The Best Homemade Big Mac

This Homemade Big Mac is a total game-changer—stacked high with juicy beef patties (or turkey!), melty cheese, crisp lettuce, bacon, and a rich, tangy homemade special burger sauce that steals the show. It’s everything you love about the fast-food fave, made fresher, better, and right in your own kitchen. Gluten-free + Dairy-free Option.

There’s something nostalgic about a Big Mac—it's iconic, no doubt. It was literally a major part of my childhood visits to McDonald's. But if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably had one and thought, this could be way better. That’s exactly what inspired me to make The Best Homemade Big Mac—one that’s juicy, flavorful, and made with ingredients you actually feel good about.

I use seasoned ground beef for this version, but you can totally go with turkey if that’s more your style and for a healthier option. It’s layered with melty cheese, crisp lettuce, tangy pickles, candied bacon, and a homemade special sauce that pulls it all together. If you’re into making crave-worthy burgers at home, you’ve gotta try my Chipotle Turkey Smash Burger next!

What Is A Big Mac?

I mean, I think we all know what a Big Mac is—it’s that legendary double-decker burger from McDonald’s, stacked with two beef patties, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, and that signature special sauce, all tucked between a three-part sesame seed bun. It’s been around since the late 1960s and has basically become the blueprint for fast-food burgers everywhere.

How To Make The Best Homemade Big Mac

If you're going all out with the candied bacon or bacon jam (highly recommend!), go ahead and make that first so it has time to cool and crisp up. Then, shape and season your patties, sear them until perfectly golden, and whip up your homemade special sauce—it's what brings the whole thing to life.

From there, just layer everything up: bun, sauce, lettuce, pickles, patties, cheese, and of course, more sauce. Stack it high, take a big bite, and enjoy every juicy, flavorful moment.

Ingredients

BURGER:

• Ground beef. I use organic 85% lean ground beef or 94% lean ground turkey. You can also use Bubba's burger patties.
• The Best Burger Seasoning. See recipe here or scroll down to learn how to make it, it takes just 5 minutes.
• Worcestershire sauce. My favorite is from Annies.
• Extra virgin olive oil. For cooking. You can use regular butter too.
• Sesame buns. Warmed or toasted (Plus an additional 2 bottom buns for 3rd layer)
• American cheese. You can also use colby jack, etc.; You can also use dairy-free cheese.
• Onions. Finely sliced  (You can use white or yellow)
• Shredded lettuce. Or your fave greens.
• Candied bacon. Roughly chopped , optional. See candied bacon recipe or bacon jam here!
• Dill pickles.

How To Make Special Burger Sauce

SPECIAL BURGER SAUCE [DAIRY-FREE]:

• Vegan mayonnaise. Use any kind you like. (You can also use regular mayo if you prefer)
• Ketchup or BBQ sauce. You can use my homemade BBQ sauce recipe for a great taste.
• Sweet relish. You can also sub with bread & butter pickles, dill pickle relish, pickled onions, capers, or olives.
• Garlic clove. Minced.
• Dijon mustard. For that classic tangy flavor.
• White vinegar.
• Smoked paprika. For some smokiness.
• Dry dill.
• Black pepper + sea salt. To taste.

Voila! With just a handful of simple ingredients and a quick whisking session, you can create a rich and luscious sauce/dressing that's perfect for burgers, salads, sandwiches, and much more.

SHOP MY FAVORITE TOOLS FOR COOKING, ESPECIALLY FOR THIS BURGER!

Here, I've curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with The Best Homemade Big Mac recipe. Everything from my fave cast iron pans, dutch ovens, immersion hand-blender, mixing bowls, and more. SEE THEM HERE!

Why You Will LOVE This Homemade Big Mac

• Fresh ingredients that beat the original any day
• Juicy beef patties (or turkey, your call!)
• Homemade special sauce that’s a total upgrade
• Crispy, candied bacon for that extra flavor punch
• Boasts of a great dairy-free + gluten-free option.

What To Serve With The Best Homemade Big Mac

Although this Homemade Big Mac recipe is AMAZING all on its own. These additions really elevate this meal to the next level.

• Seasoned Crinkle Cut Fries
• Easy Loaded Corn Salad
• Roasted Cauliflower Green Goddess Salad
• Crispy Buffalo Popcorn Chicken
• Crispy Garlic Herb Smashed Potatoes
• Flaky Sweet Potato Biscuits
• Crispy Cajun Sweet Potato Fries

And y'all, we CANNOT forget about a refreshing beverage to go alongside. This Southern Peach Iced Tea or a Pink Lemonade goes alongside perfectly! For my mocktail lovers... see the 'mocktail category' of the site for more delicious drink inspo!

Are Turkey Patties Healthy?

Absolutely! Turkey is often seen as a healthier option compared to beef. It's lower in calories + saturated fat, which is great for heart health. Plus, it still packs a protein punch without the extra fat. So if you're looking to lighten up your meals, turkey is a tasty and nutritious choice!

