Name: Big Mac Sloppy Joes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds ground beef (, (85/15)); 1/2 yellow onion (, finely chopped); 1/4 cup hamburger pickles (, chopped); 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon coarse ground pepper; 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce; 1 cup mayonnaise; 1/4 cup French dressing; 2 tablespoons sweet relish; 1 tablespoon ketchup; 1 teaspoon white vinegar; 1/4 teaspoon onion powder; 1/8 teaspoon salt; 8 hamburger buns (, (with seeds)); 2 cups iceberg lettuce (, shredded); 12 hamburger pickle chips; 4 slices American cheese; Additional sauce (, optional)

Big Mac Sloppy Joes are a delicious one pan meal with a McDonald’s Big Mac Secret Sauce Copycat made in 30 minutes. You’ll never need the drive-thru again.
Classic Sloppy Joes are so popular on this site that there are over 35 versions of Sloppy Joe Recipes you all have enjoyed. Just when you might think there can’t possibly be another way to enjoy Sloppy Joes, here is another recipe to add to the collection!

Big Mac Sloppy Joes

BIG MAC SLOPPY JOES (W/ SECRET SAUCE)

Big Macs are a nostalgic memory, but you might not often find yourself going through the drive-thru. You can enjoy classic restaurant flavors at home with the ability to control the salt and quality of the ingredients. This is part of the reason why Copycat Recipes receive so much love on the site, you get to enjoy the flavors of eating out without any of the actual going to fast food restaurants.

This Sloppy Joe makes good use of the McDonald’s Big Mac Sauce (Copycat) recipe. You can use it to re-create the beloved Big Mac, but if you’re cooking at home you don’t really need the convenience of a portable burger. You can enjoy all the same flavors with saucy ground beef, which might be messier to eat, but so worth it for the cheesy saucy goodness.

Big Mac Sloppy Joes Collage of prep steps

Most Sloppy Joe recipes taste great on a crusty brioche bun, but given the copycat feel of this recipe a sesame seed bun would be the right way to go. You could absolutely serve this as a single layer sandwich, just like most other Sloppy Joes. However, if you really want an authentic Big Mac experience with these Big Mac Sloppy Joes, you won’t regret making it a true double decker sandwich.

MORE DELICIOUS SLOPPY JOES RECIPES:

Big Mac Sloppy Joes Ingredients Pan

HOW TO MAKE BIG MAC SLOPPY JOES:

Brown your ground beef halfway in your large skillet then add in the chopped onions, salt and pepper.
Cook the beef until fully browned then add in the chopped pickles and stir.
Add in the McDonald’s Copycat Big Mac Sauce and stir well.
Cook 1 additional minute then serve on sesame hamburger bun following this stacking order: From the bottom up:
1. Bun bottom
2. Secret Sauce
3. Lettuce
4. American Cheese
5. Meat
6. Bun Bottom
7. Secret Sauce
8. Lettuce
9. Pickles
10. Meat
11. Bun Top

Big Mac Sloppy Joes on wooden plate

EASY SECRET SAUCE SHORTCUTS:

You can swap out Thousand Island Dressing instead of the secret sauce – add in additional mayonnaise to make it creamier (about ¼ cup).
Use mayonnaise and ketchup (½ and 1/2)
Use Fry Sauce or other secret sauces available at supermarkets.

MORE KID FAVORITE RECIPES:

HOW TO MAKE MCDONALDS SECRET BIG MAC SAUCE:

1 cup mayonnaise
¼ cup French dressing
2 tablespoons sweet relish
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon white vinegar
¼ teaspoon onion powder
⅛ teaspoon salt

Mix ingredients well.
Refrigerate for 24 hours before using for best (and most authentic) taste.

Big Mac Sloppy Joes being stacked on plate with fries

SELECTING GROUND BEEF FOR SLOPPY JOES:

85/15 ground beef will taste best in this recipe (and is recommended for all sloppy joe recipes) because it is just the right fat percentage to provide enough moisture and fat to cook the onions without leaving too much grease in the pan that you need to drain it.
If you’re using a fattier ground beef, be sure to drain any excess fat before adding in your sauce or the sauce will be oily and break.
If you prefer to go leaner you can do that, too. You can also swap in ground chicken or ground turkey for the ground beef.

HOW TO STORE BIG MAC SLOPPY JOES:

Serve: You can keep the meat at room temperature for up to 2 hours.
Store: Store leftovers in a refrigerator for up to three days in a sealed airtight container.
Freeze: Allow to cool completely and freeze in air-tight container for up to 3 months.

Big Mac Sloppy Joes on plate with fries