Best Big Mac Pasta Salad
All the flavors of a classic Big Mac turned into a creamy, crowd-pleasing pasta salad loaded with ground beef, cheese, pickles, and a tangy special sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
12 ounces short pasta (cavatappi, rotini, or shells), cooked and cooled
1 pound ground beef, cooked, crumbled, and drained
1 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
1 teaspoon onion powder, divided
1 teaspoon kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups cheddar or Colby Jack cheese, cubed small
1 1/2 cups cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1 cup dill pickles, chopped into small chunks
1 cup thinly sliced red onion
2 cups shredded romaine or green leaf lettuce
Sesame seeds for garnish (optional but highly recommended)
3/4 cup mayonnaise
3/4 cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
1/4 cup sweet pickle relish
2 tablespoons ketchup or French dressing
2 teaspoons yellow mustard
1 tablespoon pickle juice or white vinegar
1 teaspoon paprika
Remaining garlic and onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste, if needed
Instructions
1. Cook the pasta in well-salted water until just al dente, then drain and rinse under cool water so it stops cooking.
2. While the pasta cooks, brown the ground beef in a skillet with salt, pepper, and a pinch of garlic powder, breaking it into small crumbles, then drain excess fat and let it cool slightly.
3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream or yogurt, relish, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, paprika, onion powder, and remaining garlic powder until smooth and creamy.
4. Taste the dressing and adjust with extra relish for sweetness, mustard for tang, or pickle juice for brightness.
5. In a large salad bowl, combine cooled pasta, ground beef, cheese cubes, tomatoes, red onion, and pickles, gently tossing so everything is evenly distributed.
6. Pour most of the dressing over the mixture and stir until all ingredients are lightly coated, adding more dressing as needed so it is saucy but not soupy.
7. Fold in the shredded lettuce just before serving so it stays crisp, then sprinkle with sesame seeds.
8. Chill for at least 30 minutes if desired to let the flavors meld, then serve.
Notes
This Big Mac Pasta Salad can be made several hours ahead; simply wait to stir in the lettuce and sesame seeds until just before serving.
Find it online: https://www.musttryrecipe.com/big-mac-pasta-salad/