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Big Mac Pasta Salad served in a bowl, featuring ground beef, cheese, lettuce, and creamy sauce.

Big Mac Pasta Salad

A delicious and easy-to-make pasta salad that captures the classic flavors of a Big Mac without the fuss of grilling burgers.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course, Salad
Cuisine: American
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta and Beef
  • 8 oz elbow macaroni Can substitute with shells or rotini
  • 1 lb lean ground beef Use lean to minimize greasiness
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese Shredded or cut into small cubes
  • 1 cup dill pickles Chopped; add pickle juice for extra tang if desired
  • 1/2 cup onion Finely chopped; can substitute onion powder for milder flavor
  • 2 cups romaine or iceberg lettuce Chopped for crunch
Sauce
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp ketchup
  • 1 tbsp mustard
  • 1/2 cup pickle relish Or add chopped pickles as desired
  • 1 tbsp vinegar Add more for extra zip
  • 1 tsp sugar Or substitute with honey

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cook the pasta in salted water until just tender. Drain and rinse with cool water to stop the cooking process. Set aside.
  2. Brown the ground beef in a skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper. Drain off excess grease if necessary, then cool slightly.
  3. In a bowl, mix the mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, chopped pickles or relish, and adjust flavors to preference.
Combining Ingredients
  1. In a large bowl, combine the cooled pasta, beef, cheddar cheese, pickles, and onion.
  2. Stir in the sauce until all ingredients are coated.
  3. Fold in chopped lettuce right before serving to maintain its crunch.

Notes

For best flavor, let the salad chill in the fridge for about 30 minutes before serving. This dish is easily customizable with added vegetables or seasonings.