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Big Mac Bowl

Big Mac Bowl is a low-carb dinner that delivers classic Big Mac flavor in a no-bun bowl. Seasoned 80/20 ground beef, melty cheddar, crisp iceberg lettuce, dill pickles, and a tangy creamy special sauce come together in about 20 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 640

Ingredients
  

For the Beef
  • 1 lb ground beef Use 80/20 for best flavor.
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
For the Special Sauce
  • 0.5 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp yellow mustard
  • 2 tbsp sweet pickle relish
  • 1 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tsp white vinegar
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 0.25 tsp paprika
For the Bowl
  • 4 cups iceberg lettuce Shredded.
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese Shredded.
  • 0.5 cup dill pickles Sliced.
  • 0.25 cup red onion Finely diced.
  • 2 tbsp sesame seeds

Equipment

  • 1 cast iron skillet

Method
 

Cook the beef
  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it apart with a spatula, cooking 6–7 minutes until browned and no pink remains.
Season the beef
  1. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook 1 more minute, then drain excess fat (keep the beef warm).
Make the special sauce
  1. While the beef cooks, whisk together mayonnaise, yellow mustard, sweet pickle relish, ketchup, white vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika until smooth and creamy.
Assemble the bowls
  1. Divide shredded iceberg lettuce among 4 bowls as the base. Keep the lettuce dry so it stays crisp.
  2. Layer warm seasoned beef over the lettuce. Add shredded cheddar, sliced dill pickles, and diced red onion while the beef is hot.
  3. Drizzle each bowl generously with the special sauce. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately while the beef is warm.

Notes

Pro tip: drain excess fat after seasoning so the beef doesn’t make the lettuce watery. Store assembled components separately—keep leftover beef and sauce in the fridge up to 3 days, lettuce and toppings up to 1–2 days. For best texture, assemble just before eating. For a lighter option, swap mayonnaise for light mayo (or plain Greek yogurt-based mayo) in the special sauce.