Real Life Recipes | Olivia Wyles

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • About
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home > Recipes > Dinner

    Keto Big Mac Salad (High Protein, Low Carb Cheeseburger Salad)

    portrait of Olivia Wyles
    Author: Olivia Wyles · Updated: Mar 23, 2025 · Published: Feb 28, 2025 · Leave a Comment

    Pin This! Recipe
    Keto Big Mac Salad Pinterest Image
    Keto Big Mac Salad Pinterest Image
    Keto Big Mac Salad Pinterest Image

    If you've ever daydreamed about cheeseburgers while attempting to eat a bit healthier, this Keto Big Mac Salad is basically your new best friend. Think crunchy lettuce, juicy ground beef, shredded cheddar cheese, tangy dill pickles, and that classic "special sauce" drizzle-minus the bun. Trust me, it's a quick way to satisfy that fast-food craving without leaving you snoozing on the couch afterward.

    Keto Big Mac Salad in a casserole dish with wooden spoon, and on a plate single serving

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    When I decided to turn this classic cheeseburger into a salad, I wanted it to be as simple as possible while still delivering all the flavor we know and love. The key? Crisp lettuce, juicy beef, and a sauce that tastes just like the real thing without any added sugar.

    I kept the ingredients minimal because let's be honest, no one has time for a long grocery list. Once I found the right sugar-free thousand island dressing and added plenty of cheddar, the salad came together perfectly. It's everything you want in a cheeseburger, just lighter and fresher.

    The sesame seeds were a last-minute idea, but they pull the whole thing together. They're like a little wink to the iconic bun-just without the carbs. This salad is fast, easy, and so good you'll forget you're eating a salad!

    Jump to:
    • How to Make Keto Big Mac Salad
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    How to Make Keto Big Mac Salad

    Ingredients You’ll Need For This Recipe

    ingredients for keto big mac salad
    • 1 head of lettuce
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
    • 1 cup sandwich dill pickle slices
    • ½ of a small red onion, sliced
    • ½ cup sugar-free thousand island dressing
    • ½ teaspoon sesame seeds

    Step By Step Instructions

    1. Brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it apart as it cooks, until no longer pink.
    raw ground beef in a pan
    cooked ground beef in a pan
    1. Chop the lettuce into chunks. Slice red onion.

    Want to save this?

    Enter your email below, and I'll send this straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll receive recipes from me every week.

    Receive the latest recipes!

    chopped lettuce
    sliced red onion
    1. Layer lettuce in a 9×13 inch casserole dish. Add ground beef on top of the lettuce, then sprinkle on cheese.
    chopped lettuce in a casserole dish
    chopped lettuce and ground beef in a casserole dish
    chopped lettuce and ground beef and shredded cheese in a casserole dish
    1. Arrange pickle and onion slices across the top of the salad.
    chopped lettuce and ground beef and shredded cheese and pickles in a casserole dish
    chopped lettuce and ground beef and shredded cheese and pickles and onions in a casserole dish
    1. Drizzle dressing over the top of the salad, then sprinkle sesame seeds.
    chopped lettuce and ground beef and shredded cheese and pickles and onions and thousand island dressing in a casserole dish
    chopped lettuce and ground beef and shredded cheese and pickles and onions and thousand island dressing and sesame seeds in a casserole dish
    1. Serve or refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Tips and Tricks

    • Use Fresh Ingredients – Crisp lettuce and fresh ground beef make all the difference. Avoid pre-shredded lettuce if you can-it tends to wilt quickly. Chop your own for maximum crunch!
    • Customize the Sauce – If you're feeling adventurous, make your own sugar-free thousand island dressing by mixing mayo, sugar-free ketchup, and a little pickle relish. It's super easy and lets you control the flavor.
    • Serve It Fresh – This salad is best served immediately after assembling so the lettuce stays crisp. If you're meal-prepping, keep the dressing and toppings separate and mix them together just before eating.

    PIN FOR LATER!

