Let’s be real: sometimes you want fast food flavor without the fast food mess. After 10 years of sharing recipes on my website, my readers know me for turning classic takeout meals into lighter, better-for-you meals with flavor that doesn't miss. I’ve taken everything you love about the drive-thru classic and turned it into an easy high-protein dinner that actually fills you up.
I’ve built this recipe the same way I build all my others: with everyday ingredients and smart shortcuts to save you some time. You will also love my Big Mac Cheeseburger Salad recipe.
Table of Contents
Big Mac Bowl Ingredients
- Potatoes I use potatoes as the base for this bowl they are the best way to emulate that Big Mac flavor. Roasted until golden and crispy, they give the dish that crunchy bite you’d normally get from fries—but made right at home.
- Ranch Seasoning + Salt (for the potatoes): Ranch seasoned potatoes are so good! Feel free to use your favorite blend of spices if you want to swap it out.
- Ground Beef, Turkey, or Chicken: You can use whatever protein works best for you, beef for that classic burger flavor, or ground turkey or chicken for a lighter spin. Either way, it gets seasoned up and browned to add that meaty, satisfying layer to the bowl.
- Onions: They give the meat mixture that extra layer of flavor that makes it taste more like a true burger bowl and less like just ground meat. I always buy pre-chopped onions to save time!
- Worcestershire Sauce: This is the secret to adding that rich, burger-shop flavor. You can omit it or swap it out using soy sauce.
- Smoked Paprika + Garlic Powder: These add flavor.
- Big Mac Sauce: This is my favorite part about the bowl. You will need: mayo (or Greek yogurt if you are going for high protein!), mustard, pickle relish, white vinegar, garlic powder, and onion powder.
How to Make Big Mac Bowls
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Roast or Air Fry the Potatoes: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Toss the diced potatoes with olive oil, ranch seasoning, and salt to taste. Spread them out on a baking sheet and roast for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they’re crispy and golden brown. Air fry at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes.
- Cook the Meat and Onions: While the potatoes cook, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your ground meat and diced onions. Break up the meat with a spatula and cook until browned and the onions are soft.
- Season It Up: Drain any excess grease if needed. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste. Let everything cook together for another 1–2 minutes so the flavors can soak in.
- Build Your Bowls: Divide the roasted potatoes between bowls. Top with the seasoned meat and onion mixture. Drizzle with homemade Big Mac sauce and add any toppings you like.
- Serve & Enjoy: Grab a fork and dig in! These bowls are perfect for meal prep too, just keep the sauce separate until you’re ready to eat.
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Toppings and Add-ins Ideas
- Shredded lettuce
- Pickles
- Tomatoes
- Bacon
- Onions
- Sesame Seeds
- Jalapenos
- Avocado
- Ketchup
- Mustard
More Popular Recipes
If you want to swap out potatoes, check out our Cajun French Fries, Air Fryer Onion Rings, and Southern Fried Okra recipes.
Big Mac Bowl with Potatoes
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
Equipment
Ingredients
Potatoes
- 1 ½ pounds potatoes I used russet. Diced into ½ - 1 inch cubes.
- cooking oil I use olive oil
- 1-2 teaspoons ranch seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
Burger (You can also use a store-bought burger rub if you wish)
- 1 pound ground beef, turkey or chicken
- ½ cup diced onions
- 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce Use soy sauce or omit if you wish.
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika Regular paprika is fine.
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper Optional for a spicy kick.
- salt and pepper to taste
Burger Sauce
- 1 cup mayo For high protein: use ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt and 2 tablespoons of mayo.
- ¼ cup sweet pickle relish
- 2 tablespoons mustard
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 1 ¼ teaspoons paprika Regular or smoked.
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon white pepper You can also use black pepper.
Toppings
- shredded cheese I use 1 cup (total).
- pickles
- lettuce
- tomatoes
Instructions
Cook the Potatoes (allow these to cook while you cook the meat and prepare the Big Mac Sauce)
- Air Fryer: Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil and add the potatoes.Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Don't overcrowd the basket. Cook in batches if needed.Open the air fryer and spray the potatoes with cooking oil and sprinkle in the ranch seasoning and salt. Shake to ensure everything is coated.Air fry at 400 degrees for an additional 5-8 minutes or until the potatoes are crispy.1 ½ pounds potatoes, cooking oil, 1-2 teaspoons ranch seasoning, salt and pepper to taste
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F. Toss the diced potatoes with olive oil, ranch seasoning, and salt. Spread them out on a baking sheet and roast for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they’re crispy and golden brown.
Cook the Meat
- While the potatoes cook, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add your ground meat and diced onions. Break up the meat with a spatula or meat chopper and cook until browned and the onions are soft, about 6–8 minutes.1 pound ground beef, turkey or chicken, ½ cup diced onions
- Drain any excess grease if needed. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, optional cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper to taste. Let everything cook together for another 1–2 minutes so the flavors can soak in. Taste and adjust salt if needed.1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to taste
Make the Big Mac Sauce
- Combine mayo (or Greek yogurt), mustard, relish, vinegar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, and white pepper in a bowl. Stir to combine. Taste repeatedly and make adjustments to the sauce to suit your taste.Add a little water if your sauce is too thick. This is especially necessary if you swap out mayo for something else. The consistency will be a lot thicker, but water will do the trick for thinning it out and making the sauce creamy.1 cup mayo, ¼ cup sweet pickle relish, 2 tablespoons mustard, 1 teaspoon vinegar, 1 ¼ teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ⅛ teaspoon white pepper
Build Your Bowls
- Divide the roasted potatoes between bowls. Top with the seasoned meat and onion mixture. Drizzle with homemade Big Mac sauce and add any toppings you like: shredded lettuce, pickles, cheese, and diced tomatoes.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Diced frozen potatoes or hash browns work great—just make sure to season them well and bake until crispy. I recommend defrosting them first.
Ground beef gives it the classic Big Mac flavor, but ground turkey or chicken are great lighter options that still taste amazing with the sauce.
Nope. You can season them with just salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika if you prefer. The ranch just adds an extra punch of flavor with no extra work.
Absolutely. Roast the potatoes and cook the meat ahead, then store everything separately. Just reheat and assemble when you're ready to eat. Keep the sauce on the side to keep things fresh.
Stored in an airtight container, the meat and potatoes will keep for about 3–4 days. Add fresh toppings and sauce right before serving.
Yep, just swap the potatoes for cauliflower florets or shredded lettuce to make it more like a Big Mac salad bowl.
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