Easy Big Mac in a Bowl (Print View)

All the iconic Big Mac flavors in a healthy, gluten-free bowl. Seasoned ground beef, fresh vegetables, shredded cheddar, and creamy special sauce come together for a quick low-carb meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef

01 - 1.1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
04 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika

→ Vegetables

05 - 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
06 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
07 - 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
08 - 2 dill pickles, diced

→ Cheese

09 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

→ Special Sauce

10 - 1/2 cup mayonnaise
11 - 1 tbsp ketchup
12 - 1 tbsp yellow mustard
13 - 1 tbsp dill pickle relish
14 - 1 tsp white vinegar
15 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
16 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
17 - 1/2 tsp paprika

# How To Make It:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook, breaking up the beef, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
02 - While the beef cooks, chop lettuce, halve tomatoes, slice onion, and dice pickles.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, yellow mustard, dill pickle relish, white vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika until smooth.
04 - Divide lettuce among 4 bowls. Top with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and shredded cheese.
05 - Drizzle each bowl with the special sauce. Serve immediately.

# Expert Insights:

01 -
  • You get all those drive-through flavors without the afternoon crash
  • Everything comes together in under 30 minutes with almost zero cleanup
  • The sauce keeps for weeks and makes everything taste better
02 -
  • The beef needs to be slightly warm when it hits the lettuce, creating this incredible temperature contrast
  • Letting the sauce sit in the fridge for even 10 minutes transforms it completely
  • Drain the beef too thoroughly and you lose all the flavor juices that make this special
03 -
  • Warm your bowls slightly in the oven before assembling everything stays hot longer
  • Prep all ingredients before you start cooking the beef so nothing burns
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