Big Mac Pasta Salad is a fun and delicious twist on the classic burger that the whole family will love! This fun dish combines all the flavors of a Big Mac – juicy ground beef, crunchy pickles, crisp onions, and a special sauce – with pasta, making it perfect for picnics, potlucks, or a hearty weeknight dinner!
Kids will love eating their favorite fast food burger in pasta salad form, and adults will love how simple it is to make! Did we mention there are veggies in every serving? This pasta salad is a sure-fire way to make sure everybody enjoys dinner.
Whether you’re hosting a backyard cookout or just looking for a new family favorite, this Big Mac Pasta Salad can’t be beat! For more delicious pasta salad recipes, try my Caprese Pasta Salad or my Italian Pasta Salad!
Why I Love Big Mac Pasta Salad
Taste- The classic Big Mac flavor is one that is very recognizable, and this pasta salad recipe gives you every bit of those delicious and classic Big Mac flavors! Ground beef pairs with tangy pickles, minced onions, American cheese, and you can’t miss that thousand island dressing that ties it all together!
Texture- Although this Big Mac Pasta Salad doesn’t come in burger form, you will still get a mouthful of textures in every bite. Tender pasta replaces the typical bun that the sandwich is served on, but you still get a bite of juicy ground beef, crisp pickles and lettuce, crunchy onions, and gooey cheese in every bite. This recipe adds tomatoes for an extra punch of flavor!
Big Mac Pasta Salad Ingredients
We all know the popular jingle that sings the ingredients of the Big Mac, but this recipe adds a couple of extra ingredients that aren’t used to make a Big Mac sandwich.
- Cavatappi pasta, cooked and drained
- Ground beef, browned and drained
- Lettuce, chopped
- Onion, chopped
- Pickles, chopped
- Cherry tomatoes, chopped
- Cheddar cheese, cubed or shredded
- Thousand island dressing
- Sesame seeds
Variations And Substitutions
- Cavatappi pasta can be replaced with other pasta shapes, such as shells, elbows, or even bowties.
- Dehydrated onions are used at McDonald’s, but this recipe calls for red onion. Feel free to swap the red onion for white onion, if desired.
- Cherry tomatoes may be omitted if you don’t like them.
- Swap cheddar cheese for your favorite cheese, Colby Jack would also be delicious!
How To Make Big Mac Pasta Salad
Big Mac Pasta Salad takes less than 20 minutes to assemble, and the hardest part is waiting for it to chill in the refrigerator!
Step One: Add cooked pasta, ground beef, pickles, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, and dressing. Toss to combine.
Step Two: Chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours.
Step Three: Remove from the refrigerator, garnish with sesame seeds, and serve!
Storage Instructions
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Big Mac Pasta Salad
INGREDIENTS
- 8 ounces cavatappi pasta boiled and drained
- 1 pound lean ground beef browned and drained
- Half of a red onion thinly sliced
- ¾ cup of diced dill pickles
- 1 cup green leaf lettuce chopped
- 10 ounces cherry tomatoes sliced in half
- 8 ounces mild cheddar cheese cubed
- 2 cups thousand island dressing
- Sesame seeds for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a large bowl, add your cooked and drained pasta.
- Add the cooked ground beef, onion, pickles, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cheese and dressing.
- Toss to combine.
- Garnish with sesame seeds.
- Chill in the refriegerator for 4 hours.
- Serve!
Looks real good, I am going to try it.