Big Mac Bowl Recipe

A Big Mac Bowl cheeseburger salad with a blue napkin.

Print Recipe

5 from 9 votes

A Big Mac Bowl has all the delicious flavors of the double stacked cheeseburger, but without the bun.

Prep Time25

Cook Time10

Total Time35

Course: entree, Salad

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Big Mac bowl, Big Mac no bun, Big Mac Salad, cheeseburger salad, low carb Big Mac bowl, low carb hamburger bowl

Servings: servings

Calories: 594kcal

Author: Amy Casey

Equipment

stacking glass bowls
measuring spoons
measuring cups
chef knife
cutting boards
cast iron skillet
large spatula

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
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.
1 pound ground beef, ⅓ cup finely chopped onion, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon pepper
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.
1 tablespoon salted butter, 4 slices American cheese
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.
½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup ketchup, 3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish, 2 tablespoons sour cream
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.
1 large head iceberg lettuce, chopped, 1 cup chopped dill pickles, 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half, 1 cup thinly sliced red onion, 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Enjoy the bowl as is or toss the ingredients to make a Big Mac salad.

Video

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.

Nutrition