The iconic McDonald's Big Mac with two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun — built at home, no drive-thru needed.
mcdonalds · fast-food · burger · main-dish
🕑Prep15 min
🍳Cook10 min
⏱Total25 min
🍽Serves2
⭐DifficultyEasy
Ingredients
1/2 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
2 sesame seed hamburger buns, plus 1 extra bun for the middle layer
4 slices American cheese
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
1/4 cup finely diced white onion
8-10 dill pickle slices
1/4 cup Big Mac sauce (see below)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
1.Make the Big Mac sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, mustard, white vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Refrigerate while you cook the burgers.
2.Form the patties. Divide the ground beef into 4 equal balls (about 2 ounces each). Smash each ball flat between parchment paper to about 4 inches wide and very thin. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
3.Cook the patties. Heat a large skillet or griddle over high heat. Cook the patties for 2 minutes per side until well-browned with crispy edges. Place a slice of American cheese on each patty in the last 30 seconds.
4.Toast the buns. While the patties cook, slice the extra bun in half and discard one side — you only need the flat middle piece. Toast all bun pieces cut-side down in the pan or under the broiler until golden.
5.Build the Big Mac. For each burger: spread sauce on the bottom bun, add lettuce, onion, pickles, and one cheese-topped patty. Add the middle bun piece, more sauce, lettuce, onion, pickles, and the second cheese-topped patty. Top with the sesame seed crown.
6.Wrap and serve. Wrap each Big Mac in parchment paper or foil for 1-2 minutes. This steams the bun slightly and melts everything together, mimicking the wrapped-and-held texture of a real Big Mac.
The Big Mac needs no introduction. Two thin beef patties, that tangy-sweet special sauce, shredded lettuce, American cheese, pickles, diced onions, and the three-piece bun with the mysterious middle layer. It’s been America’s burger since 1968, and there’s a reason it’s endured — the ratio of sauce to meat to crunch is nearly perfect.
The key to a homemade Big Mac isn’t fancy ingredients — it’s thin patties and the right assembly order. McDonald’s patties are intentionally thin so they cook fast and get crispy edges. And the bun-patty-bun-patty architecture creates those distinct layers that make every bite hit differently.
Big Mac Assembly Secrets
Thin patties are essential. Big Mac patties are about 1/8 inch thick. If your patties are too thick, you lose the signature ratio. Smash them aggressively between parchment paper.
Shredded lettuce, not leaf. The fine shred distributes evenly across each layer. Leaf lettuce gives you lettuce-heavy bites and lettuce-free bites. McDonald’s uses shredded for a reason.
The wrap-and-rest step matters. Wrapping the finished Big Mac for 1-2 minutes lets the steam soften the bun and meld the flavors together. It’s the difference between a homemade burger and a fast-food burger in the best way.
The Real Cost of a Big Mac
A Big Mac costs $5.50-7.00 depending on location. This recipe makes two Big Macs for about $6 total in ingredients. Same food, double the quantity, roughly the same price — minus the convenience factor.
McDonald's Big Mac
The iconic McDonald's Big Mac with two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun — built at home, no drive-thru needed.
Easy
Prep: 15 min
Cook: 10 min
Total: 25 min2 servings
~$4.50/serving
Prep15 min
Cook10 min
Total25 min
Servings
2
At home~$4.50/serving
vs
Restaurant~$20.25/serving
You save ~78%
Ingredients
Instructions
💡
Pro tip: This recipe tastes even better the next day. The flavors need time to meld together in the fridge.
❄️
Storage: Keeps in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Freezer-friendly for up to 3 months.
~350-550 cal/serving · Rich & Indulgent🔥
CopycatSpices
McDonald's Big Mac
The iconic McDonald's Big Mac with two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun — built at home, no drive-thru needed.
mcdonalds · fast-food · burger · main-dish
🕑Prep15 min
🍳Cook10 min
⏱Total25 min
🍽Serves2
⭐DifficultyEasy
Ingredients
1/2 pound ground beef (80/20 blend)
2 sesame seed hamburger buns, plus 1 extra bun for the middle layer
4 slices American cheese
1 cup shredded iceberg lettuce
1/4 cup finely diced white onion
8-10 dill pickle slices
1/4 cup Big Mac sauce (see below)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
1/2 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Instructions
1.Make the Big Mac sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, mustard, white vinegar, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Refrigerate while you cook the burgers.
2.Form the patties. Divide the ground beef into 4 equal balls (about 2 ounces each). Smash each ball flat between parchment paper to about 4 inches wide and very thin. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
3.Cook the patties. Heat a large skillet or griddle over high heat. Cook the patties for 2 minutes per side until well-browned with crispy edges. Place a slice of American cheese on each patty in the last 30 seconds.
4.Toast the buns. While the patties cook, slice the extra bun in half and discard one side — you only need the flat middle piece. Toast all bun pieces cut-side down in the pan or under the broiler until golden.
5.Build the Big Mac. For each burger: spread sauce on the bottom bun, add lettuce, onion, pickles, and one cheese-topped patty. Add the middle bun piece, more sauce, lettuce, onion, pickles, and the second cheese-topped patty. Top with the sesame seed crown.
6.Wrap and serve. Wrap each Big Mac in parchment paper or foil for 1-2 minutes. This steams the bun slightly and melts everything together, mimicking the wrapped-and-held texture of a real Big Mac.
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (2 servings)
Calories600
Total Fat35g
Total Carbs40g
Dietary Fiber3g
Sugars8g
Protein30g
Sodium1000mg
* Estimated values based on standard recipe preparation. Actual values may vary.
🥗
Make It Healthier
Love McDonald's Big Mac but want a lighter version? Try these simple swaps:
✓Use leaner ground beef (90/10 or higher).
✓Reduce or omit the middle bun for fewer carbs and calories.
✓Swap American cheese for a lower-fat cheese option.
✓Increase lettuce and onion for more fiber and nutrients.
Equipment You'll Need
Large cast iron skillet or griddle
For smashing and searing thin burger patties at high heat
Metal spatula
For pressing and flipping the thin smash-style patties
Parchment paper
For smashing patties flat and wrapping finished burgers
Jane Smith founded Copycat Spices with a passion for recreating beloved restaurant dishes at home. A seasoned home cook, Jane meticulously tests and refines each recipe to ensure authentic flavors and straightforward instructions for home chefs of all skill levels.
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