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Home / Recipes / Keto Salads

Keto Big Mac Cheeseburger Salad Recipe

By Lisa MarcAurele · Dec 9, 2020 · 36 Comments

41.9K shares
Jump to Recipe
Low carb hamburger Big Mac salad cover
big mac salad pinterest image
big mac salad pinterest image


Whip up this simple keto ground beef cheeseburger salad when you crave a burger. It's called a Big Mac Salad because it was inspired by the popular fast-food hamburger. The taste is sure to satisfy any fast food cravings.

big mac salad pinterest image
Article Index
  • Ingredients
  • Quick tips
  • Instructions
  • Variations
  • FAQs
  • Related recipes
  • Recipe

Craving some keto McDonald’s foods? Why not try a ground beef salad instead. It’s an easy low carb meal idea that takes little time to prepare.

This Big Mac salad recipe starts with a garden salad base served with all your favorite burger add-ons. You'll find lean ground beef topped, chopped dill pickles, shredded cheddar cheese and a drizzling of Thousand Island style Big Mac sauce.

If you take away the sesame seed bun and special sauce, the burger patty sandwich is generally safe for a keto diet. I’m not sure how many carbs the Big Mac sauce adds. But it is a bit sweet so I’m sure there’s sugar in it. Here’s how to recreate the burger into a low-carb salad.

Ingredients

All of the ingredient amounts for my keto Big Mac salad recipe are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

There are two parts to this recipe – the salad itself and the salad dressing. The surprising thing is that even with the huge list of ingredients in it, there are only 2 grams of net carbs in each serving of salad! This salad makes 8 servings, so it’s perfect for meal prep.

I used lots of the same ingredients that you might find on your favorite cheeseburger. There are dill pickles, sliced or diced onions, crisp iceberg lettuce, shredded cheddar cheese, ground beef, and lots of spices.

Then, I made my own version of a McDonald’s Big Mac salad dressing. I used a combination of the following sauce ingredients:

  • Tomato Paste
  • Mayonnaise
  • Sour Cream
  • Spices - Sage, Oregano, Basil, Cayenne Pepper
  • Sugar Substitute
  • Salt and Pepper
making dressing

Quick tips

  • Sweetener is optional – I don’t care for sweet dressings so I didn’t add any sweetener to the sauce drizzled on this salad. But, you can add a bit of stevia and or monk fruit extract if you’d like.
  • Add cayenne pepper for kick – I added some optional cayenne pepper to the dressing to spice it up a notch. It gives this Big Mac salad a nice kick. I also added some tomatoes for color.

Instructions

Other than cooking the ground beef mixture, the salad comes together quickly. It should take no more than twenty minutes to make the Big Mac dressing and assemble the whole low carb hamburger salad in a big salad bowl.

assembling ingredients for salad

To start, ground beef is sautéed with onions and garlic in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Then the meat is seasoned with herbs and spices.

While the meat is cooking, I’ll whisk up the dressing ingredients in a small bowl. That way, the flavors have a chance to blend before drizzling over the salad.

I also get the Big Mac salad mixture ready in a large bowl or platter as the meat cooks. It’s just chopped greens and sliced tomato. 

When the meat is cooked, it’s sprinkled over the salad. Then I add the toppings on top of the ground beef crumbles. These include pickles, freshly grated cheddar cheese, and red onions.

In the past, I would make my low carb hamburger salad by just placing a grilled burger on top. However, I like how the loose ground meat is spread throughout the dish.

keto big mac salad on plate and platter

Variations

The special sauce dressing that tops this keto Big Mac salad has great flavor. I prefer it over the special sauce that’s used for the original fast food hamburger. However, you can just use a regular Thousand Island dressing or a Russian Dressing if you prefer

I’m not an onion fan. But the original Big Mac calls for onions, I decided to add it. I used red onion on top and regular white in the meat mixture. But feel free to leave the onions out as they do add in some carbs. Or, you can use onion powder instead.

I top the low carb cheeseburger salad with freshly shredded cheddar cheese. McDonald's Big Mac uses American cheese which is a processed cheese and I avoid using it. However, you can top the salad off with any cheese you like.

FAQs

Before you get to the recipe further below, read through these common questions and see if it’s one you might have had too.

What is the best kind of sweetener to use in salad dressing?

I prefer to use a liquid sweetener in the creamy Big Mac salad dressing because it mixes in better. Liquid stevia or monk fruit sweetener are both my top choices.

How much salad dressing is in one serving?

My calculations of 2 grams net carbs per serving are based on using about 2 tablespoons of the Big Mac salad dressing per person.

How do I store this for meal prep?

Salads are an excellent choice for meal prepping and this recipe is no different. The best way to store it is in a sealed container and storing the dressing separately. The salad will last about 5 days in the refrigerator.

pouring dressing over salad

Related recipes

If you enjoy this Big Mac bowl recipe, you may want a few more ideas for low-carb salads? They are so easy to prepare and will keep you feeling full. These are some of my favorites.

