my Husband and I It is Wonderful! Tastes just like a Big Mac!! Thank You soooo much! A Great addition to our Keto lunches
AliceaRose
Wow! So delicious. I cut up an actual hamburger patty since it was hamburger night and it was fabulous. I omitted the tomato and added grilled onion, just personal preference. Can’t wait to make this again.
Anjelica Jones
How many tbsp would you say are in one serving?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Anjelica, It would be pretty difficult to measure a salad full of green lettuce by the tablespoon. A serving is 1/6 of the entire recipe, so if you divide into 6 parts, it would be 1 of them.
Samantha
How much is considered a serving? This salad is AMAZING by the way.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Samantha, A serving is 1/6 of the entire recipe.
Chris
I made this with ground chicken instead of beef and was still awesome.
Dee
I enjoyed this recipe and my family did also. I used stevia and added 2 bacon strips and pureed all the dressing ingredients together. So yummy!
Crissy
So good. Thanks so much!!
Jessie
This was fabulous!! I’ll make it again and it will be even better next time because I made a few mistakes!
Warning to those substituting w/*liquid* monk fruit.. I only added a 1/2 tsp to start, but holy cow, that made my dressing SO sweet, it was almost sickly sweet! I should have just tossed it and started again, but I added vinegar and more paprika. Even it out, and it came out okay. I would steer clear of the liquid version, even 1/4 tsp would be too sweet (it’s good for cocktails and coffee at least!)..
Also, I think prepared yellow mustard is KEY here. I assumed I had some, and for some crazy reason didn’t… So I used dried mustard instead… nope, not the same, guys…
Despite my mistakes, I still tossed it up and I’m lovin’ it ;)! I will make it again!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Jessie! Yes, liquid monk fruit is extremely concentrated so you’d only need a teeny-tiny amount of it if using that. I’m glad you made it work!
Sherry Weaver
This is one of our favourites… just realized that I had all the fixings in the fridge so I took out some hamburger from the freezer to make tonight! Dress it up with sauteed muschrooms, pickled jalepenos… whatever you like on a burger. Love love love it… such a treat on KETO.
marcy e mcnally
I made this tonight for the third time. This time I added onions because well, onions come on a big Mac (I figure you omitted them out of personal taste lol). I know they add a few carbs but I’m not too concerned because it’s not like I’m eating an entire onion lol. This time I also thought of the sesame seed on the bun angle and added some “Everything but the bagel” seasoning.
I also used chopped deli roast beef because I have a problem with ground meats. I hope you don’t mind my taking artistic liberties with your amazing recipe. I just like to play 🙂
Thank you for your awesome recipes, Maya !!!
Barb
We love this salad. A friend came to visit and she is Keto. She made this for us for dinner one night. I’ve been making it ever since. Made a double batch and brought it to work this past week and it was a big hit. Simple recipe with big taste.
Jessica
Great recipe! If you like pickles, don’t leave them out. They add a great crunch
Brenda
What percentage of beef/fat is recommended for this recipe?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Brenda, Any kind you like is fine. I used 85/15.
Shon Glynn
Also can you substitute erythritol for monk fruit?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Yes, you can!
Shon Glynn
What exactly does the vinegar do? I ask because the makes me nauseous. But looking forward to trying it, I need a burger in my life and if this will help I’m all for it. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Shon, It’s for balancing flavors and most dressings have it. You could try lemon juice instead if you’d like.
Barb
This was fantastic! The dressing is spot on (I did use sugar-free sweet relish in the dressing instead of pickles) and I used more seasonings on the ground beef to make it taste more like a cheeseburger. Otherwise followed your recipe.
Claussen pickles have a great crunch which I found to be a nice addition to the salad reminiscent of the crunch of croutons.
Michele Wilson
Tried this for dinner tonight, SO good! Even my non-Keto husband liked it. I did add a diced avocado because I like that on my burgers
Suzanne Martin
OMG! This salad is the best salad I have had in a long time. Made it for dinner last night and couldn’t wait to have left overs for lunch today. It was easy and fast to make and the dressing tastes exactly like the sauce on a Big Mac. This is going on my regular low carb rotation!
Ashley
I am eating this salad right now & it is SOOO good! This will definitely be a recipe that I will make over & over again. All of my kids loved it too, ages 2, 4 & 6. I added avocado & boiled egg to mine. The dressing is spot on 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Ashley! Thank you!
