I love ordering a Big Mac from McDonald’s and this Big Mac Casserole has the same nostalgic flavors. It’s a simple yet delicious burger that I’ve enjoyed for years and is now easy to make as a casserole.
The creamy, tangy signature sauce is so well-known and loved! I made a quick, tasty homemade version that pairs great with this Big Mac cheeseburger casserole.
This is a tasty and easy dinner recipe that’s perfect for a busy weeknight. Kids love that they can choose their favorite toppings! Plus, it’s a Big Mac casserole with hash browns to add a crispy texture instead of french fries. It tastes so good together.
Want more Big Mac recipes? Try some Big Mac Tacos, Easy Big Mac Wraps, Big Mac in a Bowl, Big Mac Crunch Wrap and Big Mac Sloppy Joes next.
Why You’ll Love This Big Mac Casserole Recipe
- Great leftovers: The leftovers of this casserole are easy to reheat the next day to have for lunch or dinner.
- Customizable recipe: Serve the toppings on the side and let the family customize their Big Mac in a bowl.
- Easy to make ahead: I love that I can prepare this casserole in advance to make mealtime even easier.
Ingredients
Below you will find the key casserole ingredients as well as the Big Mac sauce. I separated them to make it easier to tell which item goes where.
For the Casserole
- Frozen hash brown potatoes: I use frozen hash brown potatoes for this recipe. I love how they crisp up. You can also turn this recipe into a Big Mac tater casserole.
- Ground beef: I like to use lean ground beef because that’s what is in Big Mac patties. However, ground turkey or chicken would work fine as well.
- Cheddar cheese: Shredded cheddar has a little bit of sharpness that I like. It adds a little extra flavor to the casserole. Feel free to use another variety such as Colby Jack to sprinkle on top.
- Toppings: Classic toppings for this casserole are tomatoes, white onions, dill pickles, shredded lettuce, sesame seeds, and of course the signature sauce. Feel free to use whatever your family likes!
For the Mac Sauce
This is a quick recipe to drizzle over the finished Big Bac casserole. You can make Copycat Big Mac Sauce if you want the real deal.
- Mayonnaise: The creaminess of the mac sauce comes from the mayo. I like to use Hellmann’s but use your favorite brand.
- Ketchup: Adding ketchup gives the sauce a tangy sweetness along with its signature color.
- Dill pickles: Classic sour dill pickles balance out the other flavors in a Big Mac but you can use any pickle flavor that you like.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Keto Big Mac Casserole: To make this recipe keto-friendly, replace the hash browns with cauliflower tots and use low-sugar or sugar-free ketchup.
- Vegan: Use vegan shredded cheese, vegan mayo, and a ground beef alternative like Impossible Meat.
- Spicy: Add diced jalapenos and hot sauce for some heat.
How to Make Big Mac Casserole
Here are the instructions on how to make this easy casserole recipe. Get your oven preheated to 375 degrees F and spray a 9x13 casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Once you’re all set up, it’s time to cook!
Step 1: Cook the hashbrowns. Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the olive oil. Cook the frozen hash browns until they are golden and crispy.
Step 2: Transfer. Place the cooked potatoes in the prepared baking dish.
Step 3: Season and brown the ground beef. Add the ground beef and seasonings to the skillet and cook it until it’s no longer pink. Add the onions. Cook the onions until they are soft. Then, drain any excess fat from the skillet.
Step 4: Layer the casserole and add the cheese. Pour the ground beef mixture over the top of the hash browns and sprinkle with the shredded cheddar.
Step 5: Bake it. Place the casserole in the oven and bake it for 20-25 minutes. It’s ready once the cheese is melted and bubbly. Let it cool slightly while you prepare the other ingredients.
Step 6: Make the mac sauce. Add the mayo, ketchup, pickles, and pickle juice to a small bowl. Whisk the mixture until smooth and fully combined.
Step 7: Garnish the casserole and drizzle the sauce. Add your favorite toppings to the slightly cooled casserole and drizzle the sauce on top. Serve and enjoy!
⭐️ Hint: Skip the garnishing step until after you serve the Big Mac in a bowl. This way, everyone can choose what they want and extra of their favorite toppings!
If you love hearty casseroles try this John Wayne Casserole!
Storage
- Refrigeration: Place leftovers of this casserole into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: This recipe is easy to reheat in the microwave. Heat for 1-2 minutes or until warmed through.
- Freezing: Cover the casserole tightly with plastic wrap and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw completely in the refrigerator before baking it.
- How to Make the Dish Ahead of Time: Prepare all of the components and layer them in the casserole dish the night before. Cover with foil or plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake it. Let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes before placing it in the oven.
Serving Suggestions
- Instead of dill pickles, try Easy Homemade Horseradish Pickles or Easy Spicy Pickles.
- Add bacon by making Toaster Oven Bacon or add a spoonful of Jalapeno Bacon Jam to your Big Mac bowl.
- Try drizzling the casserole with Spicy Mayo Sauce instead of the traditional sauce.
- My favorite veggie side to pair with this Big Mac casserole with hashbrowns is Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob.
Recipe Tips
- Add toppings when ready to serve: Produce like shredded lettuce can become limp and soggy if it sits out too long. Add it to the top of the casserole when you’re ready to eat.
- Drain excess fat from the beef: Don’t skip draining the fat after you cook the ground beef. It will make the casserole greasy.
- Make mac sauce ahead: Prepare sauce and store it in an airtight container or tightly covered bowl in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. You can make this Big Mac casserole with Thousand Island dressing instead of making the mac sauce yourself. The flavors of the dressing are very similar.
If you like, but they will take longer to cook. Chop them into 1-inch pieces and cook in the skillet until crispy and fork-tender before transferring them to the casserole dish.
This is likely from overcooking it. Bake it long enough just to melt the cheese because all of the other ingredients are already cooked.
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More Delicious Casseroles
Do you like hearty casserole recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Big Mac Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 bag frozen diced Hash Brown potatoes
- 2 lb ground beef
- ¼ cup onion finely chopped
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- ¼ cup dill pickles finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
Toppings
- chopped tomatoes optional
- onions finely chopped
- dill pickle slices
- 1-2 cups shredded lettuce
- sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with olive oil or cooking spray.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the frozen diced hash brown potatoes and cook according to the package instructions until they are golden brown and crispy. Spread the cooked hash browns evenly into the prepared baking dish.
- In the same skillet, add the ground beef. Season the beef mixture with garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Cook over medium heat until the beef is browned add the onions and cook until they are soft and translucent. Drain any excess fat.
- Spread the cooked ground beef mixture over the layer of hash browns in the baking dish.
- Next, sprinkle the grated cheddar cheese over the top of the casserole.
- Place in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- While baking the casserole, prepare the Big Mac sauce by mixing the mayonnaise, ketchup, chopped dill pickles, and dill pickle juice in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Once the casserole is cooked and the cheese is melted, remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly.
- Sprinkle the shredded lettuce over the top of the cooked casserole, followed by chopped tomatoes, finely chopped onions, and dill pickle slices.
- Drizzle the prepared Big Mac sauce evenly over the top of the garnished casserole and sprinkle with sesame seeds and more diced onions if desired..
- Serve hot and enjoy your delicious Big Mac Casserole!
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Notes
- Add toppings when ready to serve: Produce like shredded lettuce can become limp and soggy if it sits out too long. Add it to the Big Mac casserole when you’re ready to eat.
- Drain excess fat from the beef: Don’t skip draining the fat after you cook the ground beef. It will make the casserole greasy.
- Make mac sauce ahead: Prepare sauce and store it in an airtight container or tightly covered bowl in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.
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