Description
A fast, kid-approved low carb salad bowl that captures the classic Big Mac flavors without the bun. Perfect for a satisfying keto-friendly lunch.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 for juiciness and flavor)
- 1 large head romaine lettuce (about 7 oz / 200g)
- ½ cup dill pickles, chopped (about 2.6 oz / 75g)
- ¼ cup red onion, finely diced (about 1.4 oz / 40g)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (about 3.5 oz / 100g)
- ½ cup full-fat mayonnaise (4 fl oz / 120ml)
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (0.5 fl oz / 15ml)
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard (0.5 fl oz / 15ml)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (0.5 fl oz / 15ml)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (about 5.3 oz / 150g)
Instructions
- Chop the romaine lettuce into bite-sized pieces. Dice the pickles and red onion finely. Halve the cherry tomatoes if using.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper to make the special sauce.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Break up the beef with a spatula and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Stir shredded cheddar cheese into the hot beef until melted and combined.
- In a large serving bowl, layer chopped lettuce, cheesy beef, pickles, red onion, and cherry tomatoes if using.
- Drizzle the special sauce over the salad and toss gently to combine or leave layered for individual mixing.
- Serve immediately, optionally garnished with extra pickle slices and a sprinkle of black pepper.
Notes
[‘Use full-fat mayonnaise for authentic creamy sauce.’, ‘Drain excess beef fat to avoid soggy salad.’, ‘Make the sauce ahead and let it sit for 30 minutes for better flavor.’, ‘Wash and dry lettuce thoroughly to keep it crisp.’, ‘Adjust onion and pickles to taste for picky eaters.’, ‘Add a dab of yellow mustard on top for extra flavor punch.’, ‘Store beef and sauce separately from lettuce if prepping ahead.’, ‘Reheat beef mixture gently before assembling salad.’, ‘This salad does not freeze well due to fresh veggies and sauce texture.’]
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approximatel
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 30
Keywords: keto, low carb, Big Mac salad, kids lunch, easy recipe, ground beef, salad bowl, keto lunch