Vegan Big Mac Salad
This vegan Big Mac salad has all of the flavor of a classic Big Mac but without the carbs and cholesterol. Fresh lettuce topped with vegan burger crumbles, onions, pickles, cheese, and Big Mac sauce as the dressing!
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Why make this recipe
If you miss the flavor of a Big Mac but want a lighter fare, this low-carb, protein-packed salad is for you! As long as you use a gluten-free vegan burger or substitute, the salad is also gluten-free.
My vegan teenagers love salads but also want added protein to fill them up, so this Big Mac salad and my vegan chicken Caesar salad are 2 of my family’s favorites and are in our permanent rotation.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Lettuce – I like to use Romaine, bib lettuce, or other crisp green lettuce.
- Onions – You can use white onion, yellow onions, or red onions, but whichever type you use, be sure to soak them in some water for a few minutes to mellow out the flavor.
- Pickles – Dill pickles give you the classic flavor of a Big Mac, so they’re a must!
- Vegan Cheese – I like to use shredded vegan cheddar cheese, but you can use any dairy-free cheese that you would like.
- Vegan Burgers– You can use Beyond Burgers, Impossible Burgers, or any brand of vegan beef crumbles. You can also swap the burger alternatives with TVP or marinated tofu cubes.
- Big Mac Sauce – This classic-tasting sauce uses vegan mayo, vinegar, pickle relish, mustard, ketchup, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, turmeric, and salt. You can also swap this for vegan Thousand Island dressing.
How to make vegan Big Mac salad
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
Step 1 – Heat the veggie burgers in a skillet over medium heat. Use the spatula to break it into small pieces until cooked through. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool while you make the salad.
Step 2 – Dice 1/2 of a small onion into small pieces, place it into a bowl, cover the diced onion with water, and allow it to sit while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. (This mellows out the strong flavor of raw onions.)
Step 3 – Dice 1/3 cup of dill pickles into bite-sized pieces.
Step 4 – Make the Big Mac Dressing – In a small bowl, mix vegan mayo, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, turmeric, and salt until combined.
Step 5 – Wash and chop the lettuce, dry it in a salad spinner, then place it into a large salad bowl.
Step 6 – Top the lettuce with the diced onions, pickles, cheese, and vegan beef crumbles. Drizzle the Big Mac dressing over the top and serve immediately.
Pro Tips
- You can swap out the vegan burger with beef-flavored TVP crumbles or marinated fried tofu.
- Many copycat Big Mac sauce recipes don’t call for ketchup since it is not listed in their ingredients list, however, I find that it provides a little sweetness and makes it taste like the authentic sauce. You can also swap out the ketchup with a little sugar instead.
Storage
You can prepare the Big Mac salad’s components ahead of time and store them separately in the fridge until ready to serve. (It works great for meal prep.) Assemble the salad just before eating, as the dressing will cause the lettuce to become soggy.
More vegan salads
Vegan Big Mac salad recipe
Vegan Big Mac Salad
Ingredients
- 8 cups lettuce, chopped
- 2 cups vegan burgers, chopped into pieces
- 1/3 cup dill pickles, chopped
- 1/3 cup vegan cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 tablespoons onions, diced
Big Mac salad dressing
- 1/2 cup vegan mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 dash turmeric
Instructions
- Heat the veggie burgers in a skillet over medium heat. Use the spatula to break it into small pieces until cooked through. Turn off the heat and allow it to cool while you make the salad.
- Dice 1/2 of a small onion into small pieces, place it into a bowl, cover the diced onion with water, and allow it to sit while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. (This mellows out the strong flavor of raw onions.)
- Dice 1/2 cup of dill pickles into bite-sized pieces.
Make the Big Mac Dressing
- In a small bowl, mix vegan mayo, vinegar, mustard, ketchup, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, turmeric, and salt until combined.
- Wash and chop the lettuce, dry it in a salad spinner, then place it into a large salad bowl.
- Top the lettuce with the diced onions, pickles, cheese, and vegan beef crumbles. Drizzle the Big Mac dressing over the top and serve immediately.
Notes
- You can swap out the vegan burger with beef-flavored TVP crumbles or marinated fried tofu.
- Many copycat Big Mac sauce recipes don’t call for ketchup since it is not listed in their ingredients list, however, I find that it provides a little sweetness and makes it taste like the authentic sauce. You can also swap out the ketchup with a little sugar instead.
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a star rating and review below!📌 Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for new vegan recipes!
This is the first time I made this. I used TVP and Cashew yogurt instead of Mayo. This was so delicious, the whole family loved it. Thank you for posting
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that you like it and were able to make some adjustments to suit your needs. 🙂
This was easy and great! Thanks!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that you liked it!
I have made a version of this before and your measurements are perfect! 🤩 The only thing I did differently with your recipe was added croutons I made from some old bread. I may try fries next time.
Croutons are a nice added crunch too! Glad that you like the recipe.