Big Mac Salad Recipe (Easy High Protein Dinner)

4.80 from 5 votes

This Big Mac salad has all the flavors of a cheeseburger in an easy high protein dinner bowl. With juicy burgers, crispy lettuce, cheese, pickles, bacon, avocado, and a creamy homemade special sauce, this is the kind of meal that is easy to make on repeat without getting bored.

High protein Big Mac salad bowl topped with chopped burgers, crispy bacon, avocado, cheddar cheese, and burger sauce

Why You'll Love this Big Mac Salad

It has all the flavors of a real cheeseburger with crisp lettuce, juicy beef, melty cheese, pickles, and creamy special sauce.
Using leftover burgers gives this salad an even better burger flavor than regular ground beef.
It is an easy high protein dinner that works great for meal prep and quick lunches throughout the week.
You can customize it however you like with bacon, avocado, onions, tomatoes, or even sesame seeds on top.
It is family friendly because everyone can build their own bowl with their favorite toppings.
This is one of those meals that feels satisfying enough to keep you full for hours without feeling heavy afterward.

What this Big Mac Salad Tastes Like

This Big Mac salad tastes like the inside of a really good cheeseburger piled into a bowl. The combination of juicy seasoned beef, crisp lettuce, sharp cheddar cheese, pickles, bacon, and creamy special sauce gives it that classic fast food burger flavor while still feeling fresh and filling.

The homemade sauce is what really brings everything together. It is creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, and tastes very similar to the sauce you would get on a Big Mac. Combined with the steak-seasoned burgers, every bite tastes like a loaded burger without needing the bun.

Ingredients You'll Need

Cooked burgers: I like using leftover air fryer burgers for the best burger flavor, but you can also use browned ground beef. Season the beef with Montreal steak seasoning to really give it that classic fast food burger taste.
Romaine lettuce: Crisp romaine holds up well to the warm beef and creamy dressing without getting soggy.
Cheddar cheese: Freshly shredded cheddar melts slightly from the warm burgers and gives the salad that cheeseburger flavor.
Bacon: Crispy bacon adds smoky flavor and extra crunch that works so well with the burger toppings.
Avocado: Adds creaminess and makes the salad even more satisfying.
Pickles: Dill pickles are a must for that true Big Mac flavor.
Tomatoes: I like using diced tomatoes for freshness and color.
Red onion: Thinly sliced red onion gives the salad a little bite and crunch.

For The Big Mac Sauce

Mayonnaise: The creamy base for the dressing.
Ketchup: You can use sugar free ketchup if you want to keep the salad lower in carbs.
Dill pickle relish: Adds tangy burger flavor.
White vinegar: Brightens the sauce and gives it that classic fast food taste.
Minced onion: Helps recreate that signature burger sauce flavor.
Sweetener: Just a small amount balances the tanginess of the sauce.
Water: Used to thin the dressing to your preferred consistency.

How to Make Big Mac Salad

1. Cook the burgers

Cook your burgers in the air fryer, skillet, or on the grill until cooked through. I like using leftover air fryer burgers because they give the salad a more authentic burger flavor. Chop the burgers into bite-sized pieces after cooking.

If you are using ground beef instead, brown it in a skillet over medium-high heat and season with Montreal steak seasoning.

2. Make the Big Mac sauce

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, ketchup, pickle relish, white vinegar, minced onion, sweetener, and water until smooth and creamy. Add a little more water if you want a thinner dressing.

3. Assemble the salad

Fill bowls with chopped romaine lettuce and top with the burger pieces, cheddar cheese, bacon, avocado, tomatoes, red onion, and pickles. Drizzle the Big Mac sauce over the top and serve immediately.

Big Mac Sauce

The homemade Big Mac sauce is what really makes this salad taste like a cheeseburger instead of just a regular salad. It is creamy, tangy, slightly sweet, and comes together in just a few minutes with simple ingredients.

I like to make the sauce first so the flavors have a little time to blend together while I prep the rest of the salad. If you want the dressing thinner for drizzling, just whisk in a little extra water until it reaches the consistency you like.

You can also make the sauce ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. It is great on burgers, wraps, fries, and even as a dipping sauce for vegetables.

Meal Prep Tips

This Big Mac salad is one of my favorite meal prep lunches because all of the components hold up really well in the refrigerator when stored separately.

For the best texture, store the lettuce, toppings, burgers, and sauce separately and assemble the salad when you are ready to eat. The burgers and sauce can be made ahead for up to 4 days.

If you want fully prepped grab-and-go lunches, add the lettuce to meal prep containers and top with the burger pieces, cheese, bacon, tomatoes, onions, and pickles. Keep the dressing on the side so the lettuce stays crisp.

I also like using leftover burgers from burger night for these bowls because it makes lunch the next day incredibly easy. Just chop up the burgers, add your toppings, and drizzle with sauce.

For family meals, you can prep all of the toppings ahead of time and let everyone build their own burger bowl with whatever they like best.

Ways to Customize It

Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef for a lighter version.
Add sesame seeds on top to give it even more of that classic burger flavor.
Swap the cheddar for American cheese if you want it to taste even more like a fast food cheeseburger.
Add sliced jalapenos for a spicy burger bowl.
Serve it with crispy air fryer fries or potato wedges for family members who want the full burger-and-fries experience.
Wrap the filling in low carb tortillas instead of serving it as a salad.
Use iceberg lettuce instead of romaine for a more traditional fast food burger texture.
Add sauteed onions or mushrooms for a burger restaurant-style twist.
Make it lower carb by using sugar free ketchup in the sauce.
If you love cheeseburger-style dinners, my cheeseburger casserole has a lot of the same flavors in an easy family-friendly baked version.

What to Serve with It

This Big Mac salad is filling enough to be a complete meal on its own, but there are plenty of ways to round it out depending on who you are feeding.

If you want something a little different, my air fryer sweet potato fries are also really good with this because the sweetness pairs perfectly with the salty burger flavors and tangy sauce.

If you want to keep things lower carb, roasted broccoli or air fryer green beans work really well with the rich burger flavors.

You can also set out extra toppings like pickles, sliced onions, jalapenos, or extra sauce and let everyone build their own burger bowl at the table.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best lettuce for Big Mac salad?

I like using romaine because it stays crunchy and holds up well to the warm burger meat and creamy dressing. Iceberg lettuce also works if you want more of that classic fast food burger texture.

Can I use ground beef instead of burgers?

Absolutely. Ground beef works great in this recipe. I personally love using leftover burgers because they add even more burger flavor to the salad.

How long does the Big Mac sauce last?

The sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container.

What cheese works best for Big Mac salad?

Cheddar cheese is my favorite because it adds more flavor, but American cheese will give you a more classic fast food cheeseburger taste.

Can I use store bought burger sauce?

You can, but homemade sauce tastes much fresher and only takes a few minutes to mix together.

Is this Big Mac salad good for high protein meal prep?

Yes. With the beef, cheese, and bacon, this salad is high in protein and keeps me full for hours, which is one reason I make it so often for lunches.

If you like meal prep style dinner salads like this one, my keto taco salad is another easy high protein option I make all the time.

Why You'll Love this Big Mac Salad

What this Big Mac Salad Tastes Like