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Homemade Special Sauce Big Mac Salad

Homemade Special Sauce Big Mac Salad

Homemade Special Sauce Big Mac Salad is your new weeknight savior, offering all the iconic flavors of your favorite fast-food burger in a healthy, customizable salad format. This recipe leverages a quick and easy homemade special sauce to bring that signature taste without the fuss, making it a perfect quick meal solution.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Minutes 30 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 salads
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound lean ground beef (85% or 90% lean)
  • 1/4 cup yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup dill pickles, thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/2 cup croutons optional
Homemade Special Sauce
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • Pinch salt

Equipment

  • Medium skillet
  • Small Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Large Salad Bowl

Method
 

  1. In a medium skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks. Drain off any excess grease.
    1 pound lean ground beef (85% or 90% lean)
  2. Add the finely chopped yellow onion, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Continue to cook for another 5-7 minutes, or until the beef is browned and the onion is tender. Once cooked, remove the skillet from the heat and set aside to cool slightly.
    1/4 cup yellow onion, finely chopped, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  3. While the beef is cooking, prepare the homemade special sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, white vinegar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch of salt until well combined and smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
    1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tablespoons sweet pickle relish, 1 tablespoon yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon onion powder, Pinch salt
  4. In a large salad bowl, place the thinly sliced iceberg lettuce. This forms the crisp and refreshing foundation of your salad.
    1 head iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced
  5. Evenly distribute the halved cherry tomatoes and thinly sliced dill pickles over the lettuce. These add bursts of sweetness and tang.
    1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved, 1/2 cup dill pickles, thinly sliced
  6. Carefully spoon the cooked and slightly cooled ground beef mixture over the vegetables in the salad bowl.
    1 pound lean ground beef (85% or 90% lean)
  7. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese evenly over the beef and vegetables.
    1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  8. If you desire an extra layer of crunch, scatter the croutons over the top of the salad.
    1/2 cup croutons
  9. Drizzle a generous amount of your prepared homemade special sauce over the entire salad. You can serve the extra sauce on the side for those who want to add more. Toss gently to combine all the ingredients, ensuring everything is coated in the flavorful sauce.

Notes

The salad is best assembled just before serving to maintain the crispness of the lettuce.
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