Easy Big Mac in a Bowl (Printable)

Healthier twist on the classic burger, packed with seasoned beef, fresh vegetables, and homemade special sauce. Gluten-free and low carb.

# What You'll Need:

→ Beef

01 - 1.1 lb lean ground beef
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon 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 tablespoon ketchup
12 - 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
13 - 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish
14 - 1 teaspoon white vinegar
15 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
16 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
17 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika

# Steps:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook, breaking up the meat continuously, until browned and cooked through, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - While the beef cooks, prepare the vegetables by chopping the lettuce, halving the tomatoes, slicing the onion, and dicing the pickles.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together all special sauce ingredients until the mixture reaches a smooth consistency.
04 - Divide the chopped lettuce among 4 bowls. Top each portion with cooked ground beef, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and shredded cheese.
05 - Drizzle each bowl generously with the special sauce. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get every single flavor of a Big Mac without the guilt or the afternoon carb crash.
  • It comes together faster than a drive-thru run, which somehow feels like cheating in the best way.
  • The special sauce is legitimately addictive and makes you wonder why you ever paid for fast food.
02 -
  • If you drain too much fat from the beef, it becomes dry and sad—a little fat is what keeps it juicy and flavorful, so embrace it.
  • Make the special sauce first and let it sit in the fridge while you cook the beef; the flavors meld and taste noticeably better than when rushed.
03 -
  • Break up the beef as it cooks with a wooden spoon or spatula—the smaller the pieces, the more surface area for browning, and that's where all the flavor lives.
  • If you're making this for a crowd, prep all your vegetables ahead of time in separate containers, then everything comes together in minutes when you're ready to serve.
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