Big Mac Pickle Boats (Low-Carb)
Published Aug 11, 2024 Updated Aug 27, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
My Low-Carb Big Mac Pickle Boats offer all the flavors of a Big Mac without the carbs! These crunchy dill pickles are filled with savory beef, onions, and a high-protein special sauce, making them a perfect keto-friendly snack or quick meal. These are gluten-free and can be tailored to be dairy-free.
Table of Contents
What Makes This Recipe Great
If you love a juicy Big Mac from McDonald’s but hate the calories, you are going to love my Big Mac Pickle Boats. By using pickles instead of bread, this recipe becomes a low-carb and keto-friendly option, making it accessible to those following specific dietary restrictions while still satisfying cravings for a classic burger flavor.
These stuffed pickles are a quick and easy to prepare, making it a great option for a weeknight meal, snack, or appetizer. It requires minimal cooking and assembly time, so you can have it ready in no time.
If you’re a fan of this recipe, you will love my Big Mac Casserole and my High Protein Big Mac Sauce.
Ingredient Notes
- dill pickle halves: I used Claussen
- ground beef: feel free to sub ground turkey
- high protein big mac sauce: My homemade sauce is high protein and uses cottage cheese. To make dairy-free, use mayo or dairy-free yogurt of choice.
- sweet onion
- chopped pickles
- worcestershire sauce
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- ground mustard
- olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- shredded cheddar cheese (optional): sub dairy-free if desired
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1
Make the high protein big mac sauce by adding everything to a blender and blending until smooth.
Step 2
In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it into crumbles. Drain any excess fat. Add ½ cup diced onions, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce, ½ cup big mac sauce, and salt/pepper to the skillet with the cooked beef. Mix until combined
Step 2
Hollow each pickle halve out using a small spoon or a melon baller, making sure to leave the walls intact. Set the hollowed pickles aside. Stuff each hollowed pickle with the beef mixture, pressing it down to fill the entire cavity. Top with diced pickles, diced onions, (optional shredded cheese), and drizzle with high protein big mac sauce.
Pickle Boats
Expert Tips
- Choose the Right Pickles:
- Size: Use large, firm pickles for stuffing. Smaller pickles are harder to hollow out, and overly soft pickles may not hold up well.
- Type: Dill pickles work best due to their firm texture and robust flavor.
- Save the inside of the pickles you remove from the pickle halves and use it in the high protein special sauce.
- Dry the Inside: After hollowing, use a paper towel to gently pat the inside of the pickle dry. This will help the stuffing adhere better and prevent it from becoming too watery.
Serving & Storage Tips
Storage: It’s important to store the the hollowed pickles, ground beef and big mac sauce separate. By storing each component separately, you ensure that everything stays fresh and maintains its ideal texture until you’re ready to enjoy.
Serve: When you’re ready to serve, simply heat up the ground beef mixture in the microwave or skillet and assemble the pickle boats by stuffing with the ground beef mixture, shredded cheese (optional), and drizzling the special sauce on top. Garnish with sesame seeds and any other desired toppings just before serving.
Recipe FAQs
You can make this recipe dairy-free. I use cottage cheese in the high protein big mac sauce, but you can sub mayo or even your favorite dairy-free yogurt. If you are using shredded cheese on top, use dairy-free instead of regular.
More Yummy Recipes
Follow on Instagram
If you love this recipe, please give it a star rating and leave a comment below! Follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram for more!
Big Mac Pickle Boats
Ingredients
Pickle Boats
- 7-8 large dill pickle halves
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion finely diced (divided)
- 1/4 cup chopped pickles
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground mustard
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ⅓ cup shredded cheddar cheese optional (can sub dairy-free)
- 1 cup High Protein Big Mac Sauce
Instructions
- Make the high protein big mac sauce in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef, breaking it into crumbles. Drain any excess fat. Add ½ cup diced onions, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, Worcestershire sauce, ½ cup big mac sauce, and salt/pepper to the skillet with the cooked beef. Mix until combined.
- Hollow each pickle halve out using a small spoon or a melon baller, making sure to leave the walls intact. Set the hollowed pickles aside. Stuff each hollowed pickle with the beef mixture, pressing it down to fill the entire cavity. Top with diced pickles, diced onions, (optional shredded cheese), and drizzle with high protein big mac sauce
Notes
Expert Tips
Choose the Right Pickles: Use large, firm pickles for stuffing. Smaller pickles are harder to hollow out, and overly soft pickles may not hold up well. Dill pickles also work best due to their firm texture and robust flavor. Dry the Inside: After hollowing, use a paper towel to pat the inside of the pickle dry gently. This will help the stuffing adhere better and prevent it from becoming too watery.Serving & Storage Tips
Storage: It’s important to separate the hollowed pickles, ground beef, and Big Mac sauce. By storing each component separately, you ensure everything stays fresh and maintains its ideal texture until you’re ready to enjoy. Serve: When you’re ready to serve, simply heat the ground beef mixture in the microwave or skillet and assemble the pickle boats by stuffing with the ground beef mixture, shredded cheese (optional), and drizzling the special sauce on top. Garnish with sesame seeds and any other desired toppings just before serving. Dairy-Free: You can make this recipe dairy-free. I use cottage cheese in the high-protein Big Mac sauce, but you can sub mayo or even your favorite dairy-free yogurt. If you are using shredded cheese on top, use dairy-free instead of regular.Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
