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Big Mac Pasta Salad

Big Mac Pasta Salad

Big Mac Pasta Salad is the ultimate fusion of a classic fast-food favorite and a hearty, crowd-pleasing side dish. This recipe takes all the iconic flavors of a legendary burger—savory beef, tangy sauce, and crisp veggies—and tosses them with tender pasta for a meal that is perfect for your next backyard barbecue or potluck.
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Chilling Time 1 hour
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 513

Ingredients
  

Salad Base
  • 16 oz cavatappi pasta cooked, drained, and rinsed in cool water
  • 1 1/2 cups cheddar or Colby-jack cheese cubed
  • 1 1/2 cups grape tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup red onion thinly sliced
  • 1 pound ground beef browned and seasoned with salt and pepper
  • 1 1/2 cups romaine lettuce shredded
  • 1 cup dill pickles chopped
Signature Dressing
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 3/4 cup sour cream
  • 2 tsp French dressing
  • 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp sweet pickle relish
  • 2 tsp classic yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp onion finely minced
  • 1 1/2 tsp distilled white vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp turmeric
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder

Method
 

  1. Boil the cavatappi pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package directions until al dente. Drain the noodles and immediately rinse them under cold water to stop the cooking process and prevent sticking.
  2. While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season with a bit of salt and pepper, then drain any excess grease and let the meat cool slightly.
  3. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, French dressing, sweet relish, yellow mustard, minced onion, white vinegar, sugar, paprika, salt, turmeric, and garlic powder until smooth.
  4. In a large salad bowl, toss together the cooled pasta, cubed cheese, halved grape tomatoes, sliced red onion, browned ground beef, shredded romaine lettuce, and chopped dill pickles.
  5. Pour the prepared Big Mac sauce over the salad ingredients. Stir gently to ensure everything is evenly coated with the dressing.
  6. You can serve the salad immediately, but for the best flavor, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. This allows the flavors to meld together perfectly.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freezing is not recommended as the creamy dressing will separate and vegetables will lose their crispness.
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