Big Mac Salad (Meal Prep Jars)
Big Mac Salad (Meal Prep Jars)
All the Big Mac flavor — beef, pickles, secret sauce — layered in jars with no bun
This Big Mac salad in meal prep jars is the drive-thru favorite turned into a high-protein lunch: seasoned ground beef, pickles, onions, tomatoes, cheddar, and crisp lettuce layered over homemade sugar-free Big Mac sauce.
Each jar packs 28 g of protein with only 6 g net carbs.
Why you'll love these jars
- 28g protein per jar — a lunch that keeps you full
- Only 6g net carbs per jar
- All the Big Mac flavor, no bun
- Meal-prep ready — 4 days of lunches
- Gorgeous layered presentation
- Just shake into a bowl and eat
Health notes
- High protein: 28g per jar from beef, cheese, and sauce.
- Low carb: Just 6g net carbs — no bun, no fries.
- Sugar-free: Homemade Big Mac sauce with no added sugar.
- Gluten-free: Naturally gluten-free.
Key element — sauce on the bottom, lettuce on top
Always layer the Big Mac sauce at the bottom and the lettuce at the top. The beef and cheese layers protect the lettuce from the sauce, so everything stays crisp for days.
Ingredients
Big Mac sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tbsp sugar-free ketchup
- 1 Tbsp yellow mustard
- 2 Tbsp finely diced dill pickles
- 1 tsp white vinegar
- ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- Salt to taste
Beef
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20)
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Jar layers (per jar)
- 2 Tbsp Big Mac sauce
- ¼ of the seasoned beef
- ¼ cup diced white onion
- ¼ cup diced dill pickles
- ½ cup diced tomatoes
- ½ cup shredded cheddar
- 1½ cups shredded iceberg lettuce
Swaps
- Turkey: Use ground turkey instead of beef.
- Spicy: Add diced jalapeños and a dash of hot sauce to the Big Mac sauce.
- Dairy-free: Skip the cheddar and use dairy-free mayo.
- Extra crunch: Add shredded red cabbage with the lettuce.
Instructions
| 1 | Make the sauce. Whisk all the Big Mac sauce ingredients together. Refrigerate while you prep — the flavor gets better as it sits. |
| 2 | Cook the beef. Brown the ground beef with the onion powder, salt, and pepper, breaking it into small crumbles. Drain the fat and let it cool slightly. |
| 3 | Prep the toppings. Dice the onion, pickles, and tomatoes. Shred the lettuce and cheddar. |
| 4 | Layer the jars. In 4 quart-size mason jars, layer in this order: Big Mac sauce, beef, onion, pickles, tomatoes, cheddar, then lettuce on top. |
| 5 | Seal and store. Seal the jars and refrigerate up to 4 days. |
| 6 | Serve. Shake the jar into a bowl, toss everything with the sauce, and eat. |
Pro tips
- Let the beef cool slightly before layering so it doesn't wilt the lettuce.
- Use wide-mouth quart jars — they're much easier to fill and empty.
- Drain the diced tomatoes well so the jars don't get watery.
- Keep the jars upright in the fridge so the layers stay pretty.
- Make a double batch of sauce — you'll want it on everything.
Nutrition
| Nutrient | Per jar (4) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 520 |
| Protein | 28g |
| Net carbohydrates | 6g |
| Total carbohydrates | 8g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Total fat | 41g |
| Sodium | 890mg |
Estimates per jar (4 jars), based on ground beef, cheddar, mayonnaise, and vegetables.
Variations
Turkey
Swap the ground beef for ground turkey for a leaner jar.
Spicy
Add diced jalapeños to the layers and hot sauce to the Big Mac sauce.
Double cheeseburger
Add an extra ¼ cup of beef and cheese per jar for a bigger lunch.
Big Mac bowl
Skip the jars and assemble everything in bowls for tonight's dinner.
Storage
| Method | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Up to 4 days | Sealed jars, kept upright |
| Freezer | Not recommended | Lettuce and fresh toppings don't freeze well |
| Sauce only | Up to 2 weeks | Refrigerate in a sealed jar |
FAQ
Test your knowledge
5 quick questions about these meal prep jars
1. Protein per jar?
2. Net carbs per jar?
3. Which layer goes on the bottom of the jar?
4. How long do the sealed jars keep in the fridge?
5. How do you serve a jar?
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