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!
🥘Ingredients
My Big Mac Bites are quick and easy because you don't have to make mini burgers. Instead I use frozen meatballs.
- 24 beef meatballs
- 6 slices cheddar cheese * I use low-fat
- 6 dill pickles
- 1 cup iceberg lettuce
- ½ small onion, finely chopped
- sesame seeds
Big Mac Sauce:
- mayonnaise *I use Hellman's ½ the fat
- Catalina dressing *I use Kraft light/low-fat
- ketchup
- relish
- vinegar
- onion powder
🔪Instructions
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 with additional sauce for dipping.
*Even if they get a little cold, it's fine - they still taste amazing!!
📖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)
- 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
🥗Pairing
I love to serve this low carb recipe with a spread of other healthy appetizers. These are my favorite dishes to serve with Big Mac Bites:
🍽Equipment
You will need a baking sheet, a sharp knife, a cutting board, a small bowl, and skewers for these keto Big Mac bites. An instant-read thermometer also comes in very handy for checking the internal temperature of meatballs (*see recipe card for equipment recommendations links and photos).
🌡️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 blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust.
🔢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.
💭Top tip
Buy pre-sliced cheese and cut it into 4 slices - it's the perfect size for these Big Mac Bites!
🦺Food safety
- Cook beef meatballs to a minimum internal temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
- Never leave cooking food unattended
See more guidelines at USDA.gov
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So if you're looking for a healthier option and the perfect little snack for your next party or potluck, you'll love these little burger bites- they're a great appetizer!
📋 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
Instructions
NOTE: The photos in this recipe card will NOT print unless you set them to print by selecting "recipe image"
- 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).
- When meatballs are done, add a cheese slice on top of each meatball and return to oven for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove when cheese is melted.
- Add a piece of pickle, then lettuce, then another piece of pickle to a skewer.
- Next add the 2 meatballs to the skewer.
- Then add some chopped onion.
- Meanwhile, mix the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl and mix until combined.
- 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.
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!