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This big mac casserole is fast-food inspired but made with healthy ingredients and a delish lightened up big mac sauce. It’s a great easy dinner for the whole family on busy weeknights.
A Lighter Take On Classic Flavors
This hearty casserole is like a big mac meal all in one dish. It’s lightened up with lean ground beef, extra veggies and my healthier homemade big mac sauce. As the weather cools down I’m always in the mood for cozy dishes and this casserole delivers. Here’s even more reason’s to love it.
- Quick & Easy. This casserole can be on the table in about 30 minutes. It’s perfect for busy weeknights.
- Nutrition packed. 29 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving from lean meat and veggies make this dish both delicious and satisfying.
- Family Favorite. Who doesn’t love the flavors of fast food? Your whole family is going to love this dish.
- Have It Your Way. Let everyone pick their own favorite burger toppings and add as much sauce as you want!
If you love a good casserole like me, you have to try my Healthy Philly Cheesesteak Casserole, Cheesy Taco Potato Casserole and Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole next.
Ingredients
For full recipe instructions and complete list of ingredients, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of this page.
Casserole Ingredients
- Lean ground meat: To like to use 93% lean ground beef, ground chicken or ground turkey. They all work great.
- Potatoes: Yellow or white or red skin potatoes are my favorites.
- Bell peppers, onion and garlic: For lots of flavor and a big veggie boost!
- Cheddar Cheese: Cheddar is my favorite because it melts easily and adds a sharp flavor.
- Spices: You’ll need onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt + black pepper.
- Toppings: Grab your favorite burger toppings like dill pickles, diced onions and tomatoes, shredded lettuce and of course more cheese!
Sauce Ingredients
- Plain Greek yogurt: I recommend using full fat Greek yogurt or at least 2%. Greek yogurt gives this sauce a lighter higher protein base.
- Mayonnaise: Just a touch of mayo adds that classic Big Mac flavor.
- Ketchup: For a touch of tomato flavor.
- Dijon mustard: Regular yellow mustard works too.
- Honey: For just the right amount of sweetness.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: A little tangy vinegar brightens the sauce up.
- Spices: The same combination from the casserole carry over into the sauce.
Variation Ideas
- Serve in a wrap. Instead of baking in the oven, fill a wrap with your meat and veggie mixture and add toppings! You could also serve in a roll.
- Even more veggies. Add 2 cups of chopped cauliflower or broccoli for an even bigger veggie boost.
- Tater tots instead. Omit the potatoes when you’re cooking the meat and then top your meat mixture with tater tots and cheese before baking.
- Make it spicy. Add a 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to your meat mixture and top with pickled jalapeños before serving.
- Crock Pot: Just transfer ground meat mixture to a slow cooker and top with cheese. Cover and cook on low for about 15 minutes until cheese has melted. Switch to keep warm and you have the perfect dish for a pot-luck or game day party.
How To Make Big Mac Casserole
- Brown the meat. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground meat and cook for about 3-4 minutes, breaking the meat apart as it cookies.
- Add veggies. Add potatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, seasonings and dijon mustard. Stir and cover, cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Uncover. Uncover and cook for ~10 additional minutes. Stir occasionally until potatoes begin to brown. Turn off heat and stir in 1 cup cheese.
- Bake. Transfer meat mixture to prepared baking dish. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and bake for 10 minutes until cheese is melted and golden.
- Make the sauce. While the casserole bakes prepare the sauce. Add all sauce ingredients to a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Set aside.
- Add toppings. Cool casserole slightly and top with your favorite burger toppings like pickles, shredded lettuce, diced tomato and onions and more cheese.
How To Store
Cool completely and transfer to an airtight container (or cover leftover casserole dish). Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days. Be sure to store toppings separately and top warmed up casserole right before serving.
Jamie’s Tips
Tips For Success
- Let it cool. Make sure to let your casserole cool for at 10 minutes before adding your toppings, or you’re lettuce and tomatoes will get soggy quickly!
- Don’t skip the toppings! The veggie and meat base is delicious on it’s own, but the toppings truly make this dish. Don’t skip ’em!
- Store toppings separately. If you know you’ll probably have leftovers, add toppings to each dish separately instead of the whole pan. Then store toppings separately so that they don’t get soggy for leftovers.
- Time saver: store-bought dressing. Not in the mood to make homemade big mac sauce? Use thousand island dressing in a pinch instead.
More Burger Inspired Recipes
If you’ve made and loved these Big Mac Casserole or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and comments below!
Big Mac Casserole
This family-friendly fast food-inspired meal features cheesy seasoned meat and potatoes piled high with your favorite burger toppings and lightened up big mac sauce.
Ingredients
Casserole Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef or ground turkey/chicken
- 4 cups gold potatoes, skin on, washed and diced
- 2 bell peppers, diced, about 2 cups
- 1 sweet onion, small, diced, about 1 cup
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Big Mac Sauce Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, full fat or 2%
- 2 tbsp mayonnaise, more to taste
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1.5 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- pinch of salt, more to taste
- black pepper, to taste
Toppings
- iceberg or romaine lettuce, shredded
- tomatoes, diced
- dill pickles, diced or chips
- sweet onion, diced
- cheddar cheese , shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef to the pan, breaking up with a spatula or wooden spoon into pieces and cook for about 3-4 minutes.
- Add peppers, onions, garlic and potatoes to the pan. Add seasonings (garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt + pepper). Stir and cover. Cook covered for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove cover and stir. Cook for an additional 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until potatoes begin to brown and are softened.
- Turn off heat and stir in 1 cup cheese.
- Transfer veggie and meat mixture to a 9×9” baking dish lightly sprayed with oil (or keep in oven safe skillet). Top with remaining ½ cup cheese.
- Bake for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and golden brown. Cool slightly before serving.
- While the casserole bakes, make burger sauce. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to combine.
- Allow casserole to cool for 10 minutes and then top with shredded lettuce, diced onions, pickles, tomatoes, extra cheese if desired and a hearty drizzle of burger sauce. Note: Add toppings right before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 78mg | Sodium: 568mg | Potassium: 1122mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1673IU | Vitamin C: 84mg | Calcium: 262mg | Iron: 4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an estimate.
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