Easy Big Mac in a Bowl (Printable version)

A deconstructed burger bowl with seasoned beef, crisp vegetables, cheddar cheese, and signature special sauce - all the flavors you love, gluten-free and low carb.

# What You 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, optional

→ 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

# Step-by-step guide:

01 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Cook, breaking up the beef with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - While the beef cooks, chop the romaine lettuce, halve the cherry tomatoes, thinly slice the red onion, and dice the dill 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 and fully combined.
04 - Divide the chopped lettuce evenly among 4 bowls. Top each with cooked ground beef, halved tomatoes, sliced onions, diced pickles, and shredded cheddar cheese.
05 - Drizzle each bowl generously with the special sauce. Serve immediately while the beef is warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like the real thing but skips the bloated feeling that usually follows.
  • Ready in under 30 minutes from craving to plate.
  • Gluten-free and low-carb without tasting like you're missing anything.
  • The special sauce is addictively tangy and makes everything taste familiar.
02 -
  • Don't drain all the beef fat—a little keeps the meat tender and flavorful, just remove the obvious excess so it's not greasy.
  • Make the special sauce before anything else so the flavors can meld together, and you're not scrambling while hot meat is sitting there cooling.
03 -
  • Cook the beef with a little smoked paprika because it adds depth and makes people ask what your secret is.
  • Use a large skillet so the beef has room to brown instead of steam, which takes longer and tastes less flavorful.
Go Back