Easy Big Mac in a Bowl (Printable)

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

# Components:

→ 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

# Method:

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 - To assemble, 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 Advice:

01 -
  • You get all those guilty pleasure drive-thru flavors but can actually feel good about what you are eating
  • The special sauce keeps in the fridge for weeks, so future bowls come together in under ten minutes
02 -
  • The sauce tastes better after it sits for at least 30 minutes, so make it first if you can plan ahead
  • Room temperature beef mixes better with the vegetables than piping hot meat, which can wilt the lettuce instantly
03 -
  • Toast some sesame seeds and sprinkle them on top for that bun flavor without the carbs
  • Let the beef rest in the pan off the heat for a couple of minutes before serving to redistribute the juices
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