Big Mac Cheeseburger Salad Bowls

A delicious meal-prep style bowl layered with seasoned ground beef, crunchy lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, shredded cheese, and a creamy burger-style sauce. The photo appears to use a rice or cauliflower-rice base, making it easy to customize.

Ingredients — 4 servings

For the beef

• 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
• ½ small onion, finely diced
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, optional

For the bowls

• 4 cups cooked rice or cauliflower rice
• 4 cups chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup sliced dill pickles
• ¼ cup finely diced onion, optional
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or chives, for topping

Creamy burger sauce

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tbsp finely chopped dill pickles or pickle relish
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tbsp sugar-free ketchup
• 1 tsp pickle juice
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

1. Make the sauce

1. Add mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, chopped pickles, mustard, ketchup, and pickle juice to a bowl.
2. Add garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
3. Whisk until completely smooth.
4. Refrigerate while preparing the rest of the bowls.

2. Cook the beef

1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add the ground beef and diced onion.
3. Cook for about 6–8 minutes, breaking the beef into small crumbles.
4. Drain excess grease if necessary.
5. Add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
6. Stir and cook for another 1–2 minutes.

3. Prepare the vegetables

• Chop the lettuce.
• Dice the tomatoes.
• Slice the pickles.
• Shred the cheese.
• Keep the vegetables well chilled for the best texture.

4. Assemble the bowls

For each bowl, layer:

1. Cooked rice or cauliflower rice
2. Chopped lettuce
3. Diced tomatoes
4. Shredded cheddar
5. Dill pickles
6. Seasoned ground beef
7. Creamy burger sauce
8. Fresh parsley or chives

For the presentation shown in the photo, place the toppings in distinct layers and drizzle the sauce generously over the beef and cheese.

Nutrition — estimated per serving

Using lean ground beef, cauliflower rice, cheddar, and the sauce divided into 4 servings:

• Calories: ~500–550 kcal
• Protein: ~32–36 g
• Carbohydrates: ~12–18 g
• Fiber: ~3–5 g
• Net carbs: ~9–14 g
• Fat: ~32–37 g

Using regular cooked rice instead of cauliflower rice will substantially increase the carbohydrates and calories.

Note: Nutrition varies with the fat percentage of the beef, mayonnaise, cheese, rice, and exact portion sizes.

Make it lower-carb

For a lower-carb version:

• Use cauliflower rice instead of regular rice.
• Use a no-sugar-added ketchup.
• Choose full-fat or reduced-fat cheese according to preference.
• Use dill pickles without added sugar.
• Check the labels on condiments because ketchup and relish can contain added sugar.

Make-Ahead / Meal Prep

Prepare all components separately and refrigerate for up to 3–4 days.

For the best texture:

• Keep the sauce in a separate container.
• Keep lettuce and tomatoes away from the hot beef.
• Reheat the beef separately.
• Add pickles, cheese, and sauce just before eating.

Q&A

Q: Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?
Yes. Ground turkey works very well. Season it generously because it has a milder flavor than beef.

Q: Can I use regular rice?
Absolutely. White, brown, basmati, or jasmine rice can all work.

Q: Can I make this without rice?
Yes. Simply increase the lettuce or use cauliflower rice for a lighter bowl.

Q: Can I make the sauce without mayonnaise?
Yes. Use additional Greek yogurt and adjust the mustard and pickle juice to taste.

Q: Can I use mozzarella instead of cheddar?
Yes, although cheddar gives the bowl a more classic cheeseburger flavor.

Q: Is this suitable for a no-flour meal?
Yes, provided the individual condiments and seasonings you use are flour-free.

Q: How do I make it without added sugar?
Use plain unsweetened Greek yogurt, sugar-free/no-added-sugar ketchup, and pickles without added sugar. Check labels on all packaged ingredients.

Q: Can I serve it warm?
Yes. Keep the beef and rice warm, then add the cold lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, cheese, and sauce immediately before serving.

Q: Can I freeze these bowls?
It is better not to freeze the assembled bowls because lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and the creamy sauce lose their texture. Freeze the cooked beef separately if desired.

Q: What other toppings work?
Diced onions, jalapeños, avocado, shredded cabbage, crispy onions, or extra pickles are all good options.

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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.

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