Description
This Big Mac Pasta Salad combines all the beloved flavors of a classic Big Mac burger in a fresh, easy-to-make pasta salad. Featuring cavatappi pasta, seasoned ground beef, crisp vegetables, cheddar cheese, and a creamy thousand island dressing, this salad is perfect for summer cookouts and gatherings. Garnished with sesame seeds, it captures the essence of a Big Mac in a refreshing and satisfying dish.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 ounces cavatappi pasta, boiled and drained
Meat
- 1 pound lean ground beef, browned and drained
Vegetables & Garnishes
- Half of a red onion, thinly sliced
- ¾ cup diced dill pickles
- 1 cup green leaf lettuce, chopped
- 10 ounces cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
- Sesame seeds for garnish
Dairy
- 8 ounces mild cheddar cheese, cubed
Dressing
- 2 cups thousand island dressing
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil 8 ounces of cavatappi pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well and set aside to cool.
- Prepare the beef: In a skillet, brown 1 pound of lean ground beef over medium heat until fully cooked, breaking it into crumbles as it cooks. Drain excess fat and let the beef cool slightly.
- Combine ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the cooked and cooled pasta, browned ground beef, thinly sliced half red onion, diced dill pickles, chopped green leaf lettuce, halved cherry tomatoes, cubed cheddar cheese, and 2 cups of thousand island dressing.
- Toss salad: Gently toss all the ingredients together until everything is evenly coated with the dressing and well combined.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle sesame seeds on top as a garnish and serve immediately. For best freshness, add the lettuce just before serving if making ahead.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For best texture, add the lettuce right before serving if preparing the salad ahead of time.
- You can substitute any type of onion based on preference.
- Green leaf lettuce is preferred for holding up well, but any lettuce of choice can be used.
- Any short pasta such as rotini or penne works well in place of cavatappi.
- Cheese options like Colby are excellent alternatives to cheddar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours (including chilling time)
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
