The Best Keto Cheeseburger Salad

Say goodbye to lackluster lunches and hello to this mouthwatering Cheeseburger Salad. With its savory mix of seasoned beef, crispy bacon, melty cheese, and tangy dressing will fulfill your Big Mac dreams in a fresh, crave-worthy bowl. So skip the drive-thru and dive fork first into cheeseburger salad bowl bliss. Your tastebuds will thank you.

*Use a sugar free ketchup and mayonnaise to make it keto friendly. If you like this bowl recipe be sure to check out this Spicy Tuna Bowl Recipe.

If people refuse to look at you in a new light and they can only see you for what you were, only see you for the mistakes you’ve made, if they don’t realize that you are not your mistakes, then they have to go.” ~ Steve Maraboli

CHEESEBURGER SALAD

With its savory mix of textures and flavors, cheeseburger salad brings all the taste of a
juicy burger without the bun.

Loaded with protein from ground beef and bacon, this salad provides a hearty meal that will satisfy any cheeseburger craving. The combination of fresh lettuce, tomatoes, onions, pickles, and shredded cheese pairs perfectly with the seasoned beef.

Drizzled with a special tangy dressing, this salad is sure to become a go-to weeknight dinner. Keep reading to learn the secrets behind crafting this sensational salad.

WHY THIS BIG MAC SALAD WORKS

This cheeseburger-inspired salad satisfies cravings and delivers big, bold flavor for several reasons:

• The ground beef is seasoned with a special blend of spices that mimics the iconic Big Mac taste – a pinch of onion and garlic powder, salt, pepper and a touch of cayenne.
• Crispy, salty bacon pieces provide a smoky crunch and rich umami flavor.
• The tangy homemade dressing brings it all together. Ketchup, mayo, vinegar and olive oil create a creamy, pickle-y layered flavor.
• Fresh lettuce adds hearty crunch and balances the rich textures of the meat and cheese.
• Onions and pickles incorporate crisp, tart and pungent notes.
• Melty cheddar cheese pulls it all together, just like the quintessential cheeseburger.
• No bun required! The lettuce acts as the perfect vessel for each incredible bite.

With its nostalgic flavors and homemade touches, this salad celebrates the cheeseburger experience in a fresh way. The ingredients come together to create a flavor-packed meal that needs no buns or condiments.

PRO TIP

I’ve made this big mac salad recipe a couple times just to test out other seasonings but I think simple ingredients works best. Saute the onions first if you don’t like them raw or dice them and cook with the ground beef.

HOW TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR SALAD

Feel free to customize your Keto Cheeseburger Salad even further with these variations:

• Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken. If you don’t have ground meat, chicken breasts are an excellent alternative.
• Opt for grilled onions instead of sautéed or raw ones.
• Grill your burgers on the grill or stovetop, then top them with melted cheese and bacon.
• Transform it into a blue cheese burger salad by adding crumbled blue cheese and blue cheese dressing.
• Choose your preferred dressing, such as ranch or any other flavor you enjoy.
• Get creative with various greens like spinach, butter lettuce, arugula, or kale. Use whatever you have in your fridge.
• Experiment with different vegetables like shredded carrots or cucumbers instead of pickles for a unique twist.

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE A BIG MAC SALAD

This recipe is very forgiving. You can add whatever you like in your salad. I added some options below for ya. 

Ground beef 

• ground beef 
• salt for taste
• pepper for taste
• onion powder
• garlic powder
• red pepper (just a tiny bit)

Salad

• Romaine lettuce chopped or your choice
• pearl tomatoes sliced in half
• shredded cheddar cheese
• medium red onions sliced thin.
• pickles
• crumbled bacon ( I used turkey bacon)

Special Sauce 

• sugar free ketchup
• sugar free mayonnaise
• white vinegar
• pepper for taste
• tablespoons olive oil
• pinch of cayenne pepper

SEASONINGS

In addition to the spices in the beef, this salad relies on the sharp flavors of raw red onion and dill pickles.

The onion provides a nice crunch and punch of flavor. The briny pickled taste of dill chips pairs perfectly with the seasoned beef.

Finally, crumbled cooked bacon adds a smoky, salty crunch that puts this salad over the top.

SUBSTITUTIONS

• Use ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken. Use chicken breasts if you don’t have any ground meat.
• Make grilled onions instead of sautéed or raw ones.
• Grilled hamburgers on the grill or stovetop.Top the patties with melted cheese and bacon.
• Make a blue cheese burger salad. Add crumbled blue cheese and blue cheese dressing.
• Use ranch dressing or whatever dressing you like.
• Add mounds of different greens like spinach, butter lettuce, arugula, kale. Use what you have in your fridge.
• Add different vegetables like shredded carrots, cucumbers instead of pickles are different but tasty.

KETO-FRIENDLY & lOW CARB MODIFICATIONS

This salad is a great option for low-carb or keto diets. To make it completely keto-friendly, simply use sugar-free ketchup and mayonnaise in the dressing recipe. You can also opt for turkey bacon, ground chicken or turkey to reduce the fat and calorie content. The lettuce, vegetables, cheese, and lean ground beef make this a well-rounded keto meal.

COOKING TIPS

• Cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until completely browned and crumbled. Drain excess grease before adding seasonings.
• For extra flavor, use crumbled blue cheese in addition to shredded cheddar or mozzarella.
• If you are planning on eating this salad a couple times during the week, double the dressing  and allow. Store in the fridge for up to 5 days. flavors to meld.
• For added crunch, use both Romaine and iceberg lettuce. Massage leaves to soften before adding to the bowl.
• Cook bacon until nice and crispy. Let cool completely before crumbling over salad.

