Keto Cheeseburger Salad (Big Mac Salad) – Easy Low-Carb Recipe

This Keto Cheeseburger Salad, or Big Mac Salad, has all the flavors you want from a cheeseburger in an easy salad you can make in about 20 minutes. Ground beef, cheddar cheese, pickles, onions, lettuce, and a creamy homemade burger sauce come together for a quick low-carb meal.

Also, try my Viral Smash Burger Tacos, Cobb Salad Sandwich, and serve them with Pineapple Rum Punch.

It’s also known as a Big Mac Salad because the combination of beef, pickles, onions, cheese, and creamy burger sauce gives this salad that classic fast-food burger flavor without the bun.

Keto Cheeseburger Salad

Are you craving a juicy cheeseburger but don’t want to break your keto diet? Look no further than the keto cheeseburger salad! This delicious and satisfying meal is packed with all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger. It’s simple to make with my easy recipe and will satisfy your cravings without any guilt.

We all know eating healthy on a busy schedule can be tough, but the keto cheeseburger salad makes it easy. Not only is it delicious and low-carb, but it’s also a great option for meal prep. You can prep this tasty salad ahead of time and enjoy a healthy meal that is faster than fast food – and it’s healthy!

If you like hearty salads that work for lunch or dinner, try these next: Watermelon Salad, Southwestern Salad with Green Chile Lime Salad Dressing, Black Bean Tomato Quinoa Salad, Feta Almond Watermelon Salad, and Peach Caprese Salad.

What Is a Big Mac Salad?

A Big Mac Salad takes the familiar ingredients and flavors of a cheeseburger and serves them in a salad bowl instead of a bun.

This version starts with crisp lettuce and cooked ground beef. Then add shredded cheddar cheese, onion, pickles, and an easy homemade burger sauce made with mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, and chopped pickles.

The result is a cheeseburger salad with Big Mac-style flavors that is quick enough for a weeknight dinner and easy enough for lunch.

Ingredients You’ll Need for Big Mac Salad

For the Big Mac Sauce

Mayonnaise: This creates the creamy base for the sauce. You can use light mayo or olive oil mayo.

Ketchup: Regular ketchup works for the original recipe. For a lower-carb version, use a no-sugar-added or keto-friendly ketchup and check the nutrition label.

Mustard: Yellow mustard adds the familiar tangy burger flavor.

Bread and butter pickles: Mince them finely or use relish. For a lower-carb version, choose a dill pickle relish or chopped dill pickles with little or no added sugar.

For the Salad

Ground beef: Use your favorite ground beef and cook it until browned. Drain the excess grease before adding it to the salad. Of course, you can substitute lower-fat ground turkey or chicken.

Lettuce: Iceberg gives you the classic crisp burger-salad texture. Romaine, spring mix, or another lettuce blend also works.

Cheddar cheese: Shred it yourself for the best texture. (Sometimes I put a spoonful of Pimento Cheese on it instead of shredded cheese.

White onion: Mince the onion finely so a little gets into every bite.

Dill pickles: Add as many as you like. The pickles give this salad the sharp, salty flavor that makes it taste like a burger. Store-bought or homemade dill pickles. (Also, try my dill pickle martini.)

Tomatoes: Tomatoes are optional. They add color and freshness, but you can leave them out.

Vinegar or pickle juice: A small amount adds acidity to the sauce and keeps the flavors from becoming too heavy.

How to Make Big Mac Salad

1. Make the burger sauce.

Add the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, minced bread and butter pickles, minced onion, and vinegar or pickle juice to a bowl.

Whisk until smooth and well combined.

For a lower-carb version, use ketchup and pickles with little or no added sugar. Always check the nutrition label because brands vary.

2. Cook the ground beef.

Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it apart as it cooks.

Cook until completely browned, then drain the excess grease.

Allow the beef to cool slightly before assembling the salad.

3. Build the salad.

Add shredded lettuce to a large bowl.

Top with the cooked ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, dill pickles, minced onion, and tomatoes if using.

4. Add the sauce.

Spoon the homemade Big Mac sauce over the salad.

Serve immediately.

You can toss everything together before serving or let everyone add as much sauce as they like.

Can I Make Big Mac Salad Ahead of Time?

Yes. This keto cheeseburger salad is a good choice for meal prep as long as you keep the dressing separate from the lettuce.

Prepare the ground beef and sauce ahead of time. Store the beef, sauce, vegetables, pickles, and cheese in separate containers or layer them in a meal-prep container.

