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Big Mac Pasta Salad

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This Big Mac Pasta Salad combines seasoned lean ground beef, tender chickpea pasta, crisp lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, and dill pickles with a creamy Big Mac–style dressing. It’s a refreshing, high-protein twist on a classic fast-food favorite perfect for meal prep, potlucks, or a fun family dinner.

  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Scale
  • For the Salad
  • 1 lb 96% lean ground beef
  • 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  • 8 oz dry chickpea pasta (e.g., Banza)
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1/3 cup red onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese (2%, 56g), shredded or cubed
  • 1/3 cup dill pickles, diced
  • For the Dressing
  • 3/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt (170g)
  • 1/4 cup light mayonnaise (60g)
  • 4 tbsp no-sugar-added ketchup (64g)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp yellow mustard (20g)
  • 1 1/2 tbsp dill pickle juice
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • Optional Garnish: White sesame seeds

Instructions

  1. Cook the Ground Beef: In a skillet, brown the ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked. Stir in Worcestershire sauce, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Set aside to cool.
  2. Prepare the Pasta: Cook the chickpea pasta according to package instructions. Drain and allow it to cool completely.
  3. Make the Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, light mayo, ketchup, mustard, dill pickle juice, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika until smooth.
  4. Assemble the Salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled pasta, cooked ground beef, grape tomatoes, pickles, cheddar cheese, and red onion. Add the dressing and toss until evenly coated.
  5. Serve: Just before serving, gently fold in the romaine lettuce to keep it crisp. Garnish with white sesame seeds if desired.

Notes

  • For best texture, add the lettuce just before serving.
  • Chill the salad for 30 minutes to deepen the flavors.
  • Store leftovers without lettuce to maintain freshness.
  • Author: lily
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Salad
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American