SAVE TIME WITH EASY PREP

• It’s best to assemble the salad no more than 2-3 hours before serving. Store greens, meat, cheese, and dressing separately until ready to toss together.

• To streamline the salad prep process, cook the ground beef, bacon, and onion the day before. Store cooked ingredients separately in the fridge until ready to assemble.
• To make this burger in a bowl ahead of time. Put each ingredient into separate containers. For instance, to keep the lettuce crisp, place it in one container. Next place the onions and beef in separate containers and pickles in another container and so on.
• Add the special sauce to an air tight container.
• Wash and prep lettuce leaves but wait to slice tomatoes until just before serving to prevent moisture from wilting the greens. The hands-on time is less than 15 minutes if ingredients are prepped in advance.
• Put the salad together as soon as you’re ready to serve it.

FAQs

What type of lettuce works best?

Romaine and iceberg lettuce hold up well with sturdy greens like kale and spinach. Avoid more delicate lettuces like butter lettuce which can wilt.

Can I use turkey or chicken instead of ground beef?

Absolutely! Ground turkey and chicken are great lower fat alternatives. Just adjust seasoning amounts and cook times as needed.

Is the dressing dairy free?

No, the mayonnaise contains dairy. For a dairy-free option, try using avocado oil instead of olive oil and omit the mayonnaise.

Can I prep the salad in advance?

It’s best to assemble the salad no more than 2-3 hours before serving. Store greens, meat, cheese, and dressing separately until ready to toss together.

HOW TO MAKE BIG MAC SALAD iHOW TO MAKE A CHEESEBURGER SALAD on

1. Cook the ground beef until browned,  drain if necessary. Put the skillet with the beef back on the stove and add the seasoning.
2. To a small bowl, add the ketchup, mayonnaise, vinegar and olive oil, pepper and a pinch of cayenne. Mix well.
3. Drizzle some of the dressing around the inside of the salad bowl.
4. Add the lettuce, pickles, onions, grape tomatoes, bacon and ground beef to the bowl and give it a good toss.
5. Drizzle more dressing on top of the salad and serve.

With its delicious mix of textures and flavors, this cheeseburger salad is sure to satisfy any Big Mac craving while providing a healthier meal option. Get ready to enjoy this sensational salad. Just add your favorite toppings and a cold drink for a quick weeknight dinner the whole family will love. You won’t even miss the bread!

Big Mac Salad

April Boller Wright

This big mac salad is healthier way to get the flavors of a cheeseburger but without the bread. Basically just all the topping for a burger but in a bowl form.

5 from 7 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 7 minutes mins

Total Time 12 minutes mins

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine American

Servings 4 people

Calories 430 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Ground Beef

• 16 oz ground beef
• salt for taste
• pepper for taste
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder plus additional 1/8 tsp
• 1/4 tsp onion powder plus additional 1/8 tsp
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper

Salad

• 12 slices of cooked and crumbled bacon
• 1 head of Romaine lettuce sliced I used a combo of different lettuces
• 1 cup grape tomatoes sliced in half
• 1 medium red onions sliced thin
• 1/2 cup pickles
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese

Special Sauce

• 1/2 cup ketchup sugar free
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise sugar free
• 1 tsp white vinegar
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1/8 tsp pepper add more for taste if you like

Instructions

 

• Cook the ground beef until browned,  drain if necessary. Put the skillet with the beef back on the stove and add the seasoning. 
  
• To a small bowl, add the ketchup, mayonnaise, vinegar and olive oil, pepper and a pinch of cayenne. Mix well.
  
• Drizzle a some of the dressing around the inside of the salad bowl. This will help coat the salad with the sauce. 
  
• Add the lettuce, pickles, onions, grape tomatoes, bacon and ground beef to the bowl and give it a good toss. Drizzle more dressing on top of the salad and serve immediately. 

Notes

Tips 

For a keto and low-carb version, opt for sugar-free ketchup and mayonnaise in your recipe.

To reduce the calorie content of a Big Mac salad, substitute pork bacon with turkey bacon.

Pickles 

We love to use Grillo's Pickles (not sponsored) . Their pickles adds a refreshing homemade fresh touch to this salad and they're free of artificial preservatives, colors, and flavors.

Make Ahead 

• It's best to assemble the salad no more than 2-3 hours before serving. Store greens, meat, cheese, and dressing separately until ready to toss together.
• To streamline the salad prep process, cook the ground beef, bacon, and onion the day before. Store cooked ingredients separately in the fridge until ready to assemble.
• To make this burger in a bowl ahead of time. Put each ingredient into separate containers. For instance, to keep the lettuce crisp, place it in one container. Next place the onions and beef in separate containers and pickles in another container and so on.
• Add the special sauce to an air tight container.
• Wash and prep lettuce leaves but wait to slice tomatoes until just before serving to prevent moisture from wilting the greens. The hands-on time is less than 15 minutes if ingredients are prepped in advance.
• Put the salad together as soon as you're ready to serve it.

Variations

• Use ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken to make this salad. Don't have any ground beef? Make grilled chicken breast instead.
• Make grilled onions instead of sautéed or raw ones.
• Grilled patties on the grill or stovetop. Top the burgers with melted cheese and bacon.
• Make it a blue cheese burger salad. Add crumbled blue cheese and blue cheese dressing.
• Add different greens like spinach, butter lettuce, arugula, kale. Get creative and use what you have in your fridge.
• Add different vegetables like shredded carrots, cucumbers instead of pickles.

(This recipe was originally posted in 2019 and updated  October 2023)

Nutrition

Calories: 430kcal

Keyword burger bowl, burger in a bowl, burger salad, cheeseburger salad

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