This salad is not only quick and easy to make, but it’s a low carb version of a Big Mac! So if you’re planning on a healthy diet in the New Year, you will want to keep this in your arsenal.
This isn’t necessarily going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but I have two big kids who love salad and don’t complain about eating it, and that means it ends up on our meal plan at least once a month. I thought they would appreciate a salad that had all the elements of a classic McDonald’s menu item (minus the bread). I also thought y’all might appreciate it for anyone who is going to be starting a healthier outlook on life in 2019 because it is low carb. It’s a great dinner, but also a wonderful lunch, too!
This salad is ready in under 30 minutes and is a healthy substitute for a Big Mac sandwich!
I’m not on any specific diet, I just enjoy salads. I am that person who gets salad at fast food places because it’s omgsogood. Can we just talk about literally all of Chick-fil-A’s salads for a minute? Because they are the best salads ever and I can’t pick a favorite! Anyways, this salad is also fantastic and I am definitely putting it on my regular recipe rotation because it’s so quick to make and the dressing is just beyond addictive. I actually had an extra pound of ground beef that I cooked up for lunch later in the week to make another salad just for this dressing. It’s just like Big Mac sauce.
If you have kids who love to help in the kitchen like I do, there are plenty of parts to this recipe they can help with depending on their age.
My tweens like to help cook and crumble ground beef and are pretty good stirrers. We’re getting into learning how to properly and safely use a knife to cut different ingredients, so if you have older kids, they can practice with lettuce, onion, pickle, or even tomato, if you’re feeling a little brave. Little ones can help with stirring, topping with cheese, and drizzling the dressing.
The low carb version of this recipe is due to some modifications in the dressing. You don’t have to follow that at all, if you aren’t concerned with carbs.
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What you need:
For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup (reduced sugar) ketchup
- 1 Tbsp. (sugar free) sweet pickle relish
- 1/2 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. white vinegar
- 2 tsp. Swerve – or – granulated sugar (to taste)
For the salad:
- 1 lb. ground beef (for 4 people)
- Iceberg lettuce
- Tomato, diced
- 1 small onion, diced finely
- Dill pickle, diced
- Shredded cheddar cheese
Directions:
- For the salad dressing: mix all ingredients until well combined. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
- Cook ground beef over medium to medium-high heat until brown and crumbled. Drain, if needed.
- Toss lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles in a bowl. Divide between four bowls or plates.
- Top with ground beef and shredded cheddar cheese. Then drizzle with Big Mac dressing.
Recipe from Glue Sticks and Gumdrops.
