Description
This Big Mac Pasta Salad is a delicious and hearty twist on the classic Big Mac sandwich, transformed into a flavorful pasta salad. Combining cooked ground beef, rotini pasta, cheddar cheese, fresh vegetables, and a tangy homemade dressing inspired by Big Mac sauce, this dish makes a perfect party side or a satisfying main dish. Ready in just 35 minutes and serving eight, it's an easy crowd-pleaser that captures all the beloved flavors of a Big Mac in a refreshing pasta salad.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, cooked and crumbled
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (for beef)
- 16 oz box rotini pasta, cooked and drained
- 2 cups diced cheddar cheese
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 ½ cup diced dill pickles
- ½ cup diced red onions
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
Dressing Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
- 1 ½ tablespoon yellow mustard
- ½ teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Cook the rotini pasta according to the package directions. Once cooked, rinse the pasta under cool water to stop the cooking process and drain thoroughly. Set aside to cool.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown and crumble the ground beef until fully cooked. Drain any excess grease, then season the beef with ½ teaspoon garlic powder. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Prepare Dressing: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, apple cider vinegar, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder until well combined to create the Big Mac-inspired dressing.
- Combine Salad: In a large serving bowl, combine the cooked and drained pasta, seasoned ground beef, diced cheddar cheese, cherry tomatoes, diced dill pickles, diced red onions, shredded lettuce, and prepared dressing. Toss gently but thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Serve: Serve the pasta salad warm or at room temperature according to your preference. It can also be chilled if desired before serving.
Notes
- This salad can be served warm, room temperature, or chilled depending on your preference.
- To add extra flavor, consider topping with shredded cheese or additional pickles when serving.
- For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for the ground beef and use low-fat mayonnaise.
- Make sure to drain the pasta well to prevent a watery salad.
- Leftovers keep well covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American