A Big Mac Bowl has all the delicious flavors of the double stacked cheeseburger, but without the bun. This low carb burger bowl is a overflowing with cheesy bites of burger, lettuce, dill pickles, tomatoes, cheese, onions and a simple homemade Big Mac sauce. You won't even miss the bun with this Big Mac salad bowl.
Once a year I treat myself. I hit up the drive thru and order two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles onions on a sesame seed bun. Add a Coke and fries and the meal takes me back to my childhood.
It's a favorite, but I can't justify eating one more than every 12 months. I did though develop a Big Mac Sliders recipe. A smaller version is less of a guilty pleasure.
Wanting a healthier Big Mac, I deconstructed the famous doubled stacked cheeseburger and made it into a Big Mac Bowl.
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why you'll love this Big Mac salad bowl recipe
Ditching the bun for lots of lettuce makes a Big Mac Bowl low carb. But you won't sacrifice any of the flavors you love.
Another plus, the bowl is also loaded with crisp and healthy vegetables. The burger makes this a protein packed bowl of goodness.
Best of all, this Big Mac without a bun bowl satisfies the craving for a Big Mac, but is a healthier alternative.
Big Mac in a bowl ingredients
Gather the fresh and high quality ingredients for this burger bowl recipe. Scroll to the recipe card for full quantities of the ingredients.
- Ground beef ~ 80/20 ground beef is my go to for burgers. In a pinch I'll use 85/15. You can substitute lean ground turkey if you'd like.
- Onion ~ I finely chop the onion so it essentially melts into the burger. Use yellow or white onions.
- Kosher salt ~ The larger crystals make it easy to sprinkle and it has no additives.
- Fresh ground black pepper
- Salted butter ~ Cooking the burgers in butter adds to their rich flavor.
- American cheese ~ Deli sliced cheese is the easiest to use for burgers.
- Mayonnaise ~ The mayo is creamy base of the Big Mac special sauce recipe.
- Ketchup ~ The special sauce gets its distinct light pink color from ketchup.
- Sweet pickle relish ~ I'll substitute finely chopped sweet pickles if I'm out of relish.
- Sour cream ~ Plain yogurt can also be used.
- Iceberg lettuce ~ The crisp, cool crunch of iceberg lettuce is a salad classic. I chop it into bite sized pieces. Romaine is also a tasty option. Or if you are short on time, grab a bag of salad greens.
- Dill pickles ~ I chop pickle spears. But pickle chips are fun to use too.
- Cherry tomatoes ~ Substitute chopped whole tomatoes if needed.
- Red onion ~ Thinly slivered red onions add a pop of color and are delicious raw. Yellow or white onions can be used in its place.
- Sharp cheddar cheese ~ Shredded cheddar cheese always has a place in my Big Mac bowl. I buy a block and shred it myself. But the pre shredded cheese is a timesaver.
recipe details
Start off making my simple classic burger recipe. Ground beef is combined with finely chopped onion, kosher salt and pepper. Shape the ground beef into 4 burger patties. Cook the burgers in butter in a cast iron skillet. A large sauté pan or grill work too. They need about 3 to 4 minutes per side.
While the burgers cook, whip up a quick homemade Big Mac special sauce. Mix together mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish and sour cream. In a pinch, use a store bought one. There's delicious ones available.
Top the burgers with American cheese. Pop on a lid in the skillet to help the cheese melt. Remove the cheeseburgers to a cutting board. Cut the burger into bite sized pieces.
Now's the fun part. Assembling the Big Mac in a bowl. Grab a large shallow bowl or a big plate. Generously add the chopped lettuce. Next add the pieces of cheeseburger, chopped dill pickles, cherry tomatoes, slivered red onion and shredded cheese.
Drizzle the low carb burger bowl with some of the special sauce. I like to toss all the ingredients so they're covered in the creamy homemade Big Mac sauce. But it's delicious eaten as a composed salad too.
frequently asked questions
When compared to a Big Mac with a bun, a Big Mac Bowl is like a big salad loaded with vegetables. It's healthier than the traditional burger. But to keep it as healthy as possible, limit the special sauce and go easy on the shredded cheese.
It's not necessary to make individual burgers for each bowl. However it's my preference. I like having bite sized pieces of the juicy cheeseburger throughout the bowl. As an alternative, cook crumbled ground beef with the finely chopped onions and season with kosher salt and pepper. Divided the cooked meat evenly between the bowls.
Yes! This is a great low carb meal prep recipe. Make and cook the burgers. Mix up the special sauce. It's easy to keep the ingredients for Big Mac sauce on hand. Chop, dice and slice all the salad ingredients. Assemble the bowls in airtight containers except don't add the sauce. These meal prep containers are some of my favorite. And these condiment cups are perfect for the special sauce. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. To serve, toss the bowls with the sauce and enjoy.
more ground beef recipes to enjoy
- Cashew Beef Lettuce Wraps
- Healthy Chili with Beef and Butternut Squash
- Mom's Meatloaf
- Big Mac Sliders
- Easy and Delicious Beef Enchiladas
just one more thing
If you make this delicious Big Mac Bowl recipe, be sure to give it a star rating and/or comment below. Take a photo and tag @amycaseycooks on Instagram. Thank you!
