Description
Big Mac Pasta Salad is a flavorful, hearty pasta salad inspired by the famous Big Mac burger, combining rotini pasta, seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, fresh veggies, and tangy Thousand Island dressing for a satisfying and easy-to-make dish perfect for potlucks, picnics, or casual meals.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound Rotini Pasta, cooked al dente and drained
- 1 pound Hamburger, browned and drained
- 1 1/2 cups Cheddar Cheese Cubes
- 1 1/2 cups Shredded Iceberg Lettuce
- 1 1/2 cups Cherry Tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup Minced Onion
- 1 1/2 cups Diced Dill Pickle
Dressing
- 1 1/3 cups Thousand Island Dressing
- 2/3 cup Mayonnaise
Optional Garnish
- Dill Pickle Chips
- 1/2 teaspoon White Sesame Seeds
Instructions
- Prepare Pasta and Hamburger: Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and allow it to cool completely. Brown the hamburger in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked, then drain excess fat and let it cool thoroughly before assembling the salad.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: In an extra-large mixing bowl, add the cooled rotini pasta, browned hamburger, cheddar cheese cubes, shredded iceberg lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, minced onion, and diced dill pickles. Gently fold all the ingredients together until well mixed.
- Prepare Dressing: In a separate medium mixing bowl, mix together the Thousand Island dressing and mayonnaise until fully combined and smooth.
- Add Dressing to Salad: Pour the prepared dressing over the pasta salad mixture. Gently fold the salad again to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
- Chill the Salad: Cover the bowl and refrigerate the pasta salad for at least 2 hours to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill thoroughly. While you can serve it immediately, chilling enhances the taste and texture.
- Garnish and Serve: Before serving, garnish the salad with dill pickle chips and sprinkle with white sesame seeds if desired. Enjoy your Big Mac Pasta Salad cold as a delicious and filling meal or side dish.
Notes
- Ensure the pasta and hamburger are fully cooled before mixing with the dressing to prevent wilting the lettuce and melting the cheese.
- Customize the salad by adjusting the quantity of pickles and onions based on your taste preference.
- For a lighter option, substitute mayonnaise with a low-fat variety or Greek yogurt.
- The salad tastes best after chilling for at least 2 hours but can be prepared a day ahead to develop more flavor.
- For added crunch, consider topping with sesame seeds or extra pickle chips as garnish.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approximate)
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 610 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg
