Big Mac Recipe

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Don’t go out for a Big Mac! Make your own with this new Big Mac recipe.

I’ve updated this Big Mac recipe. It wasn’t on my list of things to do but McDonald’s recently upscaled their burgers including their Big Mac recipes.

I guess they needed to do that as although McDonald’s is the biggest fast food chain, their burgers just weren’t up to what you can get these days at other places. I tried their new Big Mac and decided to make it better. No, this isn’t a copy… It’s just a Big Mac recipe you can make at home that is so much better than going out for one. 

About this Big Mac Recipe.

After trying the new McDonald’s Big Mac I was impressed. I do prefer other outlets when I go out for a burger but a lot of times it’s hit and miss. I’m sure you will know that the burgers shown in a lot of takeaway menus are nowhere near as good as they look.

With McDonald’s, at least you know what you’re getting. This is my attempt to take their new Big Mac and make it better. Hopefully, you will agree that I succeeded. 

What is new with the Big Mac?

From what I could see, a new softer brioche bun which is far better than the buns they used before. There is also more meat and the cheese is melted rather than just adding it cold.

I’m pretty sure there is more special sauce on there too but how much sauce you add is down to you. I like lots of sauce.

One last thing. They used to add their rehydrated chopped onions directly to the bottom and middle buns. Now the onions are added to the meat and then seared while  you cook the meat. 

Getting this homemade Big Mac right.

You could just try to copy a Big Mac but when you make your own, it can be so much better than the real thing.

Don’t just stick to the recipe used and the golden arches! Prepare this Big Mac as you want it. You can use the freshest lettuce and onion along with sourcing the best ground beef from a good butcher. 

The freshness of the ingredients you use is so important. That’s why I decided to use a 75% to 25% meat to fat ratio using chuck, skirt and a bit of brisket. There’s flavour in that fat! My butcher did well by me and you should can ask your butcher to do the same.

If you don’t have a good butcher nearby, just look for good quality, well aged beef and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed. 

About the special Big Mac sauce

When I was a kid, I worked at McDonald’s for two days. No, it just wasn’t for me.

I did want to know how to make a Big Mac at home though and I squirted some of the Big Mac sauce into a plastic container and took it home with me. There I went to work recreating it and you will find the following Big Mac sauce to be close but also better than the real thing!

Contrary to popular belief, the Big Mac special sauce does not have ketchup in it. The redish colouring if from paprika. That isn’t to say you can’t add ketchup which I often do. 

Special Ingredients in the Big Mac sauce

It wasn’t until I lived in the UK for a while that I realised most people here don’t have a clue what a dill pickle is. It’s a product everyone in the US is familiar with. The pickles are in a brine of water, vinegar, salt garlic and dill which gives the pickles, including McDonald’s pickles their famous flavour.

Chopped dill pickle is added to the Big Mac sauce but you could get away with using another hamburger pickle for your homemade Big Mac. There isn’t a lot of pickle in the sauce.

If you like, you could add about 1/4 tsp freshly chopped dill to get the sauce even closer. The pickles in the UK are most often sweet pickles. If you use them, just don’t add the sugar and it will still taste great. 

How do you make the Big Mac special sauce?

Following it a rough breakdown of the sauce recipe. You could also check out this Big Mac sauce page with step by step photos.

That’s easy! Mix 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon ketchup, optional and not used in the real thing, 1 teaspoon finely chopped dill pickle, 1 tablespoon finely chopped onion, 1/2 teaspoon French’s yellow mustard, 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Whisk it all together.

You will easily have enough for two homemade Big Macs. Go ahead and upscale the recipe to make more though if you want your homemade Big Mac to have even more sauce. This is something that is lacking in the real thing. Even the new version though they are a bit more generous with saucing up the new Big Mac.

Is it important to toast the Big Mac buns?

Yes! In fact McDonald’s tried to leave out this step for a while and it was a money saving flop.

For the ultimate homemade Big Mac, you need to butter and then toast those buns.

What other burgers do you have to try?

If you like this homemade Big Mac recipe, why not try my copycat In-n-Out Double Double burger? You might also enjoy this homemade smash burger or this copycat Whopper. I am in the process now of updating these recipes so that they are even better so be sure to bookmark and check back soon.

The homemade Big Mac in photos.

I hope you enjoy this homemade Big Mac recipe. I have a lot more on the way. If you do try it, please let me know in the comments. I would love to hear about your Big Mac adventure.