These delicious and easy Healthy Big Mac Bites are a healthier appetizer that's simple to make with frozen meatballs and an easy copycat Big Mac sauce and all the components of a Big Mac. They are also low-carb, keto, and WW friendly!
Big Mac Bites are a great Superbowl appetizer and are especially popular during football season, and ideal for your next potluck! These bites were inspired by Big Mac Pizza and Big Mac Salad.
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I am pretty crazy about Big Macs, but I haven't eaten one in years because they are way too fattening! I get all the flavors of a Big Mac in this healthy snack, along with my other Big Mac recipes. They are like eating a Big Mac in a healthy fun bite-sized portion!
🥘Ingredient Notes
My Big Mac Bites are quick and easy because you don't have to make mini burgers. Instead, I use frozen meatballs.
- Beef meatballs. I use frozen meatballs because they are quick and economical.
- Cheddar cheese slices. I use low-fat cheddar cheese to keep it light and ww friendly.
- Mayonnaise. I use Hellman's ½ the fat to keep it ww friendly.
- Catalina dressing. I use Kraft light/low-fat to keep it ww friendly.
*Please see recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities
📖Variations & Substitutions
- Lettuce - instead of iceberg lettuce, you can use romaine lettuce or leaf lettuce
- Big Mac Sauce - you could use a store-bought Big Mac sauce (I've bought it at Walmart in the past) or you could use a burger sauce instead of homemade Big Mac sauce
- Meatballs- you could make your own homemade meatballs with this recipe (minus the sauce) or use turkey or chicken meatballs
- Cheese - you can use full-fat cheddar or American cheese, if you prefer
- Pickles - you could use bread and butter pickles instead of dill pickles
🔪How to Make Big Mac Bites
Preheat oven as per package directions and add meatballs to a lined baking sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
Alternatively, you can cook the meatballs in an air fryer basket.
Cook meatballs as per package directions (generally at 400 degrees F/ 204 degrees C (for 10-15 minutes).
Meatballs should be cooked to 165 degrees F / 74 degrees C (you can check with a meat thermometer)
When meatballs are done, lay a piece of cheese over top of each meatball and return to oven for 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is melted
Meanwhile, add a pickle slice, then little squares of lettuce, then another piece of pickle to a skewer.
Remove meatballs from oven when cheese is melted.
Next add the 2 meatballs to the skewer.
Then add some chopped onion.
Meanwhile, mix secret sauce ingredients together in a small mixing bowl and stir until combined.
Using a pastry bag or a Ziploc bag (with a hole cut in the end) add the sauce to the bag.
Drizzle the homemade special sauce over the bites and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve this Big Mac Appetizer with additional sauce for dipping.
*Even if they get a little cold, it's fine - they still taste amazing!!
Expert Tips
- Slice Cheese for Perfect Coverage. Pre-sliced cheese is a timesaver. Simply cut each slice into four smaller squares to ensure each meatball is perfectly topped without overhang or waste.
- Toast the Sesame Seeds. For a richer flavor, lightly toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat before sprinkling them over the bites.
- Serve with Extra Sauce on the Side.Big Mac Bites are even better with extra dipping sauce. Provide a small bowl of the sauce for guests to enjoy, making the dish feel indulgent.
- Check Meatball Temperature. Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). This guarantees they’re fully cooked and safe to eat.
- Don’t Overload the Skewers. Limit each skewer to two meatballs and a few toppings to keep them bite-sized and easy to eat. Overloading may make them messy or harder to handle.
- Keep Meatballs Warm Until Assembly. If serving immediately, keep cooked meatballs warm in a 200°F (93°C) oven while you prepare the skewers. This ensures the cheese stays melted and the bites are warm when served.
- Use Sturdy Skewers. Bamboo or metal skewers work best for this recipe. Avoid flimsy toothpicks as they may break under the weight of the ingredients.
- Keep It Fresh. Add the lettuce just before serving to keep it crisp and vibrant. Lettuce that sits too long on skewers may wilt.
🥗Pairing
I love to serve this low carb recipe with a spread of other healthy appetizers. I love to serve my Air Fryer Potato Skins, Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Mini Peppers, Dill Deviled Eggs (shown), and Potato Pierogi Stuffed Mushrooms with them.
