I grew up on drive thru burgers and a lot of chaos at dinner time. This casserole hits the same crave point, yet it fits into High Protein Recipes and my week. The pan goes in the oven, the house smells like a diner, and we eat well. You get the comfort of a classic burger plate, only simpler. It checks the boxes for High Protein Meals and Macro Friendly Meals. The meat stays juicy, the cheese melts, the pickles pop. I toss in a quick sauce that wakes up every bite. I cook this on repeat for Protein Packed Recipes that feel fun. It slides into Healthy High Protein Recipes when you want real food that still helps. Friends who lift call it one of their Muscle Building Recipes. I call it dinner that works with Macro Balanced Recipes and a busy life.
Table of Contents
- 1 Key Takeaways
- 2 Easy Big Mac Style Beef Casserole Recipe
- 3 Ingredients for Big Mac Style Beef Casserole
- 4 How to Make Big Mac Style Beef Casserole
- 5 Tips for Making Big Mac Style Beef Casserole
- 6 Making Big Mac Style Beef Casserole Ahead of Time
- 7 Storing Leftover Big Mac Style Beef Casserole
- 8 Try these Main Course next
- 9 Big Mac Style Beef Casserole
- 10 Nutrition
1 Key Takeaways
I write this as Lila from Lila Cooks at https://www.lilacooks.com and I cook this casserole on busy nights. The pan lands on the rack. The kitchen smells like a burger shop. The table gets quiet for a minute.
You get tender beef with a light custard that holds. Pickles brighten each bite. A mellow cheddar ties it together. The dish stacks as a reliable entry in High Protein Recipes and it feels like comfort that fits your plan.
The mix sets fast. The sauce stirs in one bowl. Cleanup stays easy. The flavor hits that classic burger zone without a bun. I serve crisp lettuce and tomato on the side for crunch and color. Leftovers pack well.
2 Easy Big Mac Style Beef Casserole Recipe
I love High Protein Recipes and I keep High Protein Recipes simple. This bake fits a busy night with real food and no stress. Meat browns. Sauce stirs. Eggs and yogurt turn smooth. The oven does the rest and the house smells great.
The base feels like a diner plate you grew up with. Lean beef brings strong flavor and keeps a nice bite. Greek yogurt adds cream without fuss. A quick sauce carries ketchup mustard and brine from the pickle jar for spark.
If you want speed this dish wins. The steps run short and tight. One skillet and one baking dish keep the counter clear. I plate it with shredded lettuce and diced tomato for that burger vibe. Kids dig it. Grown ups do too.
3 Ingredients for Big Mac Style Beef Casserole
Extra lean ground beef I use a pound for rich flavor and solid protein. Browning builds fond that tastes like a flat top burger and sets the base for a sauce that clings.
Onion A small diced onion softens in the pan and rounds the beef. It brings sweetness that plays well with the sharp notes in the sauce and the salt in the cheese.
Garlic Two minced cloves warm the mix. The scent tells everyone dinner nears. It lifts the beef and ties the spice to the dairy so the bite stays balanced.
Kosher salt and black pepper Season the meat in the pan for better control. A light hand lets the pickles and cheese speak. Taste and adjust at the end.
Smoked paprika A pinch adds a gentle char note. It suggests grill without extra gear. The color also looks nice when you slice the casserole for serving.
Ketchup and yellow mustard These two bring classic burger flavor. I whisk them with light mayo and a spoon of pickle brine for a sauce that wakes up every forkful.
Light mayonnaise and pickle brine Mayo adds body while the brine brightens the sauce. The combo coats the beef and keeps the bake juicy from edge to center.
Diced dill pickles Crunch meets tang. I fold half into the beef and save half for the top. Each bite gets a pop that keeps the rich parts lively.
Reduced fat shredded cheddar A modest cup melts into the crevices. The cheese binds without heavy weight and helps the edges brown for that cozy look.
Eggs Greek yogurt and low fat milk These blend into a smooth custard. It sets the beef like a soft quilt. The texture stays tender and slices clean.
Cornstarch A spoon or two gives the custard gentle hold. It keeps the slice neat in the lunch box and makes reheats feel like day one.
Shredded lettuce tomato and green onions I add these at the table. The cool crunch plays against the warm slice. The plate looks bright and fresh.
Sesame seeds A sprinkle on top nods to a classic burger bun. It adds light texture and a subtle nutty note that fits the cheesy beef base.
4 How to Make Big Mac Style Beef Casserole
Step one Heat the oven to three hundred seventy five and spray a large baking dish. This gives the custard room to set and helps the edges brown without sticking to the pan.
Step two Brown the beef in a wide skillet over medium heat. Break it into small pieces for even cooking. Drain if needed then add onion and cook until soft. Stir in garlic for one minute.
