Big Mac Pasta Salad
Mac Pasta Salad is a hearty, protein-rich dish made with chickpea pasta, lean beef, crisp veggies, and a zesty yogurt-based dressing perfect for picnics, lunches, or casual dinners.
Calories:
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 1 lb 96% lean ground beef
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 8 oz dry chickpea pasta e.g., Banza
- 1 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 1 cup romaine lettuce chopped
- ⅓ cup red onion diced
- ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese 2%, 56g, shredded or cubed
- ⅓ cup dill pickles diced
For the Dressing
- ¾ cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt 170g
- ¼ cup light mayonnaise 60g
- 4 tbsp no-sugar-added ketchup 64g
- 1½ tbsp yellow mustard 20g
- 1½ tbsp dill pickle juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
Optional Garnish
- White sesame seeds
Instructions
- Cook beef in a skillet over medium heat until browned, drain if needed, season with Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, then let cool.
- Boil chickpea pasta until al dente, drain, rinse under cold water, and cool completely.
- Whisk Greek yogurt, light mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika until smooth.
- Mix cooled pasta, beef, tomatoes, red onion, cheddar, and pickles in a bowl, then toss with dressing.
- Fold in romaine just before serving and add sesame seeds if using.