Antonia
My husband LOVES this. He is not low carb and eats whatever he wants. I have to shred/mince pickles so my teen son does not realize pickles are in it and skip sweetener of any kind. My husband want this at LEAST once a week 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you and your husband enjoyed the salad, Antonia! Have a great day!
Yvonne
I’m trying this tomorrow. No sugar free catsup?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Yvonne, Hope you like it. You can find a sugar-free ketchup recipe here.
Rachel
My husband and I eat this salad at least once a week. It is our favorite recipe! Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love to hear that, Rachel! Thank you!
Rachel
Maya, keep the lc recipes coming! I am going to try your fudge next.
Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Rachel! Hope you love it!
Becky
Love love love this salad! Thank you so much!!!
Barb
This is one of my favorite salads! I vary only a little from the recipe as written. I don’t use any sweetener, I omit tomato and replace with some chopped onion and I use pickle juice rather than white vinegar. I make this very often!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Barb! Thank you!
Chilli Rodriguez
Delicious! I used Turkey instead of Beef, I also melted a couple slices of American cheese over the turkey, added a couple teaspoons of red onion to dressing. This is the best alternative to one of my most favorite burgers! Thank you for sharing. PS. For sweetener I used Powdered Monkfruit. I find this to not have a after taste
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thanks for sharing with us, Chilli!
Nicole
Are you using dill or sweet pickles ?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Nicole, I use dill pickles do avoid the sugar in sweet pickles.
Suzanne
I’m super new to keto and this is a fantastic idea. I’ve been trying to figure out how to keep my husband happy on this plan, and he’s going to LOVE this! Thanks.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the salad, Suzanne! Have a great day!
Karra Christensen
Is this really meant for just one person? I’m weighing out my romaine and it seems like a lot?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
There are 6 servings in this recipe, Karra! Thanks for stopping by!
Sherry
Yummy! I also add chopped grilled onions to the ground beef! So good!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Great idea, Sherry! I am glad you liked it! Please come back again soon!
Tracey
Oh my best ever salad thank you!!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Tracey! Thanks for stopping by!
Tracey
This was amazing, thank you for sharing it!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked it, Tracey! Thanks for stopping by!
Kelly
This recipe is so delicious and it quenches my Hamburger fetishist.. Thank you!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am glad you liked it, Kelly! Thanks for stopping by!
Deb Banaszkiewicz
Great recipe!! Loved it. Do you know what 1 serving is? Is it a cup or more? Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I’m so glad you liked it, Deb! A serving is 1/6 of the entire recipe.
Cheryl
This was so good ! OMG YUMMM!
I’ve been eating low carb for a few months now and was really craving a big mac. This fixed that. I love your recipes. Nom Nom Nom.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Cheryl! Please come back again soon! Have a nice day!
Kimberlea Hollenbach
Thanks so much for the great recipe. We really enjoyed it, and i was happy it kept with my keto diet. The recipe was well written and easy to follow, while having an element of fun and cheerfullness. Thanks for sharing!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love to hear that, Kimberlea! Thanks for stopping by!
Ami
I have tried two different versions of this recipe. That basically means I made two different dressings! THIS is the dressing! I feed three boys and this was an exceptionally easy way to serve salad for dinner. This recipe couldn’t be easier!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Ami! Please come back again soon! Have a nice day!
Linda
I tweaked your recipe a little when I made it today. I basically made my usual salad then I added cooked ground turkey and cheese. He only eats ranch dressing. I also threw in the pickles. Anyway we absolutely love it! Thanks so much for the great recipes!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the salad, Linda!
Monica
Do you serve the meat hot or cold? Was thinking of taking this to a pot luck so I could eat healthy on the keto diet. Will it taste good if the meat is cold?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Monica, It’s better hot, but you could do either way.
Jamie Enfinger
This salad was AMAZING!! My favorite hamburger from McDonalds is a Big Mac and it tasted JUST like it!! Kudos to you! It was Awesome! 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Yay! I love to hear that, Jamie!
Winifred R Coyle
I can’t wait to try this recipe. My grandchildren love big macs and this will probably interest them too. I think the prices for fast food is way too high for my budget. You can eat at a normal restaurant or dinner for the same price and the food is probably healthier for you in the long run.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Yes, I agree, Winifred! I hope you and your grandchildren enjoyed the salad!
