Low Carb Big Mac Salad Recipe

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When it gets closer to summertime around our house, we always start watching what we eat just a little bit more. This LOW CARB BIG MAC SALAD is without a doubt one of those “close to summertime” dishes that we turn to at this healthy-minded time of year. Along with being low carb, no traditional sugars are used in this delicious salad recipe! We are really excited to bring y’all our own take on a low carb cheeseburger salad!

A white bowl filled with cooked ground beef, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, and a creamy sauce sits on a wooden table. Nearby are two other bowls, one with sauce and one with more lettuce and cheese.

This recipe calls for a pound of lean ground beef, but we like to cook up about 2 pounds so that we can have it for different applications for the whole week. This helps us stay on track in a big way, and even lets Big D make his Big Mac Salad as BIG as he wants! We use a sugar substitute in the sauce, and you can make the recipe even healthier by using avocado oil mayo instead regular mayo. Once you build your salad with these fixings, you will agree that this tastes just like a Big Mac without the bun!

Much like our LOW CARB BACON CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE, this one is perfect for when you are craving a burger, but need to stick to your healthy summer plans!

Ingredients

We use lean ground beef, mayo, mustard, relish, cheese and other common ingredients to make this salad something really special.

A hand holds a spoonful of a salad containing ground beef, shredded lettuce, cheese, and creamy dressing over a white bowl filled with the same ingredients. Another bowl and a tray are in the background.

What You’ll Need

Mayonnaise and mustard.
Dill Pickle relish.
White vinegar.
Chopped onions.
Lean ground beef.
Sugar substitute, salt, pepper and smoked paprika.

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

Why You Will Love This Low Carb Big Mac Salad

Customizable – make this salad your own by adding your favorite veggies, cheese or protein!
Low carb, low sugar – the healthy angle on this Low Carb Big Mac Salad is stepped up by the sugar substitute.
You have cravings! – sometimes you really want a cheeseburger, yet you really want to eat healthy. You can have both with this!

Instructions

This one is a great make ahead option. The ground beef can be done ahead of time as well as the sauce. Satisfy those cravings any old time!

A person cooks ground beef in a skillet on a stove. A cutting board nearby holds lettuce, green onions, a knife, and a patterned bowl. Mustard, shredded cheese, and seasonings are also on the counter.

Brown lean ground beef and drain. Return to pan.

Overhead view of a person seasoning cooked ground beef in a skillet on a stove, with lettuce, green onions, grated cheese, and condiments arranged on a wooden countertop nearby.

Season beef with salt and pepper and brown until done.

A kitchen countertop with lettuce, green onions, cheese, mustard, mayonnaise, and seasonings next to a stove where ground beef is being cooked in a pan with a slotted spoon.

Make the dressing! In a small bowl add mayo.

A hand holds a bottle of yellow mustard above a bowl of white sauce. Nearby are green onions, lettuce, shredded cheese, a spice shaker, mayonnaise, pickles, and a pan with cooked ground beef on a stove.

Prepared mustard.

A person prepares sauce in a white bowl on a wooden counter with ground beef cooking in a skillet, lettuce and green onions in a bowl, shredded cheese, and condiments nearby.

Dill pickle relish.

Overhead view of a kitchen counter with chopped lettuce, green onions, and a knife on a plate, a bowl with condiments being mixed by hand, and a skillet of cooked ground beef next to a stove burner.

White vinegar.

A person chops green onions on a wooden countertop next to a bowl of sauce, lettuce, cheddar cheese, green onions, condiments, and a skillet of cooked ground beef on a stove.

Chop and add in about 1 tablespoons finely chopped onion.

A hand holds a bag of Swerve granular sweetener above a wooden counter with green onions, lettuce, a knife, a bowl, condiments, and a pan of ground beef cooking on a stove.

Sugar substitute. We like swerve.

A person’s hand holds a jar of smoked paprika over a wooden countertop with lettuce, green onions, cheddar cheese, mustard, a knife, a bowl with mixed ingredients, and a skillet with cooked ground beef on a stove.

Smoked or Hungarian paprika.

A person chops lettuce on a wooden cutting board next to a blue patterned plate, green onions, shredded cheese, a sauce, and a skillet of cooked ground beef on a stove.

Prep your salad by chopping romaine or iceberg lettuce and placing in a large bowl.

A hand holding green onions on a wooden cutting board, slicing them with a knife. There are bowls, a pepper grinder, shredded cheese, and cooked ground beef on the stove nearby.

Chop and add 1/2 cup diced onions.

A person sprinkles salt into a large bowl of chopped green vegetables on a wooden countertop, with a knife, cooked ground beef in a pan, a bowl, shredded cheese, and a jar nearby.

Season with salt and pepper.

A person adds dressing to chopped lettuce in a large bowl beside a stove with cooked ground beef, a knife, pepper grinder, and a bag of shredded cheddar cheese on a wooden countertop.

Add in more pickles to salad mixture.

