Big Mac Casserole Recipe (Deconstructed Big Mac in a Pan)
All the iconic Big Mac flavors you crave, but made with fresh, real ingredients at home! Lean seasoned beef, homemade special sauce, melty cheese, and all your favorite toppings — no drive-thru required. This is how you satisfy those Big Mac cravings the healthier way.
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Ingredients
For the Beef:
- 1 lb lean ground beef 96/4
- ½ white onion diced
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tsp avocado oil
- 2 tsp yellow ground mustard
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 112g
For the Big Mac Sauce:
- ¼ cup mayonnaise (Hellmans) 55g
- ¼ cup ketchup 65g
- ¼ cup dill pickles chopped
- 1 tbsp dill pickle juice
For the Toppings:
- Dill Pickle chips
- Handful white onions chopped
- Handful shredded iceberg lettuce
- Fries frozen works great in a pinch!
Instructions
- Make the Big Mac sauce: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, chopped dill pickles, and pickle juice. Stir well until everything is mixed together. Set aside in the fridge while you cook the beef. This lets the flavors meld together!
- Cook the beef: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the white onion and sauté for 2-3 minutes until it starts to soften.
- Add the ground beef: Add the lean ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the beef is browned and cooked through.
- Season: Add the mustard, garlic powder, and onion powder to the beef. Stir well to combine.
- Add the cheese: Reduce heat to low. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the beef. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it sit for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and gooey.
- Assemble: Remove from heat. Drizzle the Big Mac sauce over the cheesy beef (use as much or as little as you like — you can always save some for dipping!).
- Add fresh toppings: Top with shredded iceberg lettuce, dill pickles and onions.
- Serve: Serve immediately over fries, rice, or just by itself! You can also let everyone build their own bowls buffet-style with all the toppings on the side.
Notes
- Fries options: Air fry or bake frozen fries according to package directions while the beef is cooking. When everything's ready, pile the Big Mac casserole over the hot fries for the ultimate deconstructed experience.
- Rice alternative: Want to keep it lighter? Serve over cauliflower rice or regular rice instead of fries for a more balanced meal.
- Make it a bowl: This works great as a bowl situation — fries or rice on the bottom, beef and cheese in the middle, all the fresh toppings on top, and Big Mac sauce drizzled over everything.
- Sauce storage: Leftover Big Mac sauce keeps in the fridge for up to a week. Use it on burgers, as a dip for veggies or fries, or on sandwiches!
- Beef storage: Store leftover beef mixture in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat and add fresh toppings when ready to eat.
- Customize it: Want more pickles? Add extra to the sauce or pile them on top. Love onions? Double them up. This recipe is super flexible and begs to be customized to your preferences.
- Meal prep friendly: Cook the beef ahead of time and store it separately from the toppings. When you're ready to eat, just reheat the beef, melt the cheese, and add fresh toppings. Everything stays crisp and fresh this way.
- Kid-friendly: Let kids build their own bowls with their favorite toppings. It's interactive and they're way more likely to eat something they assembled themselves!
- Extra veggies: Sneak in more nutrition by adding diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or shredded carrots to the beef while it's cooking.
Servings: 4