Lightened Up Big Mac Sloppy Joes
This fun twist on the classic sandwich has perfectly seasoned sloppy Joe meat, assembled on a hamburger bun, and topped with a copycat Big Mac sauce. The results are restaurant-worthy homemade sloppy joes. Comforting, classic and no drive-thru needed.
Get ready to say goodbye to fast food and hello to your new favorite recipe: a lighter version of the famous Bic Mac burger….sloppy Joe style.
If you’ve had my well-known and beloved Big Mac Casserole, you already know these homemade sloppy joes will deliver with the same great flavors of the McDonald’s Big Mac, in a healthier, Oh Snap Macros way.
If you want more weeknight winners, check out Big Mac Pizza with a high protein crust, Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes and Ground Chicken Sloppy Joes.
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- Only 400 calories per burger.
- 29g of protein per burger.
- The whole family will love this fun take on the Big Mac.
Ingredients and Substitutes:
These are the main ingredients and substitutions for these Big Mac Sloppy Joes. See the recipe card below for the full ingredients list and instructions:
- Ground Beef: you can also use ground turkey or chicken. Or skip the sloppy part and top with frozen burgers in the air fryer for Big Macs at home.
- American Cheese: any preferred cheese works for this recipe.
- Buns: I like using Brioche buns since they’re typically lower in calories but any buns work.
Variations
- You can use any ground meat but ground beef gives the best results for the classic Big Mac taste. I suggest adding extra seasoning if you use lean ground turkey.
- Not feeling sloppy joes? Try my Big Mac wraps!
Dietary Modifications
- To make gluten-free use arrowroot powder to thicken and gluten-free buns.
- To make dairy-free use a dairy-free mayonnaise and cheese or omit the cheese.
- To lower the fat: omit the cheese or choose a reduced-fat variation.
- To lower the carbs: use a low-carb ketchup and/or buns or try my Big Mac Bowls.
How to make Big Mac sloppy Joe’s (a visual step-by-step guide):
Step 1: make the sloppy joe filling
Spray a large frying pan or skillet over medium heat with nonstick spray. Add the diced onions and meat (image 1).
Brown the ground beef, breaking until pieces until cooked through, approximately 4-5 minutes (image 2).
Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and stir to combine (image 3). Add the mustard and stir to combine.
Add the Worcestershire and ¼ cup beef broth. Stir together well to coat and simmer the sloppy joe mixture for 2-3 minutes (image 4).
Add the cornstarch to the remaining ¼ cup broth and add to the sloppy Joe meat. Stir and let simmer for 5 minutes to thicken.
Step 2: make your burger sauce
Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles, and pickle juice in a small bowl (image 5).
Stir to fully combine and set aside (image 6).
Step 3: assemble and broil
To assemble, turn the oven to broil. Place the bottom buns on a baking sheet and top with 1 tbsp. Sauce (image 7). Top the sauce with shredded lettuce (image 8). Top the lettuce with ½ cup meat, 103g (image 9). Top with one slice of cheese and broil until the cheese has melted (image 10).
Expert Tip!
Make a double batch .. you’re going to want it for putting on Big Mac Burger Bowls!
Recipe FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in the microwave or stove top. To meal prep, keep everything separate and when ready to enjoy, reheat the meat and assemble.
Nothing goes better with a burger than French fries and extra homemade Big Mac sauce on the side!
Check out some of our other delicious recipes!
If you make this recipe, please leave a rating and/or comment! Tag me on Instagram @ohsnapmacros, I love hearing from you!
Big Mac Sloppy Joes
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Ingredients
Big Mac Sloppy Joes
- 1/2 yellow onion chopped
- 1 lbs. lean ground beef 96/4
- 1 tsp. yellow mustard
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- fresh cracked black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup beef broth split
- 1 tsp. corn starch mixed with 1/4 cup broth
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 5 slices American Cheese
- 5 Brioche hamburger buns
Big Mac Sauce
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise 60g
- 1/4 cup ketchup 60g
- 1/4 cup dill pickles finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp. dill pickle juice
Instructions
- Spray a large skillet over medium heat with nonstick spray. Add the onions and meat and cook breaking until pieces until cooked through, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper and stir to coat the meat. Add the mustard and stir to combine. Add the Worcestershire and ¼ cup beef broth. Stir together and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the cornstarch to the remaining ¼ cup broth and add to the meat. Stir and let simmer for 5 minutes to thicken.
- While the sauce thickens make the Big Mac sauce. Combine the mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles and pickle juice in a small bowl.
- To assemble, turn the oven to broil. Place the bottom buns on a baking sheet and top the with 1 tbsp. Sauce (16g), shredded iceberg lettuce, ½ cup meat mixture (103g), a slice of American cheese. Place in the oven and broil until the cheese has melted. Put an additional 1 tbsp. (16g) sauce on the top bun, pickles (optional) and place the top bun on top of the burger and enjoy!
- Optional: broil your buns before assembling for a nice crispy bun.
Notes
- Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary with substitutions.
- Ground beef gives the most authentic Big Mac flavor. You can use ground chicken or turkey, if needed, adding burger seasoning to add flavor.
- Serving size includes bun, cheese, 103g of meat and 32g of sauce.
My husband was highly skeptical when I told him I was making these. He loved them so much he ate two. So easy and so much healthier. Thanks for another winner, Danielle!
Winnnn!!! Haha, thank you!
Wow! This burger is going on my monthly meal plan rotation. The dill sauce is fantastic. Thank you for sharing this!
My 9-year-old son requests Big Mac Casserole often, so when I saw this recipe, I was sure he would love it too. He said, “this is better than an actual Big Mac!” I agree! Easy and delicious.
My husband and I LOVE these! Bonus that they are so quick and easy.
One thing is that it would be really helpful to have the macros for each component (i.e, unassembled portion) or at least the macros without the bun.
What brand of bun did you use?
This recipe is delicious. I have also made it into quesadillas because we had no buns in the house and it was also amazing. Definitely in the regular rotation. Husband and kids approved.
Yum!!!!
So good!
Do the macros you have listed include the slice of cheese on top and the bun?
Yup! One burger with everything.
My family absolutely loved this recipe! I loved how quick and easy it was and tasted like a delicious Big Mac. My daughter said it’s the best!
Yay!! Thank you!