This easy Big Mac Salad can be meal prepped in mason jars for lunches – it’s a healthy low-carb take on the classic cheeseburger!

This is one of those lunches that never gets old. All the Big Mac vibes we love, but in salad form and way better for you. I meal prep a few jars for the week and feel like I’ve got my life together every time I open my fridge.

What’s you’ll love this recipe

Healthier Big Mac: All the classic Big Mac burger taste you love from McDonald’s, made lighter with whole ingredients and no bun.
Meal prep friendly: Layered in mason jars for an easy, grab-and-go lunch that stays fresh for days.

Ingredients and substitutions

Extra-lean ground beef – ground turkey or ground chicken would also work.
Yellow onion – use white or red onion instead.
Dill pickles – any type of pickle will work here.
Plum tomatoes – swap out for red pepper or another veggie if you don’t like tomatoes.
Cheddar cheese – any type of cheese will work.
Romaine lettuce – use any type of lettuce like iceberg, Boston leaf or spinach.

Big Mac sauce

Light mayo – feel free to use regular fat mayo or vegan mayo.
Ketchup – there’s no great substitute for this.
Relish – you can chop up 1 tbsp pickles instead.

How to make Big Mac salad

Step 1: Cook the ground beef.

Brown in a skillet until fully cooked.

Step 2: Make the Big Mac sauce.

Mix the light mayo, ketchup and relish together.

Step 3: Prep your toppings.

Chop up the tomatoes, pickles and onions.

Step 4: Assemble or store your salad.

Toss all the ingredients together or layer the ingredients in mason jars and store for later.

Recipe tips

Here are a few tips to ensure your Big Mac salad turns out perfect:

Ingredient prep: Make the sauce and cook the beef beforehand to save time.
Chop evenly: Smaller, uniform pieces mean better flavour in every bite.
Use extra-lean beef: It’s the healthier option and won’t make the salad greasy.
Let the beef cool: Adding hot beef can wilt the lettuce and create condensation in the jars.
Meal prep in mason jars: They’ll layer the ingredients and prevent them from getting soggy.
Layer smartly: Sauce on the bottom, lettuce on top to keep everything fresh and crisp.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Big Mac sauce the same as thousand island dressing?

While they both have similar ingredients, the flavours are different. If you prefer, you can use store-bought or homemade thousand island dressing in this salad instead of the Big Mac sauce.

What kind of lettuce is best?

A traditional Big Mac is made with iceberg lettuce, but I use romaine lettuce since it’s a healthier option that tastes pretty much the same.

Do you reheat the beef or eat it cold?

If you store the salad in mason jars, you’ll have to eat it cold. If you prefer to eat it warm, store separately and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

Storage and meal prep

The best way to store this salad is in mason jars. Here’s how to layer your jars:

Divide the Big Mac sauce evenly amongst the bottom of the jars
Add the ground beef on top of the dressing
Layer on the onions, pickles, tomatoes and cheese, finishing with the lettuce
Store in the fridge for 5 days

You can also store the assembled salad in the fridge for 2-3 days without the sauce or 1 day with the sauce.

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Easy Big Mac Salad Recipe

What’s you’ll love this recipe