Keep the lettuce away from the sauce until you’re ready to eat. This helps prevent the lettuce from becoming soggy.

How do I Meal Prep a Keto Cheeseburger Salad?

The main two things to prep this cheeseburger salad are making your sauce and cooking the hamburger meat. The most important thing to remember when meal prepping a salad is the order in which you layer the ingredients.

What do I need to prep a salad?

First, I recommend you use a 32-ounce (1 quart) canning jar. A wide-mouth jar is preferable, but sometimes hard to find. Regular top jars will work too. I like to prep salads in glass jars, but you can use a bowl that has a secure lid.

How do I layer a Hamburger or Cheeseburger Salad?

Furthermore, you don’t want the dressing and meat to wilt the lettuce. Therefore, the lettuce will always go in last. Layer your cheeseburger salad ingredients in the jars in this order: put the sauce on the bottom, followed by the ground beef, onion, pickles, tomatoes, cheese, and lettuce on top.

When you’re ready to eat, pour the salad into a bowl and toss.

What Lettuce Is Best for Cheeseburger Salad?

Iceberg lettuce is my first choice when I want the classic Big Mac-style crunch.

Romaine is another good option and holds up well for meal prep. Spring mix, spinach, or a combination of greens also works. Use whatever lettuce you have on hand.

Can I Use Ground Turkey Instead of Ground Beef?

Yes. Ground turkey or ground chicken can replace the ground beef. The flavor will be slightly different, but the same burger sauce, pickles, cheese, and toppings still work.

You can also use leftover cooked hamburger patties. Chop them into bite-sized pieces and add them to the salad.

Can I Add Bacon?

Absolutely. Crispy bacon makes a great addition to this Keto Cheeseburger Salad. Crumble cooked bacon over the top just before serving.

You can also add avocado, extra cheese, jalapeños, or sliced green onions.

Here are more yummy recipes for you.

1. Grape Salad
2. Black Bean Tomato Quinoa Salad
3. Famous Potato Salad
4. Pimento Cheese
5. Watermelon Salad
6. Cobb Salad Sandwich
7. Southwestern Salad with Green Chile Lime Salad Dressing
8. Edamame Corn Tomato Salad
9. Peach Caprese Salad

Tips for the Best Keto Cheeseburger Salad

Shred your own cheese. Freshly shredded cheddar melts and mixes into the warm beef better than many pre-shredded varieties.

Don’t skip the pickles. They add the acidic, salty flavor that makes this taste like a cheeseburger.

Drain the beef well. Excess grease can make the lettuce soggy.

Make the sauce ahead. A few hours in the refrigerator gives the flavors time to blend.

Keep the dressing separate for meal prep. Add it just before eating for the best texture.

Check your condiments. Ketchup, relish, and pickles can vary considerably in carbohydrate and added sugar content from one brand to another.

Big Mac Salad Variations

There are plenty of ways to change this recipe without losing the cheeseburger flavor.

Bacon Cheeseburger Salad – Add crispy chopped bacon.

Jalapeño Cheeseburger Salad – Add sliced or diced jalapeños for heat.

Double Cheeseburger Salad – Use extra ground beef and cheddar cheese for a more substantial meal.

Turkey Cheeseburger Salad – Replace the ground beef with ground turkey.

Pickle Lover’s Cheeseburger Salad – Add extra dill pickles and a splash of pickle juice to the sauce.

Bacon Avocado Cheeseburger Salad – Add chopped bacon and diced avocado.

Keto Cheeseburger Salad Frequently Asked Questions

Is Big Mac Salad keto?

It can be made keto-friendly, but the exact carbohydrate count depends on the ingredients and brands used. Regular ketchup and sweet pickles can contain added sugar, so use low-carb alternatives and check the Nutrition Facts labels if you’re following a strict ketogenic diet.

How many calories are in Keto Cheeseburger Salad?

The calorie count depends on the amount of beef, cheese, sauce, lettuce, and toppings used. It also changes with different brands of mayonnaise, ketchup, and pickles.

Is Keto Cheeseburger Salad good for meal prep?

Yes. Cook the ground beef and prepare the sauce ahead of time. Store the dressing separately from the lettuce and combine everything when you’re ready to eat.

What is Big Mac sauce made of?

This version uses mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, minced pickles, onion, and vinegar or pickle juice. It creates a creamy, tangy burger sauce that works especially well with ground beef and cheddar cheese.

Can I make Big Mac Salad without tomatoes?

Yes. Tomatoes are optional in this recipe. Leave them out if you prefer or if you’re keeping the salad lower in carbohydrates.