Savanna
Hi! I love this recipe but was wondering if the nutrition serving information included the dressing? If so, If I did not use the dressing…what would be the nutrition servings then?
Sorry for the overload, I am new to the keto diet!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Savanna, I’m so glad you love the recipe! Yes, the nutrition info includes the dressing. I don’t have it offhand without the dressing, but you can enter your ingredients into an online calculator if you’re omitting things from the recipe.
Susan Marie
I had a version of this before. But I made this recipe and it was so delicious and satisfying. Very easy too. I will make it again!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the salad, Susan Marie! Thanks for stopping by!
Denise
My salad was awesome tasted pretty close to Big Mac I used Hellmanns avocado oil mayo was yummy!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked the salad, Denise! Thanks for stopping by!
Tamarah
Winner!!! This is definitely a keeper! My family loved it too. The only thing I did differently was to add some onion powder. Wonderful recipe and like you I don’t miss the bread!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Tamarah! That’s awesome that the whole family enjoyed it.
JoAnn
This sauce is delish! Forgot vinegar and left out sweetener. Doubled it and was perfect for my family with left overs for lunch!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
That is awesome, JoAnn! Thanks for stopping by!
Ellpell
Absolutely love this recipe! Even my low carb family members were going wild over this. Tonight will be the fourth time making it, I usually triple the recipe, that’s how fast it goes
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy the salad was a hit!
Sandra Witkowski
I have made this salad several times. My husband and I just LOVE it- It really taste just like a big mac. I keep the sauce separate so left overs dont get soggy plus I double it. My husband likes his meat hot so I keep that separate also. Everything else is mixed. It really is the best keto or not salad ever.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy to hear that, Sandra! Thanks for stopping by!
Heather
Hi, any tips on seasoning the beef? salt and pepper just seems so bland to me. Taco seasoning maybe?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Heather, You can if you want. I don’t think a Big Mac has additional spices. You could definitely add taco seasoning, it would be more like a taco salad. Try it with my easy taco seasoning recipe.
Kerry
I season the meat with Montreal steak seasoning and minced onion while it’s browning. Tastes just like a burger to me!
Sherry Namburi
All time favorite salad!!! Sauce is just like big mac sauce and even goes great with grilled ck strips when we ran out of beef.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Yay! I love to hear that, Sherry! Thanks for stopping by!
Christine Castaneda
One of my favorite salads. It literally tastes like I’m eating a Big Mac. Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love to hear that, Christine! Thanks for stopping by!
Kaitlin
I was very disappointed with this mac sauce. I first tried with lite mayo because I’m on WW. Tasted horrible, so I tried with real mayo and it wasn’t much better. I had such high hopes for this recipe because the reviews were so convincing!! I had this bookmarked for about a month until I could finally get around to buying swerve from Amazon. Now I need to visit McDonald’s to satisfy my craving.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Kaitlin, Sorry that it wasn’t for you. I’d love to hear your feedback on what tasted off to you. Did you make any changes to the recipe?
Rachel
This is the way I make the dressing. I don’t measure, so, put a blob of mayo (I use Dukes), some yellow mustard, and a splash of pickle juice in a bowl. Mix it up, use a lettuce leaf to test the flavor. I think it’s great without a sweetener.
If you want a more “Big Mac” taste, use some thousand island dressing. Or mix it in with the other stuff, and give that a try. Just adapt it to your taste.
I hate salads, and I love this one!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you for sharing, Rachel! I’m glad you love the salad.
Stephanie
My dressing unfortunately just didn’t have the taste of the sauce it should. I don’t know why mine didn’t turn out right.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Stephanie, Sorry that the dressing didn’t work for you! I’m happy to help troubleshoot if you can be more specific about what seems off to you. Is it the sweetness, tanginess, saltiness, or something else?
Lisa
How many oz is a serving?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Lisa, Unfortunately I don’t have the serving size by weight. If you want to find out, you can weigh the entire recipe and divide by the number of servings.
Angela
I’ve just had this for my tea omg it was amazing, will definitely be making again thanks for the recipe .
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you liked it, Angela! Have a great day!
Cynthia
I made this yesterday. INCREDIBLE. I used stevia for the sweetener and kept playing with the dressing until it was just right. Such a great recipe. Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love to hear that, Cynthia! Have a great day!