A person’s hand is pouring shredded mild cheddar cheese from a bag into a mixing bowl with green vegetables, next to a stove with cooked ground beef and utensils on a wooden countertop.

Top with shredded sharp cheddar cheese.

A person assembles a BIG MAC salad, adding sauce to a bowl of ground beef and lettuce. A pan with cooked beef, a salad bowl with cheese and lettuce, a knife, dressing, and seasonings are on a wooden countertop near a stove.

Add salad to a bowl or plate, dress with ground beef and plenty of that delicious sauce! Enjoy!

Why Brooke loves this recipe!

Recipes are like antiques. They are meant to be handed down from one generation to another. Each one holding a special memory or nostalgic memory. Here is why we love this one!

As we head into summertime, Big D and I always start trying to watch what we eat a little more, even though we might be craving something simple and perhaps not so healthy . . . like a cheeseburger. And, while our tastes are very different, we both agree that this Low Carb Big Mac Salad gives us the best of both worlds. It’s so easy to make this salad yours, while scratching the itch of that craving!

A bowl containing ground beef, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, and a creamy sauce. Nearby are a bowl of lettuce with cheese and a bowl of creamy sauce, all set on a wooden surface.

Substitutions

With this recipe, I can think of a bunch of customizations and I know you likely will, too. Here are a few to get you started.

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Mayo – for a heathier option in your sauce, avocado oil mayo is a great substitute.
Meat – feel free to use turkey or veggie meat options from your favorite grocery store.
Veggies – add your own veggies and customize this recipe to your taste.
Cheese – even though we used cheddar for this salad, feel free to use any kind of cheese that you love!

Equipment

🔧 I love to share recipes that are no special equipment required but here are a few things that would definitely make this recipe easier!

A hand holds a spoonful of salad with ground beef, lettuce, shredded cheese, and creamy dressing above a white bowl filled with the same ingredients on a wooden tray.

Storage Tips

You can pre-make your sauce ahead of time, and store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.
You’ll likely want to eat the whole thing up, but, like all salads, you can keep this in an airtight containter in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

A white bowl on a wooden surface contains cooked ground beef, shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, pickles, and a creamy sauce. A second bowl with more sauce and a spoon is in the background.

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A bowl filled with ground beef, shredded cheese, lettuce, and a creamy sauce. Nearby are a bowl of lettuce with cheese and another bowl containing more sauce. A spoon rests in the main bowl.

Low Carb Big Mac Salad

A low carb cheeseburger salad that's like a Big Mac without the bun. Made with sugar-free dressing and lean ground beef.

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Serving Size

Ingredients

For the Sauce

3/4 cup Mayonnaise
4 teaspoon prepared mustard
2 tablespoons dill pickle relish
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 tablespoon green onions chopped
2 teaspoons sugar substitute
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

For the Salad

1 pound ground beef lean
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
4-6 cups romaine chopped
1/2 cup green onions diced
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese grated
2 tablespoons dill pickle relish

Instructions

Brown ground beef until almost done. Drain and return to skillet. Season with salt and pepper and continue to cook until done. Set aside.
1 pound ground beef, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper
To make the dressing, add mayonnaise to a small bowl. Mix in prepared mustard, pickle relish, vinegar, chopped onions, smoked paprika and sugar substitute. Mix well and set aside.
3/4 cup Mayonnaise, 4 teaspoon prepared mustard, 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish, 1 tablespoon white vinegar, 1 tablespoon green onions, 2 teaspoons sugar substitute, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
To assemble the salad: In a large bowl, chop and add in lettuce. Add in chopped onions, cheddar cheese and dill pickle relish. Toss to combine. Serve with lettuce mixture, ground beef and drizzle with salad dressing.
4-6 cups romaine, 1/2 cup green onions, 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish

See How To Make It!

Notes

**Pro Tip**

This is a great opportunity to use meal prepped ground beef. On Sundays, I love to cook about 2-3 pounds of ground beef and either store it in the refrigerator or freezer for later use. This Big Mac salad is a great way to use it!

A fork holds a bite of ground beef, shredded cheese, lettuce, and creamy sauce over a white bowl filled with the same ingredients. A large, spotted bowl is in the background.

🍴 PRO TIP!

Go ahead and make this salad your own by adding even more veggies! And you can add an amount of meat to your own taste. My taste and Big D’s taste are totally different, so we understand that salad construction is a personal thing!

🗹 RECIPE FAQ’S

How do I make sure my salad is fresh and crunchy?

It’s best to prep the salad right before serving and best to toss in your ingredients right before serving for the best crunch and snap.

Why does the meat taste bland?

You likely drained off all your seasoning. Be sure to drain the pan before it’s not quite brown. When it’s almost brown, add your salt and pepper, and it’s sure to taste great!

Can I make this ahead of time?

Because of the lettuce, you won’t be able to store it quite as long, but you can make up your sauce in advance, and keep it in the fridge in an airtight container for a week. You can also prepare your ground beef ahead of time and keep it in the fridge or freezer until you need it.

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