Homemade Big Mac Recipe Q + A's

More Delicious Burgers + Sandwiches

If you're a fan of this Homemade Big Mac recipe, be sure to explore some of my other favorite recipes!

• BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich 
• Air Fryer Grilled Cheese
• Baked BBQ Chicken Grilled Cheese
• Everything Chicken Tomato Grilled Cheese
• Jerk Lobster Rolls
• BBQ Jerk Pulled Pork Sandwiches

MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?

If you tried this Best Homemade Big Mac recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram  and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!

The Best Homemade Big Mac

May 26, 2025 •

By Shanika

5 from 1 vote

This Homemade Big Mac is a total game-changer—stacked high with juicy turkey patties (or classic beef!), melty cheese, crisp lettuce, bacon, and a rich, tangy homemade special burger sauce that steals the show. It’s everything you love about the fast-food fave, made fresher, better, and right in your own kitchen. Gluten-free Option.

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Serves: 2 servings

Units:

US Customary|Metric

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Ingredients

BURGER:

• 1 lb. organic 85% lean ground beef (You can use also use ground turkey, if desired)
• 2 tsps The Best Burger Seasoning
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1-2 Tbsps Extra virgin olive oil, for cooking
• 2 sesame buns, warmed or toasted (Plus an additional 2 bottom buns for 3rd layer)
• 4 slices American cheese (You can also use colby jack, etc.; You can also use dairy-free cheese if desired)
• ½ cup finely sliced onions, optional (You can use white or yellow)
• ½ cup shredded lettuce or your fave greens (See FAQ for deets)
• ½ cup roughly chopped candied bacon, optional (You can also use Bacon Jam)
• dill pickles

SPECIAL BURGER SAUCE [DAIRY-FREE]:

• ½ cup vegan mayonnaise (You can use regular mayo; Can also try my In-N-Out sauce too)
• ¼ cup ketchup or BBQ sauce (You can use my homemade BBQ sauce recipe for a great taste)
• 2 Tbsps sweet relish (You can also sub with bread & butter pickles, dill pickle relish, pickled onions, capers, or olives)
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon dry dill
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• sea salt, to taste

Instructions

TO MAKE THE CANDIED BACON:

• Be sure to follow my candied bacon for this delicious topping and chop them!

TO MAKE THE BURGER PATTIES:

• Add the organic ground beef (or turkey), burger seasoning, and Worcestershire sauce to a large bowl, massaging everything together with your hands until well combined.
• Form the beef mixture into medium-sized patties with your hands, gently pressing down until semi-flat and perfectly round (about ½-inches thick), ensuring that everything sticks together well. Repeat until all patties are formed, about 4 in total.

SEAR THE BURGERS:

• Heat a medium-sized (oven safe) non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil just to coat the pan. Add formed patties, about 1 inch apart and cook on each side until golden brown and slightly charred, about 4-5 minutes (each side). Add a slice of cheese a top each patty and cover with a lid for 1-2 minutes until cheese has melted. NOTE: Using the spatula gently press the burger patties until slightly flatter, but still a good thickness. This adds a nice crispy, charred look/texture to the burgers as opposed to regular burgers.

BAKE THE BURGER PATTIES [OPTIONAL]:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• FOR WELL DONE: Remove from heat, top each patty with a slice of cheese and transfer skillet with burger patties into preheated oven and bake until patties are cooked through and juices run clear and cheese has melted, about 5-6 minutes. Remove from oven.

TO MAKE THE SPECIAL BURGER SAUCE:

• Add the vegan mayo, ketchup or BBQ sauce, sweet relish, dijon mustard, minced garlic, vinegar, smoked paprika, dill, black pepper, and salt into a bowl and whisk until everything becomes smooth and creamy.

ASSEMBLE BURGERS:

• To assemble, prepare 2 burger buns and top each bun with special burger sauce then shredded lettuce followed by: 1 burger patty (each), onions, dill pickles, and chopped candied bacon or bacon jam (if using). Then top with a bottom bun and repeat until done with the final topping being the top bun. Repeat for second burger!
• Serve with your favorite side----fries, sweet potato fries, salad, or whatever. 
• Bon Appetit!

Tips & Tricks

• STORAGE: Leftover cooked  burger patties can be stored for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. And if you're all about making your own burgers for months in advance, then you can freeze them for 3-4 months. Defrost by adding them to the refrigerator overnight and then reheating them in the oven until fully warmed/heated through.
• MAKE AHEAD: You can make your patties and plastic wrap them individually before placing them in a tightly sealed container and refrigerate them for up to 5 days. 
• TOPPINGS: You can always keep things traditional to the original Big Mac or add your favorite toppings as you please. See post for more options!
• GRILL OPTION: If you have a physical grill, you can always grill your patties instead of oven baking them on a grill pan---for a nicer char and flavor.

Nutrition

Calories: 609kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 57g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 1266mg | Potassium: 116mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 835IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 452mg | Iron: 1mg

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