Patti
So delicious! I made this for the second time tonight! And like many others my man is not a fan of salad but he loves this! Was actually the one that requested it. This time I put the burgers on the grill on a very low temperature for a little while to get the grill taste on them before finishing in a pan. Is delicious as a leftover too!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you so much, Patti! I’m glad you both enjoyed it.
Jodi
OH MY GOODNESS! This is my first time commenting on a post but this is the BOMB!! It tastes just like a Big Mac but BETTER! THANK YOU for sharing this. Made it tonight and me and the hubby LOVE IT!! I could eat this every night!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love to hear that, Jodi! Thanks for stopping by!
Debby
Thanks so much for posting this recipe. It is mine and my husband favorite and we both enjoy it so much!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I am so happy you and your husband liked it, Debby!
Karen Rowan
This is sooo yummy! Better than a Big Mac for me!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love to hear that, Karen! Thanks for stopping by!
RLSCM
The whole family loved this recipe. I couldn’t get over how much the dressing tasted like Big Mac sauce. As soon as I combined it with the ground beef, it smelled just like a Big Mac. We added some sesame seed, as one review suggested. I love that we can now enjoy a delicious burger without the extra carbs and sugar of the bun!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I love that it was a hit with the whole family! Have a great day!
Shannon
I can’t wait to try this I have high blood sugar I miss my pasta and big Mac thanks
Maya | Wholesome Yum
I hope you like it, Shannon! Have a great day!
Becky
This was delicious! i just made it for my husband and I for lunch. I loved it and so did he! Big Macs are his favorite and with us doing Keto, it’s not something we’re eating! The only problem I had is, I definitely ate more than a serving!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Becky! I think it makes a perfect lunch! I sometimes have a couple servings of this salad, too.
sherry
Did you use sweet or dill pickles?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Sherry! You can use whatever pickles you’d like, but dill pickles have less carbs than sweet pickles. I hope that helps!
Sheila
Do you have to use a sweetener? I’m on Common Sense Keto and we cannot have any kind of sweeteners.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Sheila, No you don’t have to. I think it would still be good if you just omit it.
Melissa
Hi there how many servings does this recipe make?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Melissa! There are 6 servings in this salad. I hope you like it!
Kristi Block
Delicious! Thanks so much! I made it with cubes of fried extra-firm tofu instead of the meat, and it was still delicious! Tomorrow for lunch, I’ll try the salad again, but with with egg and avocado! I also sprinkled it with some smoky, salty baked coconut chips I made last week to give it a deeper flavour and some added crunch! So good. Keto takes a bit of creativity for vegetarians, but it’s totally do-able, and this recipe worked really well. Thanks again!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Kristi! What a great idea to use tofu! I need to try that next time! Have a great day!
Megan
Amazing! Thank you for the recipe. Is the nutritional information for the salad and the dressing combined or just the salad? Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Megan! The nutrition info includes both the salad and dressing together.
Kimberly
Thank you, I am excited to try your recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Kimberly! Let me know what you think of it!
Kim
We loved it! Made it 3 times so far. I posted a picture
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Love that! Thank you Kim!
Jacque
This salad was amazing. Crushed my desire for a Big Mac!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Jacque!
Allison
Can you use swerve instead for the sweetener?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Allison, Yes, you can. Just make sure it’s the confectioner’s version so that the dressing is smooth; granulated would make it grainy.
Nick
Do you have nutrition facts on the dressing?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Nick, I don’t have that information readily available but if you put just the dressing ingredients into a nutrition calculator that should give you your answer.
Teri
How many saturated fats per serving?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Teri, I don’t have nutritional info beyond what is on the recipe card. If you need more details, I recommend entering the specific ingredients you used into an online calculator.
Cindy Wade
Love this salad. I use stevia for sweetener in the dressing – a little goes a long way. Great family recipe. Oh and I do leave out pickles. We are not pickle fans at my house.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Cindy!
Kathy
I have made several iterations of Big Mac salad, and without question, this is our favorite. No need to try any others now I found this recipe. It is the dressing that elevates it to greatness. Great recipe! Thank you.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Kathy!
Kaylee K
How many servings is in this recipe?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Kaylee, It makes 6 servings.
