This Bic Mac in a bowl recipe is easy, delicious, and full of flavor. Basically a Big Mac without the bun that you eat with a fork, every bite of this dish is chock full of classic Big Mac flavor!
We love Big Macs. We always get them for lunch if we're out and about, and I've made it my mission to bring that delicious flavor home, as well. We have all kinds of Big Mac recipes on the site, but the easiest one by far is this one. It's basically just all the Big Mac ingredients you love in an easy salad form!
This recipe was inspired by our Big Mac casserole and this Texas toast Big Mac. It pairs well with these delicious mashed potato fries.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses simple ingredients like ground beef, lettuce, and a few other kitchen staples.
- Easy: It only takes about 15 minutes to make this recipe from start to finish.
- Big Flavor: Every bite of this tasty salad is loaded with delicious Big Mac flavor.
Ingredients
You'll only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this easy, delicious recipe.
- Ground Beef: Seasoned ground beef is the beefy base for this bowl.
- Classic Toppings: Lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and onions add the flavor and texture we love about Big Macs.
- Big Mac Sauce: You can't have a Big Mac recipe without that sweet and tangy Big Mac Sauce.
- Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar cheese adds even more classic flavor.
- Sesame Seeds: A garnish of sesame seeds completes the flavor profile.
See the recipe card below for the exact quantities of each ingredient.
Substitutions and Variations
Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this Big Mac without the bun.
- Spicy: Add a bit of chili pepper flakes, diced jalapeno pepper, our jalapeno powder, smoked jalapeno powder, or chipotle powder to the mixture for a bit of heat. You can also serve up our homemade hot pepper sauce on the table as well.
- Meat: Use ground turkey for a low fat option. For something a little different, try ground chorizo.
- Cheese: Any bold cheese like cheddar, cheddar Jack, Colby Jack, and the like will work well in this recipe.
Instructions
This is a super easy recipe that only takes about 10 minutes of stovetop cooking and a few minutes more to put it all together. You'll be in and out of the kitchen in no time!
Cook the ground beef until no longer pink, and drain the grease.
Add shredded lettuce and cooked beef to four bowls.
Top with tomatoes, pickles, onions, and cheese.
Drizzle with Big Mac Sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds just before serving.
Hint: To avoid watery, burning eyes, chill your onion in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes before dicing it.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this collection of Big Mac recipes.
Storage
Refrigerator: It's better to make as many Big Mac bowls as you think will be eaten and then store the ingredients separately. There's really no way to reheat them after they're constructed. Refrigerate the beef for up to 3 days in an air-tight container.
Freezer: You can freeze the beef for up to 3 months in a heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible.
Reheat: Microwave your beef at 30-second intervals until heated through and then make more Big Mac bowls.
Make Ahead: There's no way to keep all the flavors fresh and delicious when stored, so we don't recommend making this ahead of time.
What to Serve with a Big Mac in a Bowl
Tips
Usually, you'd find helpful tips in this section to create the best possible version of this recipe, but there's almost nothing to this one! We've just put in a couple of things, but you might already know them. Hey, some recipes are just that easy!
- Freeze your onion for about 15 minutes before dicing it to avoid watery, burning eyes.
- Be sure to drain your beef well. Even lean ground beef will render some fat while it cooks.
- Try not to make more of these bowls than you'll eat at one time. They don't store well.
FAQ
Do you have questions about this Big Mac in a bowl? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about this Big Mac without the bun.
A Big Mac in a bowl is a deconstructed Big Mac copycat featuring all the delicious beef and toppings of a Big Mac on a bed of lettuce and served without a bun.
It's easy to tell when ground beef is fully cooked. Just cook it until it's no longer pink. Be sure not to cook it further than that. Overcooked ground beef gets rubbery.
It's healthy-adjacent. Ground beef has lots of protein, and the veggie toppings are healthy. However, it's also topped with Big Mac sauce which has a lot of calories and fat. So it's a dish to enjoy in moderation, but it's not terrible for you.
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More Big Mac Inspired Recipes
Do you like Big Macs? 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 in a Bowl
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 4 cups shredded lettuce
- 1 cup sliced cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup chopped dill pickles
- ½ cup chopped white onions
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Homemade Big Mac sauce Homemade Big Mac Sauce
- Garnish with sesame seeds
Instructions
- Add ground beef to a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Season with salt and pepper.
- Break beef apart with a spatula into small pieces. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until all pink is gone. Drain off any excess grease.
- Prepare Homemade Big Mac sauce according to directions.
- In four bowls, layer lettuce, cooked beef, tomatoes, pickles, onions, and cheese.
- Just before serving, drizzle sauce over top of each salad. Garnish with sesame seeds and enjoy!
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Notes
- Freeze your onion for about 15 minutes before dicing it to avoid watery, burning eyes.
- Be sure to drain your beef well. Even lean ground beef will render some fat while it cooks.
- Try not to make more of these bowls than you'll eat at one time. They don't store well.
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