  • Cobb Salad made with chicken, bacon, and avocado tastes just like the one from your favorite restaurant.
  • Taco Salad is a classic and this low-carb version will fulfill those cravings for spicy and salty foods.
  • Sunomono Japanese Cucumber salad is light and tangy and a refreshing way to eat fresh cucumbers.
  • Mock Low-Carb Potato Salad tastes just like your classic potato salad, but with a lot fewer carbs.
  • Keto Broccoli Salad has the added bonus of bacon! Enjoy the creamy dressing on other salad ideas too.
big mac salad on platter

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Recipe

keto big mac salad with dressing

Big Mac Salad

4.43 from 21 votes
Try this cheeseburger salad when you're in the mood for one of the famous fast food burgers. It's easy to assemble this low carb hamburger salad at home.
Prep Time:10 minutes mins
Cook Time:10 minutes mins
Total Time:20 minutes mins
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Print Pin Review Recipe Save Recipe View Collections
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 273

Video

Ingredients

Salad:

  • 1 ⅓ pounds ground beef about 600 grams
  • ½ small onion chopped (optional)
  • 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
  • ⅛ teaspoon thyme
  • ¼ teaspoon ground oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon marjoram
  • ⅛ teaspoon chili pepper (optional)
  • 12 ounces lettuce greens
  • 2 spears dill pickles diced
  • 3 small tomatoes sliced (optional)
  • ¾ cup cheddar cheese freshly grated
  • 1 small red onion sliced (optional)
  • Salt & Ground Black Pepper to taste
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil for sautéing

Dressing :

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • ⅓ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ Cup sour cream
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground sage
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground oregano
  • ⅛ teaspoon dried basil
  • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • low carb sugar substitute (if desired)
  • salt & ground black pepper to taste
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Dressing:

  • Dilute tomato paste in water and add some sweetener (if desired). Add mayonnaise and sour cream. Season with sage, oregano, basil, salt and black pepper. Mix well and set aside.
  • In a slightly greased skillet, sauté onions until translucent over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté for a few minutes without burning. Add lean ground meat then season with thyme, oregano and marjoram. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Add a little chili pepper for some heat. Thoroughly cook beef. Transfer to a platter lined with paper towel. Set aside.

Assemble Salad:

  • Cover platter with greens. Layer cooked beef, chopped greens - lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, dill pickles and top with cheddar cheese. Drizzle with dressing. Enjoy!

Notes

Each serving is based on the small salad plate and dressing mixture is about ¾ cup.
The best way to store is in a sealed container with the dressing stored separately. The salad will last about 5 days in the refrigerator.

Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart

Nutrition

Calories: 273 | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 66mg | Sodium: 380mg | Potassium: 60mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 300IU | Vitamin C: 3.3mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 2mg

Additional Info

Net Carbs: 2 g | % Carbs: 2.9 % | % Protein: 27.8 % | % Fat: 69.2 % | SmartPoints: 8
Values
Array
(
    [calories] => 273
    [carbohydrates] => 2
    [protein] => 19
    [fat] => 21
    [saturated_fat] => 7
    [polyunsaturated_fat] => 4
    [monounsaturated_fat] => 3
    [cholesterol] => 66
    [sodium] => 380
    [potassium] => 60
    [sugar] => 1
    [vitamin_a] => 300
    [vitamin_c] => 3.3
    [calcium] => 100
    [iron] => 2
    [serving_unit] => g
)

Notes on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

Copyright

© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.

Updated on December 9, 2020, with additional recipe tips and clearer images. Originally published on May 5, 2017.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Traci K Stevenson

    March 14, 2022 at 8:00 pm

    5 stars
    I sprinkle toasted sesame seed in the salad to mimic the bun.

    Reply
  2. Debra

    December 02, 2021 at 8:23 pm

    5 stars
    This was REALLY good! I think if someone wanted to meal prep this would be a good mason jar meal prep recipe. From bottom to top layer dressing, tomatoes, pickles, onion, lettuce, seasoned meat and end with cheese. Thanks for a great recipe!

    Reply
  3. Anita Bell

    December 16, 2020 at 9:20 pm

    5 stars
    I made the Big Mac Salad for dinner. And I was amazed at the flavor tasting some much like the Big Mac sandwich! I loved it and will make it again and again. Thank you Ms Lisa for a fabulous low carb salad recipe.????

    Reply
  4. Zsu

    June 25, 2020 at 11:10 am

    5 stars
    Thank you for sharing this recipe! It was so delicious, we loved that!

    Reply
  5. Dianne

    May 13, 2020 at 8:58 am

    5 stars
    So easy to make and my husband and I loved the taste. The dill pickles make it...

