Description
A homemade, copycat version of McDonald’s iconic Big Mac—layered with two thin beef patties, American cheese, shredded lettuce, pickles, onions, and a special sauce on toasted sesame buns.
Ingredients
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp French dressing
1 heaping tbsp sweet pickle relish
3 tsp dill pickle juice
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp dried minced onion
1 tsp ketchup
Dash of salt
2 lb lean ground beef (to form 12 patties)
Salt and pepper, to season
12 sesame seed hamburger buns (6 tops + 12 bottoms)
Butter, for toasting buns
Shredded lettuce
Dill pickle slices
Minced onion
12 slices American cheese
Instructions
- Whisk sauce ingredients (mayo, French dressing, relish, pickle juice, sugar, minced onion, ketchup, salt) in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate 8–24 hours.
- Divide beef into 12 portions and pat into thin patties (~¼ inch thick). Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook patties in a skillet over medium-high heat for 2–3 minutes per side until done. Place a slice of American cheese on each patty and cover briefly to melt.
- Butter the inside of each bun half, then toast on a griddle or skillet until golden and crisp.
- Assemble burger: bottom bun + sauce + minced onion + shredded lettuce + pickles + patties + cheese; middle bun (bottom bun again) + repeat sauce/onion/lettuce/pickle + second patty + cheese; top bun.
- Serve hot, ideally with fries or onion rings.
Notes
- Substitute cheddar or Colby Jack if American cheese isn’t available.
- Use ground turkey or chicken for a lighter option.
- Make slider-sized versions using smaller rolls and fewer layers.
- Vegan option: use plant‑based patties, dairy‑free cheese, and vegan mayo.
- Serve sauce chilled and patties freshly cooked to keep buns crisp.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 8–24 hours chilling for sauce)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes (patties & toasting buns)
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Pan‑frying & assembly
- Cuisine: American fast‑food style
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 burger
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 960mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
