When you’re craving a burger, this easy Whole30 Big Mac Burger Casserole delivers all the familiar flavors—seasoned ground beef, pickles, shredded lettuce, tomato, and that tangy special sauce—without the bun. It’s a quick, family-friendly dinner for busy weeknights.
Try this healthy Burger Casserole with everything but the bun!
Sometimes you just need a burger, but you want a healthier, sit-down meal. This Big Mac–inspired casserole captures the flavors of a classic burger without the drive-thru. It’s an accessible option for families and makes weeknight dinners easy.
The casserole is simple and fast to prepare. It includes the meat and all the usual burger toppings, plus a homemade special sauce for that familiar tang. To stretch the dish and keep it satisfying without being heavy, roasted sweet potatoes are added. They bulk up the casserole and provide a pleasant balance to the savory beef and crisp toppings.
For toppings I stick to the classic combination: shredded iceberg lettuce, diced white onion, sesame seeds, and chopped tomatoes—everything you want from a Big Mac except the bun and slice of processed cheese. The special sauce brings the creaminess and tang; if you prefer, sprinkle grated cheddar over the casserole before baking.
How to make Big Mac Burger Casserole:
Step 1 & 2 – Prepare the special sauce by combining the sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
Step 3 & 4 – Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Peel and dice the sweet potatoes into small 1 cm cubes, place them in a large casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
Step 5 – Dice the onion, bell peppers, pickles, and tomatoes.
Step 6 – In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the diced onion and ground beef until the onion is translucent and the beef is browned, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Add the spices for the final minute and drain any excess fat.
Step 7 & 8 – Stir about 1/2 cup of the special sauce into the beef mixture, reserving some for topping.
Step 9 & 10 – Combine the beef and sauce with the pre-roasted sweet potatoes and the chopped vegetables in the casserole dish. Add sesame seeds and mix to distribute ingredients evenly. Cover with foil and bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender.
Remove from the oven and top with shredded lettuce, extra diced onion, tomatoes, sesame seeds, and the reserved special sauce. This casserole recreates the essence of a burger—rich beef, crisp toppings, pickles, and tangy sauce—while being easy to serve and share.
Tips:
- Dice the sweet potato into small 1 cm cubes so they cook through in the allotted time.
- The special sauce benefits from the flavor of dill pickle relish, though it can alter the sauce’s appearance.
- If you’re not following Paleo or Whole30, shredded cheese makes a tasty addition—sprinkle before baking.
- Regular potatoes can be used instead of sweet potatoes if preferred.
Big Mac Burger Casserole
Whenever you’re craving a burger, this easy Whole30 Big Mac Burger Casserole will do the trick. It captures the flavors of a burger—ground beef, pickles, lettuce, tomato, and special sauce—without the bun.
Main Course
American
big mac burger casserole, burger casserole recipe, healthy burger casserole
Ingredients
Special sauce
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup (paleo-friendly if desired)
- 1 tablespoon coconut aminos
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup or honey
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle relish (optional)
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- Pinch crushed red pepper
- Pinch salt
Casserole
- 2 medium sweet potatoes
- 1 white onion
- 1 green bell pepper
- 1 red bell pepper
- ¾ cup dill pickles (about 3 large pickles)
- 2 large tomatoes
- 1 lb (about 500 g) lean ground beef
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cumin
- 1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
Toppings
- Shredded iceberg lettuce
- More diced white onion
- Additional sesame seeds
- Chopped tomatoes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Peel and dice the sweet potatoes into small 1 cm cubes. Place them in a large casserole dish and bake for 30 minutes while you prep the other ingredients.
- Make the special sauce by mixing all sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
- Dice the onion, bell peppers, pickles, and tomatoes.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the diced onion with the ground beef until the onion is translucent and the beef is browned. Add the spices for the last minute and drain excess fat if needed. Stir in about ½ cup of the special sauce, reserving some for topping.
- Combine the beef mixture with the pre-roasted sweet potatoes and chopped vegetables in the casserole dish. Add sesame seeds, spread evenly, cover with foil, and bake for another 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
- Remove from the oven and top with shredded lettuce, extra diced onion, tomatoes, sesame seeds, and additional special sauce. Serve warm.
Recipe Notes
- Cut sweet potatoes into small 1 cm cubes so they cook fully in the allotted time.
- The special sauce tastes best with dill pickle relish, though it can affect color and appearance.
- If not following Paleo or Whole30, feel free to add shredded cheese before baking.
- Regular potatoes can be substituted for sweet potatoes if preferred.
If you make this Burger Casserole, please rate the recipe and share how it turned out in the comments—I love hearing from readers!
More casserole dishes you will love:
- Mexican Quinoa Casserole
- Eggplant Ricotta Casserole
- Quinoa Casserole with feta & sun-dried tomatoes