From incredibly catchy jingles to late-night trips to the drive-thru, everyone knows the Big Mac®, a classic of the burger world. It’s hard to say no to it, even if you feel more inclined to a refreshing salad instead. The Big Mac Salad transforms the fast-food favorite into a savory salad that will blow traditional caesar salads out of the water: the dressing has all the tang and creaminess of the special sauce, the lettuce is crisp, the cheese is cheesy (always a plus), and the crumbled beef is just as juicy and meaty as the two all-beef patties. The Big Mac Salad is a healthy alternative to its namesake sandwich, which just means you’ll be enjoying the amazing flavors guilt-free and without having to look for the golden arches!
Ingredients
For the sauce:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup creamy French dressing
- 2 tablespoons sweet relish
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
For the croutons:
- 2 sesame buns, diced
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
For the salad:
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cups grape tomatoes, halved
- 8 cups lettuce, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, cubed
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Step 2 –Mix the mayonnaise, the French dressing, the sweet relish, the ketchup, the white vinegar, the onion powder, and the salt.
Step 3 –Refrigerate the sauce until ready to use.
Step 4 –Toss the buns with the canola oil.
Step 5 –Sprinkle the buns with the garlic salt.
Step 6 –Add the bun cubes to a baking sheet and bake until toasted, about 6-8 minutes.
Step 7 –Add the beef and the onions to a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking the meat apart as it cooks, until the meat is no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes.
Step 8 –Let the beef-onion mixture cool.
Step 9 –Add the tomatoes, the lettuce, the cheddar, 1 cup of the sauce, and the cooled beef to a large bowl, tossing gently.
Step 10 –Top with the croutons and serve.