    Reply
    • San

      February 01, 2022 at 6:44 pm

      We enjoyed it! We didn’t have dill pickles so used relish! Was delicious! Definitely making again!

      Reply
  6. Kim

    April 11, 2020 at 5:39 am

    What is your fav really low carb dessert ? I have been doing the cake in a cup but it is so dry ! I’m a fan of fat bombs also but would love something new !

    Reply
    • Lisa MarcAurele

      April 11, 2020 at 11:58 am

      I really like simple treats like keto chocolate mousse. One of the easiest and best tasting chocolate desserts.

      Reply
  7. Leslie Cain

    January 19, 2020 at 10:18 pm

    5 stars
    OMG, why didnt I try this sooner!?
    Its yummy and sure satisfies the tastes buds taste for a Big Mac.
    I love the dressing.
    It's the first time I've had burger meat in a long and I was wondering if you could use gr turkey with success.time

    Reply
    • Lisa MarcAurele

      January 20, 2020 at 8:50 am

      Ground turkey is always an option.

      Reply
  8. Angie Peck

    November 10, 2019 at 7:43 pm

    I have to say I just tried this and was awesome. I did not add the sweetener but the dressing was a huge success. Even my son how does not eat onions loved it.

    Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply
  9. Monique

    October 16, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    5 stars
    I am going to make this tonight but don't see and fiber count in the nutrition section. Did I miss it?

    Reply
    • Lisa MarcAurele

      October 16, 2019 at 7:16 pm

      The calculation showed zero so it won't show anything there.

      Reply
  10. Sandra

    January 05, 2019 at 6:57 pm

    5 stars
    I made this for dinner tonight and my husband and I loved it!! Great recipe

    Reply
  11. Michele

    June 27, 2018 at 12:52 pm

    The special sauce that McDonald's uses is nothing more than Thousand Island salad dressing.

    Reply
    • Lisa

      June 27, 2018 at 12:58 pm

      That's why this recipe is so much better!

      Reply
    • Brandon Ramos

      February 13, 2019 at 10:52 am

      It's really not Thousand Island dressing though.

      Reply
  12. Lynne Crosby

    June 20, 2018 at 7:00 pm

    5 stars
    Yum Yum Yum Thanks for the great recipe!!!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      June 21, 2018 at 6:12 am

      You're welcome Lynne!

      Reply
  13. Rcab

    February 07, 2018 at 7:22 pm

    5 stars
    This is a great recipe! Because we ate at different times i put the toppings in separate bowls and each person assembled thei own. If its your only course at dinner then i'd say it serves 5-6.

    Reply
  14. Rachelle

    December 08, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    I just saw an actual McDonalds chef make a Big Mac at home. The sauce is actually made of mayo, yellow mustard, garlic powder and paprika. No sugar. I was surprised too.

    Reply
    • Lisa

      December 09, 2017 at 3:31 pm

      That is surprising. It's a sweet sauce so maybe they use a mayo that has added sugar.

      Reply
    • Jalebi

      June 23, 2018 at 2:13 pm

      No sugar, but they add sweet relish, which has a lot of sugar in it

      Reply
  15. Kris Ackerman

    October 29, 2017 at 7:37 pm

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe!!! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Lisa

      October 30, 2017 at 9:13 am

      You're welcome Kris!

      Reply
  16. Kris Ackerman

    October 29, 2017 at 7:35 pm

    I had this for supper and since I’m doing 24 hour intermittent fasting, I had a larger portion than suggested. It was soooooo Good and filling as well! Thank you!

    Kris

    Reply
    • Lisa

      October 31, 2017 at 6:26 am

      Thanks for letting us know how much you enjoyed the salad! Good luck with the IF.

      Reply
  17. Carey

    August 07, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    Can you refrigerate this sauce?

    Reply
    • Lisa

      August 08, 2017 at 6:22 am

      I don't see why not.

      Reply
  18. Kim Jones

    July 22, 2017 at 6:01 am

    Is this good leftovet? I am trying to find new lunch options..

    Reply
    • Lisa

      July 22, 2017 at 6:41 am

      You may want to keep the toppings separate to take to lunch.

      Reply
      • Lisa

        January 04, 2021 at 8:14 am

        That looks awesome!

  19. Michelle

    June 27, 2017 at 2:42 pm

    5 stars
    Could you use Greek yogurt instead of the mayo?

    Reply
    • Lisa

      June 27, 2017 at 3:20 pm

      I think it would be okay.

      Reply
  20. Alicia

    June 26, 2017 at 6:02 am

    5 stars
    Delicious! Thanks ?

    Reply
    • Lisa

      June 26, 2017 at 4:08 pm

      You're welcome Alicia!

      Reply
4.43 from 21 votes (8 ratings without comment)

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