Description
A delightful twist on the classic Big Mac, this pasta salad combines familiar flavors with fresh ingredients for a comforting and nostalgic dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz rotini or penne pasta
- 1 lb ground beef (or substitute with ground turkey, chicken, or plant-based option)
- 2 cups chopped iceberg or romaine lettuce
- 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup dill pickles, chopped
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or pepper jack for spice)
- 1 cup Thousand Island dressing (or homemade version)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Garlic powder to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in salted water until al dente, then drain and rinse with cold water.
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef, seasoning with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Drain if necessary.
- Chop the lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, and place in a large bowl.
- Once the pasta has cooled, add it to the vegetables along with the browned meat and cheese.
- Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with extra cheese and fresh herbs, if desired.
Notes
For best results, prepare the salad in advance; it tastes even better the next day. You can adapt ingredients based on dietary preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Mixing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: pasta salad, Big Mac, comfort food, summer recipe, picnic food