Big Mac Salad Recipe

I don't know about you, but sometimes I just have to have a Big Mac. But at the same time, I really don't want to blow a day's worth of calories and Weight Watchers points on one burger. That's why I created this healthy Big Mac Salad recipe -it's only 9 WW blue points!

This Big Mac Salad is a great way to get your Big Mac fix in a healthy way, completely satisfying your craving. It's an easy to make, economical and filling meal the whole family will enjoy and it's Weight Watchers friendly at only 9 WW points on blue. Plus it comes with cute little buns!

Considering a Big Mac is 22 Weight Watchers points on the blue plan, this salad is not only super filling, it's a darn good deal as far as calories, fat and WW points go! This Weight Watchers Big Mac Salad is unbelievably tasty and will completely satisfy your craving in a healthy way. This Big Mac bowl is also a quick and easy meal that the whole family can enjoy and no one will even suspect it's Weight Watchers friendly!

🥘 Ingredients

I LOVE Big Macs and periodically I get a pretty overwhelming craving for them. But then I also want fries with it and there goes a couple days worth of points. So, this is a really great alternative. This salad is seriously like eating a Big Mac in a bowl, but with a little extra lettuce and tomatoes added to the mix. Many of the recipes I've come across use Thousand Island Dressing but I prefer my special sauce with Light Catalina dressing. Try it and you'll see that it really does taste just like mac sauce! 

For this recipe you'll need:

• light mayonnaise
• light Catalina dressing
• sweet relish
• ketchup
• white vinegar
• onion powder
• salt 
• pickles
• onion
• iceberg lettuce
• tomatoes
• extra lean ground beef
• low-fat cheddar cheese
• thin buns
• sesame seed

🍽 Equipment

Use a small round cookie cutter (affiliate link) to cut thin buns into "mini buns." You can even use the round side of a large icing tip or anything small and round) *You should get 6 mini buns from each larger bun. 

Like I said, you don't have to be following the Weight Watchers program to love this salad. My teenage son thought it was 'amazing' and of course I never mentioned it was a WW Big Mac salad. I've seen a lot of this type of salad out there that are very low-carb (keto) - this is NOT that salad.

I still love and need my carbs so I added the 'mini buns' because not only are they cute, they really make you feel like you're still eating a Big Mac. Because what's a Big Mac without bun?! And it's still not a high carb salad.  That's why I love the WW program- nothing is off limits- it's all about balance. So go ahead, eat some carbs and indulge guilt-free!

👪 Serving size

A serving size is about ⅔ a cup of the meat/sauce mixture and 2 mini buns. You can add additional lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and onions without changing the WW point value. This recipe serves 6 but it can be halved or doubled or tripled by simply clicking on the blue serving size in the recipe card and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient amounts will adjust accordingly.

💭 Can I make this Big Mac salad in advance?

YES! In fact, the 'burger' part of this recipe is best made in advance. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days. The tomato and lettuce portion is best made just prior to serving, but can be made a day in advance. 

🌡️Storing

Ideally, you should store the meat mixture separately from the 'salad' part and not mix them together until you are ready to eat it. You can store this big mac salad for up to 2 days in the fridge. The 'buns' should be stored, in a separate sealed container/Ziplock bag at room temperature.

📖 Variations

• Pickles: you can use dill or bread and butter pickles - they both work well
• Lettuce: you can use romaine or leaf lettuce instead of iceberg
• Buns/bread: you can use a WW bread if you don't have thin buns
• Dressing: French dressing can be substituted for Catalina
• Meat: use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef (although it won't taste quite as close to a big mac)

If you're looking for a quick and easy meal idea that's sure to be a keeper or simply need a healthy and WW friendly Big Mac fix, then give this Big Mac Salad recipe a go! You won't be disappointed!

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5 from 3 votes

📋 Big Mac Salad Recipe

This Big Mac Salad recipe is a great way to get your Big Mac fix in a healthy way, completely satisfying your craving. It's an economical and filling meal the whole family will enjoy and it's Weight Watchers friendly at only 9 WW points on blue!

Course dinner, lunch

Cuisine American, North American

Keyword big mac, salad, weight watchers

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 297kcal

Author Terri Gilson

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ½ cup light mayonnaise * I use Hellman's ½ the fat mayonnaise
• ¼ cup light Catalina dressing *I use Kraft ( light French dressing can be substituted)
• 2 tablespoon sweet relish
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder
• ⅛ teaspoon salt
• 3 choppped pickles
• ½ cup chopped onions
• 2 heads iceberg or romaine lettuce
• 2 tomatoes, chopped
• 3 cups cooked ground beef, extra lean * about 1 lb raw ground beef

Garnish

• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 4 tablespoon low-fat sharp cheddar cheese
• 2 thin buns, cut into small circles * I use President's Choice thin buns (PC thins)
• additional chopped/sliced pickles and onions

Instructions

• Cook ground beef in frying pan, on stovetop, over medium heat until cooked through. Drain.
• Add chopped pickles, onions, light Catalina salad dressing, mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, onion powder, salt and vinegar to ground beef and stir until thoroughly combined. *It's ideal if you can let this sit in the fridge for at least a few hours, but it's not critical.
• Chop lettuce and tomatoes and add to large bowl, then add meat mixture.
• Sprinkle cheese over top of salad.
• Cut both thin buns into "mini buns" with a small round cookie cutter (you can even use the round side of a large icing tip or anything small and round) *You should get 6 mini buns from each larger bun.
  

Garnish

• Add buns to the top of the salad.
• Add additional chopped pickles and onions, as desired.
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve immediately. Or store meat and lettuce/tomato mixture separately until ready to serve.

Notes

🌡️STORING

Ideally, you should store the meat mixture separately from the 'salad' part and not mix them together until you are ready to eat it. You can store this big mac salad for up to 2 days in the fridge. The 'buns' should be stored, in a separate sealed container/Ziplock bag at room temperature.

👪 SERVING SIZE

A serving size is about ⅔ a cup of the meat/sauce mixture and 2 mini buns. You can add additional lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and onions without changing the WW point value. This recipe serves 6 but it can be halved or doubled or tripled by simply clicking on the blue serving size in the recipe card and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient amounts will adjust accordingly.

My Amazon Recommendations (affiliate links)

Nutrition Facts

📋 Big Mac Salad Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 297 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 52mg17%

Sodium 917mg40%

Potassium 842mg24%

Carbohydrates 28g9%

Fiber 5g21%

Sugar 14g16%

Protein 23g46%

Vitamin A 1229IU25%

Vitamin C 19mg23%

Calcium 152mg15%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Calories: 297kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 917mg | Potassium: 842mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1229IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 152mg | Iron: 4mg

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