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    Home » Recipes » Easy Meal Prep Recipes

    Easy Big Mac in a Bowl Recipe (with secret sauce!)

    Published: Jul 4, 2022 · Modified: Nov 26, 2022 by Nicole Addison · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This easy Big Mac in a bowl recipe is the perfect way to get your burger fix while adding more fresh veggies to your life! These burger bowls are made with lean ground turkey, take less than 30 minutes to make, are packed with flavour and are definitely going to be a new summer staple!

    Don't get me wrong I LOVE a good hamburger. There's something extra special about enjoying a good fully loaded burger at a summer barbecue. So I will 100% never be the Dietitian that is going to tell you that you need to swap all your burgers from now on for a burger bowl. However sometimes we just need an option with a few more veggies and fibre! That's where these easy burger bowls with secret sauce come in!

    They are the perfect option for when you're looking for a quick and easy salad packed full with fresh vegetables, fibre and lean protein! My whole family was obsessed with this Big Mac in a bowl recipe and I hope you are too! (PS. there's even a plant based option)

    big mac in a bowl recipe

    What ingredients do I need to make this Big Mac in a bowl recipe?

    Don't let the long ingredient list scare you away! Just like your favourite hamburger, these easy burger bowls with secret sauce are super customizable and can be topped with whatever you are feeling!

    Green base: You can't have a salad without some sort of greens! I personally like using thinly chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce for that classic burger feel. However any greens will work, arugula, spinach, kale, swiss chard- you name it!

    Protein source: On all my satisfying salads I like to choose a source of lean protein- whether that be plant based or meat that is up to you (for plant based see below)! My personal favourite in this Big Mac in a bowl recipe is using lean ground turkey and adding some lentils as well (extra fibre and plants is always a win)! However any ground meat will work even a chopped up hamburger!

    Carbohydrate: When I make salads I like to ensure they have some form of carbohydrate source. This is a great way to ensure the salad is filling enough to be considered a meal and satisfying enough that I won't be hungry again in 20 minutes! To keep with the burger theme I made super easy air fryer fries to top this big mac in a bowl recipe! Other alternatives include: roasted sweet potato, rice, quinoa or even pasta!

    Toppings: This is where the fun begins! The toppings are completely up to you. I stuck with the classics of: tomato, shredded cheese, red onion and pickles for my burger bowls but you can use this as a chance to get creative!

    Secret sauce: My no-so-secret "secret sauce" is arguably the best part of these burger bowls. Honestly I didn't know what to call this sauce, it's a mix between a big mac sauce and a "special" sauce, so now it is known as secret sauce and I'm putting it on EVERYTHING! You have all the best burger topping flavours in this sauce ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, a little bit of apple cider vinegar, some paprika, salt and pepper all brought together in a yogurt base for a lightened up version!

    big mac in a bowl recipe

    How to make plant based big mac burger bowls:

    As someone who loves trying to find ways to get my family rotate in more plant based meals I always appreciate when there are substitutions in recipes to make them plant based! To make thia Big Mac in a bowl recipe plant based all you need to do are make a few simple swaps and you're good to go!

    • Ground meat -> lentils: Swapping out lentils for ground meat is a great way to make your protein source plant based while also adding in additional fibre! I personally use canned lentils and cook them in a pan on the stove as I normally would with my ground meat. Once they are warm, I mash them with the back of a spatula, so it gets clumpy which gives it more of ground meat texture! Other options include: crumbled extra firm tofu, or your favourite veggie burgers!
    • Shredded cheese -> dairy free cheese: Lucky for you there are now SO many plant based cheese options available to try. My personal favourites include Violife cheddar style shreds, the Farm Boy branded Parmesan style shreds and Daiya plant based cheddar shreds
    • Greek yogurt -> dairy free yogurt or mayonnaise: Again this is a fairly straight forward swap! Just substitute the Greek yogurt for your favourite non dairy yogurt or mayo. My personal favourite is the Primal Kitchen vegan mayonnaise.

    More easy salads to love:

    If you are someone constantly struggling to find quick and healthy lunch ideas you are in luck. For the last few weeks I've been creating new salad recipes for you to enjoy. These aren't just any old boring salads though. These salads are super quick to make (under 30 minutes!) and also super satisfying, meaning you won't be needing to have another lunch 20 minutes later.

    Some of my favourites include:

    • pesto chicken pasta salad
    • street corn inspired salad
    • smashed chickpea salad

    PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this easy Big Mac in a bowl recipe don't forget to tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment below!

    big mac in a bowl recipe

    📖 Recipe

    Easy Burger Bowls with Secret Sauce
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 2 votes

    Easy Big Mac in a Bowl

    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Cook Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Salad
    Servings: 4

    Ingredients 

    For the burger meat:

    • 1 tablespoon cooking oil I use olive
    • 1 lb lean ground turkey meat *or ground meat of choice
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ¼ tsp salt
    • ¼ tsp garlic powder
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder

    For the dressing

    • 3 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt
    • 1 tablespoon mayonnaise or additional yogurt
    • 1 tablespoon ketchup
    • 2 tablespoon yellow mustard
    • 1 teaspoon pickle juice from the jar!
    • 3 teaspoon apple cider vinegar *see substitutions below
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • salt and black pepper to taste

    For the french fries

    • 2 medium yellow potatoes
    • ½ tablespoon olive oil
    • ½ tablespoon desired spices

    For the salad

    • 4 cups romaine lettuce thinly sliced
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes sliced
    • 1 cup pickles sliced
    • 1 cup (about ½ of one large) red onion thinly sliced
    • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

    Instructions

    • Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground turkey meat and spices. Cook until browned and fully cooked through. Set aside.
    • Prepare your dressing by combining all dressing ingredients in a small mason jar or bowl and whisking well. Set aside.
    • To prepare your fries- Slice your potatoes into wedges and add them to a large mixing bowl. Add your oil and spices and toss to coat. Once the potatoes are fully coated, place them in your air fryer basket and bake for about 15 minutes at 400°F, shaking the basket halfway.
    • To prepare your salad- in a large bowl add vegetables, cheese, turkey meat, and fries. Drizzle with your dressing and toss to combine.

    Notes

    *Note -you are able to use your favourite hamburger or veggie burger recipe as the protein, omitting the burger meat instructions above!
    *As mentioned in the text above, I personally like adding in some canned lentils with my ground meat to add some more plant based protein and fibre! If you would like to add them, just mix in about 1 cup of lentils right into the pan once the ground meat is cooked and smashing them with the back of a spatula!
    *If you do not have apple cider vinegar, white vinegar will work!
    Tried this recipe?I love seeing my recipes in action! Don't forget to tag me @nourishedbynic or use the hashtag #nourishedbynic!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Hailey

      December 31, 2022 at 4:38 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great salad, my entire family loved it! I can’t wait to make it again sometime.
      #nourishedholiday

      Reply
    2. Melissa

      March 09, 2023 at 2:41 am

      5 stars
      I've been making this salad on repeat for like a month and keep forgetting to comment! I don't eat much red meat and turkey burgers just don't hit the spot for me so I actually use impossible burger patties and they're great! I leave out the red onion though because I hate raw onion. 😂 Love love love this salad so much.

      Reply

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    Nicole Addison, RD, MHSc

    I’m Nicole, a Registered Dietitian, recipe developer and content creator on a mission to help individuals rediscover the joys of cooking with easy, accessible, healthy recipes. After years of struggling to find balance I have finally found that there is a way nourish your body while also fueling your soul.

    On my page you'll find yummy recipes, wellness tips, and even some of my favourite travel and lifestyle recommendations!

    More about me →

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