If you're craving a Big Mac (or in my case have a child begging for a Big Mac) but don't like all the guilt, gross feelings, and horrible ingredients that go along with it, you'll love these Dairy Free Big Mac Bowls!
I've tried different versions of this that I found on Pinterest, and adapted this recipe from one by Whole Kitchen Sink. It has all the exact flavors of a Big Mac! It's free from dairy and gluten, and can be made top 8 free depending on the special sauce that you use.
Dairy Free Special Sauce
If you aren't familiar with special sauce, it's the creamy, secret sauce that's used on Big Macs at McDonald's. It's a sweet, slightly tangy, mayonnaise based sauce that gives Big Macs their unique flavor. I used the special sauce by Sir Kensington's in this recipe. You could also try Primal Kitchen's Special Sauce, or Todd Wilbur's Burger Sauce. If you're avoiding eggs, you can also try a homemade special sauce with vegan mayo.
Potatoes & A Low Carb Option
This recipe uses diced potatoes, but you could skip these if you need a low carb option. If you are making this low carb, cook your red pepper with the onion and beef. Omit the potatoes and baking, and layer your beef mixture and toppings in to a bowl to serve. You'll still get all the flavors of a Big Mac, but it's more of a salad.
You'll need to pay attention to the sugar in your secret sauce if you're watching your carbs. Primal Kitchen's sauce is naturally sweetened with dates, and contains no added sugar. You could also make a homemade keto sauce like this one if that suits your dietary needs better.
I love this recipe as it's written, but if you're looking to change it up a bit you can also serve the beef mixture and toppings on top of some cooked french fries. It's great for game day or birthday parties, and gives you the flavor of burgers and fries with a bit less work. It's also delicious with sweet potatoes or sweet potato fries.
Dairy Free Big Mac Bowls
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef I like local, grass-fed
- 1 cup white onion diced
- 2 russet potatoes diced (should equal about 4 cups)
- 2 medium sized tomatoes diced (about 14 ounces)
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and stemmed, diced
- ½ cup diced dill pickles
- 1 tbsp white sesame seeds
- ½ cup special sauce check to make sure it's dairy free
- salt & pepper to taste
For Garnish
- shredded iceberg lettuce
- diced white onion
- fresh diced tomato
- sesame seeds
- drizzle of special sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Cook your diced onion and ground beef over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet, until the onions are soft and the beef is cooked through.
- Drain the grease from the pan. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in your special sauce.
- Grab a large casserole dish or rectangle pan. You'll want it to hold about 3 quarts. A classic 8x9 baking dish will work.
- Layer your potatoes, pepper, pickles, and tomatoes in to the pan. Season with a little bit of salt and pepper.
- Top your veggies with the beef and onion mixture. Sprinkle it with the sesame seeds, then give it all a big stir to combine. You want everything to be evenly layered in the dish.
- Cover the dish with your casserole cover or some aluminum foil, and bake it for 1 hour. You want the potatoes to be soft, but not mushy.
- Let the casserole sit for about 10 minutes, then garnish it with the lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, sesame seeds, and a drizzle of special sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this Dairy Free Big Mac Bowl recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @milkfreemom on Instagram and hashtag it #milkfreemom. Don't forget to pin it for later!
You may also like my Skillet Burrito Bowls.
Rachel B says
As I was putting this together I was having serious second thoughts, and when I pulled it out of the oven it didn’t look super appetizing. But I trusted the process!
This was amazing! My toddler loved it and ate the beef (he usually picks out meat of any meal)
I would tell anyone to forsure dress this up with toppings but this will now be a staple meal in our house!
Lyndsay Homme says
I'm so glad you like it. And, I agree. The toppings are chef's kiss!