Description
Recreating McDonald’s big mac recipe at home offers a nostalgic culinary journey through classic American fast-food flavors. Signature special sauce, perfectly layered beef patties, and crisp lettuce bring restaurant-quality satisfaction right to kitchen tables.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 2 pounds 80/20 ground beef
- 8 slices American cheese
Buns and Bread:
- 8 hamburger buns
- Additional bottom buns for the middle bun
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tablespoon butter, split in half
Condiments and Toppings:
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 4 tablespoons pickle relish, drained
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 1/4 cup yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 white onion, diced
- Dill pickle chips
- Shredded iceberg lettuce
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, split in half
Instructions
- Craft a zesty spread by blending mayonnaise, relish, ketchup, sugar, and vinegar in a small mixing bowl until smooth and well-combined. Reserve the mixture for later use.
- Divide ground beef into 8 equal portions, approximately 3.5 ounces each. Gently shape the meat into thin, circular patties without overworking the protein. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Prepare the buns by lightly brushing their interior surfaces with butter. Place a skillet over medium heat and toast the buns butter-side down until edges turn golden and crisp, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Heat a skillet with a combination of butter and vegetable oil over medium-high temperature. Cook patties in batches, adding a thin layer of mustard on the raw side. Sear for 2-3 minutes until a rich brown crust develops. Flip and place a slice of American cheese on half the patties. Cook an additional minute to melt the cheese.
- Construct the burger by layering the bottom bun with spread, crisp lettuce, diced onions, a cooked patty, and melted cheese. Position the middle bun, then repeat with spread, lettuce, onions, pickles, and the second patty. Crown with the top bun and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- Customize the spread by adjusting sugar and vinegar levels to match your taste preference.
- For leaner options, swap ground beef with turkey or plant-based meat alternatives.
- Use a kitchen scale for precise patty portions to ensure consistent cooking and uniform burger size.
- Prevent overworking meat by gently shaping patties with minimal handling to maintain tenderness.
- Achieve restaurant-style golden buns by using clarified butter or ghee for better browning.
- Create crispy cheese edges by letting cheese slightly overlap the patty during melting.
- Enhance flavor depth by adding a pinch of smoked paprika or garlic powder to the meat seasoning.
- Prepare spread ahead of time and refrigerate for deeper flavor melding.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 590
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1000 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg