Big Mac Pasta Salad
Big Mac Pasta Salad is sweet and tangy, loaded with the same flavor notes and irresistible textures of a classic Big Mac burger, but in pasta salad form.
Enjoy your Big Mac Pasta Salad as a side with any of your favorite bbq meals!
Recipe Notes:
- You could use non-fat yogurt as a healthier alternative to mayo in your dressing.
- To make the dressing sweeter, consider incorporating 1-2 teaspoons of honey, maple syrup, or granulated sugar to your taste.
- Use a sturdy pasta shape like fusilli, rotini, or penne that can hold up well to dressing and won’t get mushy.
- Cook the pasta until it is al dente, meaning it is still firm to the bite. Overcooked pasta can make the salad too soft.
- Feel free to adapt this Big Mac pasta salad by incorporating a mix of your favorite flavors, textures, and colors from your favorite pasta salad ingredients.
This Big Mac Pasta Salad can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
If you anticipate having leftovers, rather add single-serving portions of the shredded lettuce to each bowl instead of mixing it into the entire pasta mixture to prevent the lettuce from turning soggy in storage.
I don’t recommend freezing this pasta salad as it contains shredded lettuce which will turn soggy from freezing and thawing.
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For the best flavor and texture of the pasta salad ingredients, I recommend only adding fresh ingredients, such as cherry tomatoes, dill pickles, and shredded lettuce, just before serving.
The copycat mayo dressing and the ground beef are great components of this pasta dish that can be made the day before and stored in separate airtight containers in the fridge.
Big Mac Pasta Salad
- Cook the boxed rotini pasta according to package directions. Rinse pasta under cool water and drain. Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat brown and crumble ground beef until cooked through. Drain excess grease and season with ½ teaspoon garlic powder. Set aside.
- Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small mixing bowl until well combined.
- In a large serving bowl, toss together the pasta, cooked ground beef, mixed dressing and remaining ingredients until fully mixed.
- Serve pasta salad warm or at room temperature.
Our favorite pasta salads!
Big Mac Pasta Salad
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Ingredients
For the salad
- 1 lb ground beef cooked and crumbled
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 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
For the Big Mac copycat dressing
- 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 the boxed rotini pasta according to package directions. Rinse pasta under cool water and drain. Set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat brown and crumble ground beef until cooked through. Drain excess grease and season with ½ teaspoon garlic powder. Set aside.
- Whisk together the dressing ingredients in a small mixing bowl until well combined.
- In a large serving bowl, toss together the pasta, cooked ground beef, mixed dressing and remaining ingredients until fully mixed.
- Serve pasta salad warm or at room temperature.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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