Kaylee K
Thank you 😀
Juls
With the leftovers does the lettuce get soggy?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
If you keep leftover lettuce with dressing on it, it will probably get soggy. If you want leftovers of this salad I would recommend keeping everything separated (dressing, meat, lettuce, etc.) until you’re ready to eat it.
Karen
Made this today but only added a tbsp of sweetener, only because it was my first time using that product and I didn’t want to overdo it. Otherwise, I followed exactly and it was like eating a big mac. No lie. I will absolutely make this again when I’m craving McDonald’s. I’m pretty stoked, thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Karen! I’m so glad you like it!
Brittany
What is the serving size? Looks really yummy!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Brittany, One serving is 1/6 of the entire (big) salad.
Vanessa
Made the recipe as is, save for the fact that I was out of paprika and I added diced onion for the onion part of the Big Mac, and for the mustard I used dijon. Tasted a lot like a Big Mac! I love the Big Mac, but can’t stand the bun part, so this was heaven for me! Hubs liked it, too!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Vanessa! I’m glad you both liked it!
Rei
This was a huge hit. Hubby usually hates salad had a second helping. I usually don’t like ground beef and I had a second helping. Even my son, who’s a toddler had more. Will definitely be making this again. I may add some onion.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you! I’m glad everyone liked it!
Rei
I made it again. Added onions while browning the meat.
And I recently had a bun less Big Mac. This salad is so much better!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you!
Stephanie Hug
I made this last night and we loved it! Tasted like a Big Mac. I added onion salt to the beef. Great recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Stephanie!
Tamra
So delicious! Brings back the taste of a Big Mac as if I just had one yesterday, but it’s actually been years! I added just a tiny bit of low-sugar ketchup to the top and it was perfect! Thank you for the fantastic recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Tamra! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Ashley
What is the serving size? How would I figure that for two servings? And that is an awesome feature, to be able to adjust the servings.
Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Ashley, One serving is 1/6 of the recipe. It’s hard to measure since the volume would depend on how tightly you pack it into a measuring cup (and it’s pretty unusual to pack salad into measuring cups anyway). If you reduce the amount to make just 2 servings, one serving would be 1/2 of the whole thing.
Kristin Barnhardt
Yum! This is sooooo good! Followed recipe exactly and it’s perfect! Thank you for sharing!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Kristin! I’m glad you liked it!
Amanda
Does it have to be smoked paprika or can we use regular?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Amanda, Yes, regular will work, too!
DebbieH
Oh my goodness! I am sitting here eating this right now. It is sooo good! The pickles and special sauce make it!!!
Two All-Beef Patties (well, probably only ONE!), special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions WITHOUT a sesame seed bun! (But, I DID add sesame seems while browning my beef!)
Sooo, sooo good. Thanks for sharing!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Debbie!
Jamie
You can also try thousand island dressing, it’s very close to the Mac sauce flavor. I worked at McDonald’s for years as an after school job.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Jamie, That is definitely an option although I’ve found that most store bought thousand island dressings have sugar and soy. Since I prefer to avoid those, I like to make my own.
Keely
Does it keep well to save if you don’t eat it all? Like add the beef warmed up as you go and dressing ? Just combine the lettuce ingredients?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Keely, for this salad I would recommend storing the dressing and beef separately if you want to save it for later just like you said.
Lisa
I love this and did not miss the buns! I had a couple of leftover burgers I grilled a few days ago, so I used those instead and it was still very tasty. I’m betting it’s even better making the beef fresh.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Lisa! I’m glad you liked it!
Leslie Smith-Barry
I crave a Big Mac from time to time. So…I’m making this for dinner and hoping it does the trick! I’ve already made the dressing, without adding any sweetener, and it’s been chilling all day. The dressing tastes amazing! I just know this is going to be a delicious Big Mac Salad!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Leslie! I hope you love it!
Lori
Very good..the only thing I changed was using pickle juice instead of vinegar in the sauce..and added some onion and garlic powder to the ground beef…very tasty. Thanks for the recipe.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Lori! I’ll have to try the sauce with pickle juice, sounds great!
Soph
How much is one serving?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Soph, A serving is 1/6 of the entire recipe.
LLP143
Always happy to find low carb options that my hubby will also eat. This one is definitely a winner in our house. We cannot get enough of this and the taco salad. Love your page and recipes, they definitely keep me on track on my WOE 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you! I’m glad you like the recipe!