    Keto Big Mac Salad Pinterest Image

    Recipe

    Keto Big Mac Salad in a casserole dish with wooden spoon, and on a plate single serving

    Keto Big Mac Salad

    No ratings yet
    Author: Olivia Wyles
    Prep TimePrep: 10 minutes mins
    Cook TimeCook: 10 minutes mins
    Total TimeTotal: 20 minutes mins
    CourseDinner, Lunch
    CuisineAmerican
    Servings: 6
    Print Pin
    This Keto Big Mac Salad brings all the best parts of a classic cheeseburger together-minus the bun. Fresh lettuce, juicy beef, tangy pickles, and that famous sauce make for a ridiculously tasty low-carb meal. Topped with a sprinkle of sesame seeds to give it that real burger feel, it's a hearty yet refreshing classic crowd-pleaser.

    Ingredients

    • 1 head of lettuce
    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
    • 1 cup sandwich dill pickle slices
    • ½ of a small red onion sliced
    • ½ cup sugar-free thousand island dressing
    • ½ teaspoon sesame seeds
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Brown the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it apart as it cooks, until no longer pink.
    • Chop the lettuce into chunks. Slice red onion.
    • Layer lettuce in a 9×13 inch casserole dish. Add ground beef on top of the lettuce, then sprinkle on cheese.
    • Arrange pickle and onion slices across the top of the salad.
    • Drizzle dressing over the top of the salad, then sprinkle sesame seeds.
    • Serve or refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 218g | Calories: 319.86kcal (16%) | Carbohydrates: 5.77g (2%) | Protein: 24g (48%) | Fat: 21.8g (34%) | Fiber: 1.2g (5%) | Net Carbohydrates: 4.54g
    KEYWORDS: Keto Big Mac Salad
    Did you love this recipe?I'd love if you'd leave a rating and review below! Your feedback helps others find the recipes more easily! Leave a Review

    More recipes

    • Close-up of keto cabbage soup in a white bowl with visible cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, and fresh parsley
      Keto Cabbage Soup (One-Pot Soup Recipe)
    • One Pan Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry close up
      One Pan Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry
    • overhead view of Air Fryer Salmon Skewers
      Air Fryer Salmon Skewers
    • High Protein Power Bowls
      50 High Protein Power Bowls For Every Meal

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Comment: Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    picture of Olivia Wyles looking down writing in a book

    Hey, I'm Olivia

    I'm a food creator, mom, picky eater, and cozy gamer with ADHD. I create easy low carb, protein-focused, and keto-friendly recipes with minimal ingredients, prep, and dishes. If I can make it, anyone can!

    Learn More

    Holiday Favorites

    • Stack of three lemon protein bars with a white chocolate top dusted with lemon zest, two whole lemons softly blurred in the background.
      Lemon Protein Bars
    • Six frosted carrot cake cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting, chopped pecans, and finely grated carrots
      Keto Carrot Cake Cupcakes
    • overhead view of Easy Charcuterie Skewers
      Easy Charcuterie Skewers For A Party
    • close up of deviled eggs
      Healthy Greek Yogurt Deviled Eggs Without Mayo

    Trending Recipes

    • 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies on a cookie sheet grouped up with one prominently featured
      Easy 3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies (Made With Coconut Flour)
    • Keto & Carnivore Brown Butter Bites
    • overhead shot of keto taco bowls
      Keto Taco Bowls (High Protein, Low Carb, Meal Prep)
    • Close-up overhead view of single pistachio protein bar showing white chocolate coating with chopped pistachios and dried rose petal garnish
      Pistachio Protein Bars

    Most Shared

    • keto breakfast collage with bulletproof coffee, eggs with chorizo, and chaffles
      11 Amazing Quick & Easy 5-Minute Keto Breakfast Ideas
    • square collage of keto snacks, salami slices, hard boiled eggs, and ham pickle roll ups
      25 Genius Quick & Easy 2-Minute Keto Snacks Ideas
    • cheeseburger soup
      11 High Protein Low Carb Soups (Easy One Pot Recipes)
    • Keto meal prep recipes like meatballs
      30 Keto Meal Prep Recipe Ideas: How to Meal Prep For An Entire Month
    woman owned sertify small business
    disability owned sertify small business

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • About
    • Recipes
    • Shop
    • Amazon Storefront
    • Contact

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    let’s chat
    hello@oliviawyles.com

    GET RECIPES IN YOUR INBOX

    © 2026 Olivia Wyles, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
    A Mediavine Publisher Site

    PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required