We all know the old jingle, “Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onion, on a sesame seed bun.” It’s the jingle for the McDonald’s Big Mac and is a standing favorite at the fast-food chain. It’s not something we have often, but the occasional Big Mac isn’t too bad. We know, fast-food isn’t always the best food, so this recipe gives us a healthier take on the American classic. This recipe for a Big Mac in a Bowl is a really fun adaptation of a fast-food favorite, and it’s pretty good!
Everything about this salad version of the Big Mac is fresh, colorful, packed with flavor and has super delicious crunch. All of the essentials are here: the beef, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onion are crucial ingredients in our Big Mac in a Bowl. Instead of a burger patty, we’ve browned ground beef in a skillet, of course seasoning the meat with a little garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. As the beef cooks, we make our “special sauce” and it’s super easy: mayonnaise, ketchup, and relish all mixed together. If you can, we recommend making the sauce ahead of time so that the flavors have time to really come together. Once the dressing’s been made and the meat is cooked, it’s time to build our Big Mac in a bowl!
A bowlful of romaine lettuce is the base and now you just need the rest of the ingredients. We’ve drained the beef on paper towels to get rid of the excess grease and scattered the beef over the lettuce. Diced tomato and onion, and a little cheddar cheese are next, followed by slices of dill pickle. All that’s left is the dressing, and we drizzle it over the top, and now our Big Mac in a Bowl is ready to eat! Each bite tastes so fresh and familiar. Dare we say, this healthy take on a Big Mac is better than the original! As much as we love a good burger from time to time, this Big Mac in a Bowl is a fresh and delicious alternative. In the amount of time it takes to hit the drive-thru, you can have the same fast food experience made right at home with this Big Mac in a Bowl on the dinner table. Enjoy!
Big Mac in a Bowl
15 minutes to prepare serves 4
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/2 cup sliced dill pickles
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 plum tomatoes, diced
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon sweet relish
Preparation
- Add the ground beef to a skillet over medium-high heat, season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder and cook until beef is no longer pink.
- Meanwhile, make the dressing by stirring together mayonnaise, ketchup, and relish.
- Place lettuce in a large bowl, and top with ground beef, pickles, tomatoes, onions, and cheese.
- Top with dressing, serve, and enjoy!
Recipe adapted from The Girl On Bloor.