Angel
It’s great but I feel like it’s missing something. More bland than I’d prefer. I’m going to experiment with it and see if I can make it just right for me. Thank you!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you! Let me know how any adjustments turn out!
Michelle
I just finished eating it. It is delicious. Thank you!!!!!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thanks Michelle! I’m glad you liked it!
Hello
Hi Maya! This looks yum. What brands for mayo and mustard did you use?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi there, I use this brand of mayonnaise. It varies for the mustard – whatever I have on hand. Trader Joe’s often has ones I like for a good price.
Andrea
Hi Maya,
I can’t get this brand of mayo in Australia. Do you have any alternatives/suggestions or maybe a keto mayo recipe I could make from scratch?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Andrea, Do you have Whole Foods? I believe Australia has those. They carry that mayonnaise. It’s on my list to create a keto mayo recipe this year, too.
Kristina Slattery
I am definitely going to make this! Did you use full fat mayo? I would like to decrease the fat a bit as I try to keep my total fat intake under 35 grams for the day.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Kristina, I used full fat mayo. Reduced fat mayo usually has starch and sugar added. Any kind you like will work, though.
Nicole
Loved this recipe!! Was really good. Ate it again for lunch the next day and the lettuce was still crispy. Can’t say I’ve ever had a Big Mac but I’m newer to the low carb diet, so always looking for ideas. Thanks for sharing.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Nicole!
McDonna
This was amazing! I’m not in love with the name because we’re not McFans , and I almost didn’t make the recipe. But the comments won me over! We had this for dinner after church Saturday evening. My husband was *dreading* the meal…because we’re not McFans…but one bite in, he declared It’s A Keeper…which is similar to getting a blue ribbon!
I used spinach and didn’t put the pickles in the salad, but did put in bacon. The dressing was the star of the meal. It absolutely made the whole dish! I would never have considered pickles in a salad dressing, but remembered that’s what’s in Russian dressing – which Mr. Picky Palate and I both enjoy.
Thank you for such an easy, fast, delicious recipe, Maya! It’s A Keeper in this home!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you! I’m glad you both enjoyed the salad and the dressing!
McDonna
PS – We added some generous amounts of bacon. Because – BACON!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Can’t go wrong with bacon! 😉
McDonna
Oh my! The name of this salad held no appeal to us, since we are not McFans of the Golden Arches. HOWEVER – this recipe was delicious! The salad itself is pretty much what we normally have, but the dressing was the star of this meal! Mr. Picky Palate – a/k/a My Hubs – was almost sad to try the dish because of the name. We’re just finished the entire meal for the second day in a row (love leftovers!), and his words were:
This doesn’t need a thing. It’s perfect the way it is. Perfectly balanced flavors. The taste is amazing.
This from the guy who is not a fan of anything new.
Thank you for such a great, easy, delicious dish!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you! That comment is the biggest compliment. I appreciate it!
Connie
Hi, found this through Pinterest, and sure glad I did!
Altered some ingredients in the dressing – used 10% fat greek yogurt instead of mayo, pickle juice instead of vinegar, upped the paprika slightly and about half the sweetener (Stevia). It was a hit, and being rotated into our monthly repertoire!! No idea how that changes the macro nutrients, but I did add 2 Tbsp of avocado oil to the pan before frying the beef so I am confident the fat is higher as well, which works well for my keto way of eating.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Connie! As you found the recipe is flexible to customize to your liking. I’m glad you liked it!
Gina Hamel
Thank you for this wonderful and easy recipe! My family loved it, and didn’t even realize they were eating low carb! Big hit!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
You’re welcome, Gina! I’m glad your family liked it.
Tina
I love this salad! I could eat it every day! I added a small handful of diced onion and another small handful of crumbled bacon. Also, toasted a couple of tablespoons of sesame seeds in a dry skillet and tossed on top. It was heaven in a bowl!!! Thanks so much for coming up with this! It will be made in our home very often!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Tina! Those additions sound wonderful.
Pam
OH my gosh!!!! This was delicious!!!! Thank you for creating this!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Pam! You’re very welcome. 🙂
Kristin
Yellow or spicy brown mustard? Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Kristin, I used yellow mustard but you can use any that you like! The recipe is pretty flexible.