🌡️Storage
Store leftover Big Mac Bites in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
You can make these a couple of days in advance, but put them on the skewer just prior to serving and heat up the meatballs in the microwave, just before serving.
👪 Serving Size
This easy Big Mac Bites recipe makes 12 servings. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
If serving as an appetizer, plan for 2–3 skewers per person. For larger gatherings or as part of a buffet, 1–2 skewers per person should suffice.
🔢WW Points
This recipe is Weight Watchers friendly @ 3 WW points for the skewer and the sauce is 1 WW point per tablespoon.
You can bring down the points in the skewers by using 1 meatball instead of 2 or making homemade meatballs (minus the sauce) with extra lean ground beef.
❔Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can prepare the components in advance. Cook the meatballs and make the sauce up to 2 days ahead. Store everything separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Assemble and drizzle with sauce just before serving for best results.
Absolutely! Air fry the meatballs at 400°F (204°C) for 8–10 minutes or until fully heated through, checking for an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Yes, premade burger sauce or store-bought Big Mac sauce can save time. Just ensure it complements the other flavors in the recipe.
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📋 Healthy Big Mac Bites Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 frozen beef meatballs
- 6 slices cheddar cheese * cut into quarters
- 6 pickles cut into rounds
- 1 cup lettuce cut into squares
- ½ small onion finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Big Mac Sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise * I use Hellman's ½ the fat
- ¼ cup Catalina dressing * I use light/low-fat
- 2 tablespoon ketchup
- 2 tablespoon relish
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Get Recipe IngredientsInstructions
- Preheat oven as per package directions and add meatballs to a lined baking sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cook meatballs as per package directions (generally at 400 degrees F/ 204 degrees C for 10-15 minutes).24 frozen beef meatballs
- When meatballs are done, add a cheese slice on top of each meatball and return to oven for 2-3 minutes.6 slices cheddar cheese
- Remove when cheese is melted.6 pickles
- Add a piece of pickle, then lettuce, then another piece of pickle to a skewer.1 cup lettuce
- Next add the 2 meatballs to the skewer.
- Then add some chopped onion.½ small onion
- Meanwhile, mix the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl and mix until combined.½ cup mayonnaise, ¼ cup Catalina dressing, 2 tablespoon ketchup, 2 tablespoon relish, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, ⅛ teaspoon salt
- Using a pastry bag or a ziploc bag (with a hole cut in the end) add the sauce to the bag.
- Drizzle sauce over bites and sprinkle with sesame seeds.1 tablespoon sesame seeds
Notes
-
- Slice Cheese for Perfect Coverage. Pre-sliced cheese is a timesaver. Simply cut each slice into four smaller squares to ensure each meatball is perfectly topped without overhang or waste.
-
- Toast the Sesame Seeds. For a richer flavor, lightly toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan over medium heat before sprinkling them over the bites.
-
- Serve with Extra Sauce on the Side .Big Mac Bites are even better with extra dipping sauce. Provide a small bowl of the sauce for guests to enjoy, making the dish feel indulgent.
-
- Check Meatball Temperature. Use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). This guarantees they’re fully cooked and safe to eat.
-
- Don’t Overload the Skewers. Limit each skewer to two meatballs and a few toppings to keep them bite-sized and easy to eat. Overloading may make them messy or harder to handle.
-
- Keep Meatballs Warm Until Assembly. If serving immediately, keep cooked meatballs warm in a 200°F (93°C) oven while you prepare the skewers. This ensures the cheese stays melted and the bites are warm when served.
-
- Use Sturdy Skewers. Bamboo or metal skewers work best for this recipe. Avoid flimsy toothpicks as they may break under the weight of the ingredients.
-
- Keep It Fresh. Add the lettuce just before serving to keep it crisp and vibrant. Lettuce that sits too long on skewers may wilt.
Terri Gilson
I'm pretty crazy about these Healthy Big Mac Bites! As someone who hasn't eaten a real Big Mac in years (too fattening!), I love that I can get all those flavors in a healthier, fun-sized snack. They're super easy to make with frozen meatballs and my copycat Big Mac sauce. Plus, they're low-carb, keto, and WW friendly, so you can enjoy them without worrying about your diet!