Recipe
Big Mac Bowl
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
A Big Mac Bowl has all the delicious flavors of the double stacked cheeseburger, but without the bun. This low carb burger bowl is a overflowing with cheesy bites of burger, lettuce, dill pickles, tomatoes, cheese, onions and a simple homemade Big Mac sauce. You won't even miss the bun with this Big Mac salad bowl.
Ingredients
for the cheeseburgers
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20)
- ⅓ cup finely chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 4 slices American cheese
for the Big Mac special sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
for the bowls
- 1 large head iceberg lettuce, chopped in bite sized pieces
- 1 cup chopped dill pickles
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 cup thinly sliced red onion
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- For the burgers, in a medium sized bowl combine the ground beef, onion, kosher salt and pepper. Form the mixture into 4 burgers.
- Heat a cast iron skillet or large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add the butter. When it has melted, add the burgers. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until your desired burger doneness. During the last minute of cooking, top each burger with a slice of American cheese. Place a lid on the skillet to melt the cheese. Remove the cooked burgers to a cutting board. Cool slightly and cut in to bite sized pieces.
- While the burgers are cooking, make the Big Mac special sauce. In a small bowl, add the mayonnaise, ketchup, sweet pickle relish and sour cream. Stir to combine. Set aside.
- To assemble each Big Mac Bowl, place about 3 cups of lettuce in a large shallow bowl. Top the lettuce with the cheeseburger pieces from 1 of the burgers and ¼ of the pickles, tomatoes, red onion, and cheddar cheese. Drizzle with some of the special sauce. Go sparingly. You can always add more if you'd like.
- Enjoy the bowl as is or toss the ingredients to make a Big Mac salad.
Notes
Can you make big Mac Bowls in advance? Yes! This is a great low carb meal prep recipe. Make and cook the burgers. Mix up the special sauce. Chop, dice and slice all the salad ingredients. Assemble the bowls in airtight containers except don't add the sauce. And these condiment cups are perfect for the special sauce. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days. To serve, toss the bowls with the sauce.
Is a Big Mac Bowl healthy? When compared to a Big Mac with a bun, a Big Mac Bowl is like a big salad loaded with vegetables. It's healthier than the traditional burger. But to keep it as healthy as possible, limit the special sauce and go easy on the shredded cheese.
Do you have to make burgers for Big Mac Bowls? It's not necessary to make individual burgers for each bowl. However it's my preference. I like having bite sized pieces of the juicy cheeseburger throughout the bowl. As an alternative, cook crumbled ground beef with the finely chopped onions and season with kosher salt and pepper. Divided the cooked meat evenly between the bowls.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: entrée
- Method: cook on stove top
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 594
- Sugar: 14.4 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 34.9 g
- Saturated Fat: 18.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 24.2 g
- Fiber: 2.9 g
- Protein: 37.2 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
Paula
Thanks for a great recipe Amy. My husband is on a reduced carb diet so I thought this would be a good choice. My daughter complains I can't make a decent burger but I followed your instructions, used a cast iron skillet and she loved the burger bites.
Amy Casey
So glad your family enjoyed my recipe. This is a fun salad to serve.
Holly
Love this! So I just bought these ginormous burgers with cheddar and jalapenos from the meat counter this morning and when I got them home I thought to myself that there is no way I am going to get these on a bun! This is the perfect solution! I will be eating this tomorrow! Thanks for the great idea.
Amy Casey
That's awesome Holly and those burgers sound amazing!! I'm going to be on the lookout for something similar.
Elaine
We had your salad this past weekend, and it was so good!! Hubby is already asking me when I'll be making it next!! Great recipe!
Amy Casey
Thanks Elaine! This salad is one my personal chef clients ask for over and over.
Nicole
Your Big Mac sauce was *chef's kiss*! I might actually prefer this deconstructed version to the real deal!
Amy Casey
I just love the Big Mac sauce! I use it all the time.
Dee
Yum!! This is a great burger bowl recipe for a keto dieter. Thanks for sharing!
Amy Casey
You're so welcome Dee!
Natalia
Incredibly delicious! This was exceptional. I've experimented with many of your recipes, and they've all been mouthwatering. Grateful for another culinary triumph!
Amy Casey
Thanks so much for your kind comment Natalia. I'm so happy you're enjoying my recipes. I love sharing them.
Katie Crenshaw
This is my new favorite salad. I didn't miss the bun one bit! Every bite was delicious.
Amy Casey
I'm so glad you enjoyed my recipe Katie. It's got all the great flavors of a Big Mac!
Elizabeth
I love this idea! This would be a great meal to make for a larger group of people - can add what they all like!
Amy Casey
What a great idea Elizabeth. Thanks for sharing it.
Kathryn
These bowls are SO good and easy to whip up. They have the same flavors as a big mac just in a salad form so I don't feel as bad about eating it 🙂
Amy Casey
My feelings exactly Kathryn!
Sean
So funny story, I have never had a Big Mac but this salad was delicious. I kinda want to try the original now.
Amy Casey
Some say it's an acquired taste. I love the special sauce. So glad you enjoyed your "first Big Mac" Sean. 🙂
Gloria
Love the deconstructed version of the classic takeout dish. This is great since I don't like going out to get drive-thru. The family will love this for dinner.
Amy Casey
Thanks Gloria! I try to steer clear of the drive thru too. This Big Mac salad bowl is my compromise.