Donna
I found carb free dill relish. If you prefer relish instead of cutting pickles.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
That’s awesome, Donna! What brand and where did you find it?
Margaret
Mustard… Is it Dry or Regular?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Margaret, It’s regular mustard.
Margaret
Bahaha, I didn’t either!
Brenda McGrain
Just made this yummy salad! Thanks for the awesome recipe! I did a few little tweaks of my own to appease my family’s likes and dislikes. It is a very easy and versatile dish. I love it!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Brenda! I like the versatility of it, too.
Tara
Didn’t know the Big Mac police were in town.
Lynne
Lol – I thought the same thing too!
Ali
Hahahaha, right??!!
Marnie
Looks like the trolls are in town as well. 🙂
Pam Frederick
Trying this tonight. I saw the nutritional info but I’m wondering if you know how much of the 31g of fat is considered Saturated Fat? I’m trying to calculate the Weight Watchers Smart Point value for this dish. Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Pam! Like you saw, I have the nutrition label posted below the recipe, but don’t have a breakdown of saturated fat. (The link between saturated fat and heart disease was actually disproven – source.) You’d have to enter the ingredients into an online nutrition calculator to get additional info.
Allison
Made this tonight and it was super good. Used ground turkey because that was what was on hand and it worked great. Used some Montreal seasoning to make it more “beef” like. I will definitely be making this again.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Allison! It does work well with turkey, too.
Geri
I made this for dinner tonight and it is absolutely amazing! I literally felt like I was eating a Big Mac with the roll. Hubby liked it as well. This recipe is definitely a keeper! Thanks for posting!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thank you, Geri!
Sharon
I would like to make for my weeks work lunches. Would this hold up all week with the lettuce and tomatoes?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Sharon, If you’re meal prepping for the week, keep the dressing separate until right before eating. Other than that, store the salad with the lettuce on top. The tomatoes are better cut fresh, but should be okay if you store it with the tomatoes on the bottom.
Chelle
Is the nutritional label for 1 serving or for the whole dish?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Chelle, The nutrition info is per serving.
JodiSalv
I’m sorry if I missed it somewhere, what is the serving size for this?? Making it now for lunches this week!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Jodi, One serving is 1/6 of the entire recipe. It makes a great lunch!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
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Maya | Wholesome Yum
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Jacquie Olsen
Wondering if I could use pickle relish instead of having to dice up pickles? This recipe looks awesome and I love that it’s healthy.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Jacquie, Yes, you can! I chose diced pickles to avoid the added sugar typically found in pickle relish, but if that’s not an issue, pickle relish will work just fine.
Lara
As stated above in another comment, you can use sweet relish and omit the sweetener in the sauce if you want to.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Lara, Yes, you can. It wouldn’t be sugar free but will work fine.
Leslie
A Big Mac consists of “two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun”. With the exception of the bun, this salad is missing cheese, onion and sesame seeds. Also, Big Macs don’t have tomatoes. For an authentic Big Mac salad you should consider adjusting your recipe accordingly. 🙂
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Leslie, The recipe does have cheese. 🙂 You’re right, though – I used tomatoes instead of onions, and of course as a salad it’s missing a sesame seed bun. You can certainly add in onions and/or omit the tomatoes if you prefer.
Lara
Just thought about this. If you want to go and get GF croutons and add them to the salad! And sesame seeds, like sprinkled on top or get a GF sesame seed bun and leave it out to get a slight bit stale, then chop it up, butter or oil it, and put in oven to be croutons! Ha! That never occurred to me till I saw this comment and then the light bulb came on! Enjoy!!
Robin
That’s what I said. But it sounds delicious.
Richard
Wow, some people just gotta complain.
Carrie M
Sweet or dill pickles? I can’t seem to remember which kind the Big Mac uses. Thanks!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Hi Carrie, This recipe uses dill pickles since I’m not a fan of the added sugar in sweet pickles, but you can use whichever you like better! You may need less sweetener in the dressing (or even omit it, to taste) if you use sweet pickles in there.
Kim
Can’t wait to try this! Are the 3 carbs counted after you deducted the 1 gram of fiber?
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thanks, Kim! The nutrition label itself lists total carbs (3g) and I listed net carbs (2g after subtracting fiber) below that.
Deb
I am sooo making this today. I have left over bison burgers. Think it’s gonna be yummy!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
Thanks Deb, I hope you enjoy it!