Big Mac Pasta Salad is a delicious twist on the classic Big Mac Burger from McDonald’s. This easy Summer pasta salad recipe is perfect for lunch, dinner or any time!
Cheeseburger Pasta Salad Recipe
I love burgers — especially Big Macs! From the crunchy bits of onion, dill pickles, and the creamy special sauce, you can’t go wrong. This is a cold pasta salad that is perfect for Summer cookouts or to serve as a delicious lunch. Even kids love it (which I think is because it tastes like a burger)! I’ve made it many times, and it is asked for by name when invited to family BBQs. So, I usually make a big batch since it all gets gobbled up really fast.
Why You’ll Love This Big Mac Pasta Salad
- Inexpensive ingredients. All of the items in this pasta salad are cheap, everyday ingredients.
- Great to make ahead. Prepare this recipe ahead of time to enjoy at a party or at home.
- Easy recipe. This Big Mac salad is easy to put together. There aren’t a lot of steps involved.
What You’ll Need
Below is everything you need to make a successful Big Mac-inspired pasta salad. The onions, pickles, and Thousand Island dressing give you that classic Big Mac flavor, plus pasta, beef, cheese, and more. It’s all affordable and easy to get your hands on any time of year.
- Cavatappi pasta: You can use any short pasta you want, but I love the shape and texture of cavatappi. Rotini pasta or penne is another great choice.
- Ground beef: Ensure that your ground beef is at least 80% lean so the salad doesn’t have a fatty or greasy flavor.
- Onion: I like white onion because it’s what is used in a traditional Big Mac from McDonald’s.
- Dill pickles: a classic on a Big Mac, but you can use any kind of pickle you want.
- Lettuce: I use green leaf lettuce. You may also use iceberg or romaine if you like.
- Fresh Tomatoes: Halved cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes don’t add as much moisture as large slicing tomatoes, making them perfect for the salad.
- Cheddar cheese: I like shredded cheddar, but Colby Jack or any other shredded cheese is great.
- Thousand Island dressing: This dressing has a very similar flavor profile to classic Big Mac sauce. I find that Russian dressing works, too.
- Sesame seeds: Just like the sesame seed bun of a Big Mac, I garnish the finished salad with sesame seeds. They are optional, so you may leave them out if you prefer.
How to Make Big Mac Pasta Salad
It takes minimal steps and preparation to put this pasta salad recipe together. Once the pasta and beef are cooked and cooled, the rest is super fast! Make this ahead of time for a quick meal anytime!
- Cook the pasta and brown the meat. Boil water and cook the pasta according to the package directions. Add the meat to a skillet over medium heat and cook it until it is no longer pink.
- Prep the veggies. Chop the onions, pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes.
- Combine the ingredients. In a large bowl, add the cooked pasta. Then, add the cooked beef, prepared veggies, cheese, and dressing. Toss gently to combine so all of the ingredients are fully coated.
- Chill. Place the Big Mac salad into the refrigerator to chill until you are ready.
- Garnish and serve. Sprinkle sesame seeds on top and enjoy!
Tips for Success
- Hold the lettuce: If you are prepping this pasta salad ahead of time, I suggest waiting to add the lettuce until before you serve to keep it crisp.
- Variation ideas: Use different ingredients to change up the flavor profile! Try pepper jack cheese to make it spicy, sweet pickles, and even ranch dressing.
- Drain the fat: Ensure that you drain the fat from the beef before you add it to the pasta salad.
- Cool the ingredients: Allow the pasta and meat to cool before you add them to the salad so the lettuce doesn’t wilt and the dressing doesn’t separate.
Proper Storage
Leftover Big Mac pasta salad can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. There’s no need to reheat any of the ingredients—this is meant to be eaten cold!
More Big Mac-Inspired Recipes to Try
-
In a large bowl add your cooked and drained pasta.
-
Add the cooked ground beef, onion, pickles, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cheese and dressing. Toss to combine.
-
Garnish with sesame seeds. Serve!
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- This is fabulous to make ahead. I would wait to add the lettuce until right before serving.
- You can use any onion you like.
- I like to use green leaf lettuce because it holds up better, but you can use any lettuce you like.
- You can use any short pasta you prefer.
- You can use any cheese you like. Colby would be perfect.
Calories: 552kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 12g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 940mg | Potassium: 478mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 947IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 239mg | Iron: 3mg
