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Home » Recipes » Dish Type » Salads

Big Mac Salad Recipe

Published: Jul 16, 2020 by Terri Gilson · Modified: Jun 21, 2022 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 7 Comments

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Jump to Recipe
pin with text and photo of Big Mac salad (from top) in white bowl)
pin with text and photo of big mac salad in a small white bowl in front and large bowl of salad in the background

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 a big mac in salad form and only 7 WW points on my plan. Plug it into the app to see how many points it is on your plan.

Big Mac salad (from top) in white bowl)

This Big Mac Salad is a heart salad and 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! Plus it comes with cute little buns!

Jump to:
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🍽 Equipment
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • 👪 Serving Size
  • 💭 Can I make this Big Mac salad in advance?
  • 🌡️Storing
  • 📖 Variations & Substitutions
  • ⭐ Reviews
  • 📋 Big Mac Salad Recipe
  • 🍽️More Weight Watchers Dinner Recipes~!

Considering a traditional big macs are 24 Weight Watchers points on my WW 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!

big mac salad in small white bowl with fork in it and large white salad bowl in background

🥘 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 Big Mac sauce with Light Catalina dressing. Try it and you'll see that it really does taste just like mac special 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
big mac salad being held up on a fork with bowl below

🍽 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. 

🔪 Instructions

This Big Mac salad recipe is easy to throw together.

  1. Cook ground beef in frying pan, on stovetop, over medium heat until cooked through. Drain.
  2. Add chopped pickles, onions, and big mac dressing (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.
  3. Chop lettuce and tomatoes and add to large bowl, then add meat mixture.
  4. Sprinkle cheese over top of salad.
  5. 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.
thin bun on cutting board with mini circle cutter and pieces cut out

Like I said, you don't have to be following the Weight Watchers program to love this Big Mac in a Bowl. 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 low-carb salad.

big mac salad in small white bowl, with yellow and white checkered tea towel in background

I still love and need my carbs and I love the iconic sesame seed bun that's part of the big mac, 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 easy recipe is best made in advance. It can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days, making it ideal for meal prep. 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 in a separate container 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.

Big Mac salad (from top) in white bowl) with word "indulge" written on bowl

📖 Variations & Substitutions

  • Pickles: you can use dill pickles or bread and butter pickles - they both work well
  • Lettuce: you can use romaine or leaf lettuce instead of iceberg lettuce
  • Buns/bread: you can use a WW bread if you don't have thin buns.
  • Gluten-free: use gluten-free buns or skip the bun all together!
  • 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)
  • Onion - you could use red onion or green onion instead of white onions

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 to cure those fast food cravings, then give this Big Mac Salad recipe a go! You won't be disappointed!

⭐ Reviews

Did you make this recipe? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

Here's what others are saying:

"So brilliant! I love the dressing and pickles, really tastes like the real thing! Thanks!."⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Big Mac salad (from top) in white bowl)
Food Meandering Logo

📋 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!
5 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American, North American
Keyword: big mac, salad, weight watchers
Special Diet: Weight Watchers
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 297kcal
Author: Terri Gilson
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Prevent 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, chopped
  • 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
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Cook ground beef in a large skillet, on stovetop, over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain.
  • Add chopped pickles, onions, light Catalina salad dressing, mayonnaise, ketchup, relish, onion powder, salt and vinegar to cooked 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.
  • Combine lettuce and tomatoes and add to large bowl, then add meat mixture.
  • Sprinkle grated 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.
    bun being cut into mini buns

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

*Please see post contents for important recipe information and tips!
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 (15%) | Carbohydrates: 28g (9%) | Protein: 23g (46%) | Fat: 11g (17%) | Saturated Fat: 3g (19%) | Cholesterol: 52mg (17%) | Sodium: 917mg (40%) | Potassium: 842mg (24%) | Fiber: 5g (21%) | Sugar: 14g (16%) | Vitamin A: 1229IU (25%) | Vitamin C: 19mg (23%) | Calcium: 152mg (15%) | Iron: 4mg (22%)
Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review below!
Rate this Recipe

🍽️More Weight Watchers Dinner Recipes~!

  • Grilled Steak Salad with Feta and Clamato Dressing (Moxie's copycat)
  • Easy Greek Chicken Souvlaki - Weight Watchers friendly!
  • Easy & Healthy Butter Chicken: Weight Watchers friendly & Gluten-free
  • Healthy Classic Potato Salad- WW friendly
  • Weight Watchers Pizza with 2 ingredient Weight Watchers Pizza Dough
  • Healthy Creamy Lemon Chicken Pasta - WW friendly!

More Salads

  • Mandarin Orange Salad Recipe
  • Cajun Chicken Avocado Mango Salad
  • Healthy Comfort Foods
  • Old Fashioned Fruit Salad (with Honey Lime Dressing)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Shailaja Desai

    July 21, 2020 at 9:26 am

    This looks like a delicious and hearty salad...Love the mini bun cut outs too!!

    Reply
  2. Sabrina

    July 22, 2020 at 12:56 pm

    So brilliant! I love the dressing and pickles, really tastes like the real thing! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      July 27, 2020 at 4:59 pm

      Thanks, Sabrina- glad you loved it!!

      Reply
  3. Ginni Kelley

    July 22, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    The mini bun cut outs are a great idea! Loving the naughty named healthy recipe.

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      July 23, 2020 at 8:20 pm

      Thanks! I needed some kind of bun to make it truly big mac like 🙂

      Reply
  4. Bernice Hill

    July 23, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    What a fun recipe! All the flavours you crave in a Big Mac in one bowl and so much healthier too.

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      July 27, 2020 at 4:58 pm

      Thanks, Bernice! It really hits the spot!

      Reply

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I'm Terri, a passionate home cook and baker, an award-winning recipe developer and a busy working mom that is trying to eat healthy and fit everything into not enough hours in a day! My mission is to share not only my recipes, cooking hacks and tips with you, but also my secrets to successful weight maintenance.

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