Cheeseburger as a salad? This has all the flavours of a Big Mac but healthier! A delightful twist that proves indulgence and well-being can go hand in hand.
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Why Cheeseburger Salad?
You might wonder, why turn a perfectly good cheeseburger into a salad?
Cheeseburger salad offers the best of both worlds: the satisfying, savory flavors of beef, cheese, and burger condiments, all nestled among crisp greens and fresh tomatoes.
It’s for those who love the idea of indulging in their favourite comfort food but are mindful of their dietary choices. Whether you’re looking to cut down on carbs, aiming for a lighter meal option, or simply seeking to add more vegetables to your meal, cheeseburger salad checks all the boxes without skimping on taste.
Ingredients & Preparation
While the specific recipe for cheeseburger salad is below, let’s chat about the ingredients and substitutions.
The base of this salad is a generous mix of romaine. However, you can easily substitute the romaine for any leafy greens you have on hand, including:
- Iceberg lettuce
- Mixed greens
- Spinach
Ground beef, seasoned and seared to perfection, takes center stage. Make sure you brown the meat to get the best flavours! This means making sure the pan is hot, lightly oiling the pan and not crowding meat. Resist the temptation to continuously stir the meat. Let it get nice and brown first before giving it a stir.
A cheeseburger salad wouldn’t be what it is without cheese! We used cheddar but again you can substitute with your favourite cheese.
While a traditional Big Mac doesn’t have tomatoes, we like adding halved cherry tomatoes for flavour and a pop of texture and colour.
And don’t forget the onions and pickles! Finally, top with that homemade Big Mac sauce!
Cheeseburger Salad
Ingredients
For the Dressing
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons finely diced sweet onion
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
- 2 tablespoon finely diced dill pickles
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1/4 teaspoon sweet paprika or smoked paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Salad
- 1 1/2 pound lean ground beef
- olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1-2 heads chopped romaine lettuce or iceburg lettuce
- 1/4 cup finely diced onions
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 cup shredded old cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup finely sliced dill pickles
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds for garnish
Instructions
- Make the Dressing: In a bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sweet onion, ketchup, mustard, diced pickles, apple cider vinegar, honey, paprika, and salt until well combined.
- Cook the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, coat the pan with olive oil and once hot add the lean ground beef and season with kosher salt, ground black pepper, and garlic powder. Once it’s browned and cooked through, set it aside to cool slightly.
- Arrange the Salad: Divide the lettuce evenly into four salad plates. Layer with ground beef, tomatoes, pickles, onions, and cheese. Drizzle each plate with the dressing. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds before serving if desired. Enjoy!