Step three Season the pan with salt pepper and smoked paprika. Whisk ketchup mustard light mayo and pickle brine in a bowl. Fold half the pickles into the beef and stir in half the sauce.
Step four Spread the beef in the dish. Sprinkle half the cheese over the top. Blend eggs Greek yogurt milk and cornstarch until smooth then pour over the meat. Tap the dish to settle.
Step five Bake until the center sets and a knife slides out clean. Start checking at twenty minutes. Add the rest of the cheese and bake two minutes more. Rest five minutes then finish with remaining pickles.
5 Tips for Making Big Mac Style Beef Casserole
Use a wide skillet so the beef browns not steams. Color adds flavor and keeps the texture meaty. This step builds a base that tastes like the burger you want without a bun.
Keep the custard smooth by blending the eggs yogurt milk and cornstarch well. Small lumps melt in the oven, yet a smooth mix sets more even and gives neat slices for meal prep boxes.
Plate with fresh lettuce and tomato for crunch. That contrast makes each serving feel complete. For a protein dinner twist add a fried egg on a warm square and call it brunch that fits your plan.
6 Making Big Mac Style Beef Casserole Ahead of Time
I bake this the night before a long workday. The pan chills overnight. Slices stack in containers with the sauce on the side. The texture stays tender and the flavor keeps its zip.
For a protein rich cooking plan you can brown the beef and stir the sauce the day before. Store both in the fridge. Blend the custard fresh before baking so the rise stays light and the crumb stays soft.
For a macro friendly weeknight dinner path bake early in the week and portion four or five squares. Add your favorite greens at the table. Lunch stays bright and never soggy.
7 Storing Leftover Big Mac Style Beef Casserole
Cool the pan on a rack until warm then cut into neat squares. Pack each square in a tight container. Keep the fresh toppings in a small cup so the crunch holds for days.
Reheat slices in a low oven or a skillet on gentle heat. The cheese loosens and the custard softens again. Add pickles at the end so they keep their snap and bright flavor.
For high protein meal plan flow label the boxes with dates. The dish keeps well for three days. It still tastes like a healthy cheeseburger bake and it stays kind to your schedule.
8 Try these Main Course next
9 Big Mac Style Beef Casserole
Big Mac Style Beef Casserole High Protein Recipes
Ingredients
- One pound extra lean ground beef
- One small onion diced
- Two cloves garlic minced
- One teaspoon kosher salt
- Half teaspoon black pepper
- One teaspoon smoked paprika
- Two tablespoons ketchup
- One tablespoon yellow mustard
- Two tablespoons light mayonnaise
- One tablespoon pickle brine
- One cup diced dill pickles divided
- One cup reduced fat shredded cheddar
- Four large eggs
- Three quarters cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
- Three quarters cup low fat milk
- Two tablespoons cornstarch
- Two cups shredded iceberg lettuce for serving
- One medium tomato diced for serving
- Two green onions sliced for serving
- Sesame seeds for topping optional
- Nonstick spray
Instructions
- Heat the oven to three hundred seventy five degrees and coat a nine inch by thirteen inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Warm a large skillet over medium heat. Add the beef and break it up. Cook until the color turns brown and the edges crisp a little. Drain if needed.
- Stir in onion and cook until soft. Add garlic and stir one minute. Season with salt pepper and smoked paprika.
- Whisk ketchup mustard light mayonnaise and pickle brine in a bowl. Fold half of the diced pickles into the beef. Spoon in half of the sauce and stir.
- Spread the beef in the baking dish and sprinkle half of the cheese over the meat.
- Blend eggs Greek yogurt milk and cornstarch until smooth. Pour this over the beef. Tap the dish on the counter to settle the custard.
- Bake on the center rack until the top sets and the edges puff. Start checking at twenty minutes and pull when a center knife comes out clean.
- Top with the rest of the cheese and bake two minutes to melt.
- Rest for five minutes. Cut into twelve squares. Finish with the remaining pickles sesame seeds and the last of the sauce.
- Serve with lettuce tomato and green onions for that burger plate vibe.
10 Nutrition
Serving size one of twelve. Calories around two hundred forty. Protein near twenty five grams. Carbs near nine grams. Fat near eleven grams. Sodium moderate with mindful sauce use. Numbers shift with your brands and your cheese choice.
For High Protein Recipes tracking I weigh each slice after the rest period. I log toppings on their own. This keeps the numbers clean and helps me hit targets without losing the fun burger feel at dinner.
Lila from Lila Cooks shares more ideas on the site at https://www.lilacooks.com where High Protein Recipes live next to easy sides and crisp salads. Cook what helps. Eat what tastes good. Repeat when the week gets loud.
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