Big Mac Club Sandwich
Layers upon layers of goodness are stacked up in this crazy big mac club sandwich. One of the best burgers collides with one of the best sandwiches for this magical mash-up of flavors and textures! Thin burger patties make this whole sandwich possible, so it isnt too huge, and you can really taste the big mac and club sandwich flavors mingling together with each bite.
The inspiration for this recipe
I am not sure if it is just me but I think the club sandwich is making a comeback. It was one of my faves when I was younger and I always ordered it if it was on a menu! I feel like it went away for a while, and now suddenly I have been seeing it more and more. On the other side of this equation, a big mac has always secretly been a club sandwich. The middle bun is what solidifies this fact. When I started brainstorming fun club sandwich ideas, this one came to me immediately!
Make the burgers the right size
I always stress the fact that if you are making a burger with a unique bn shape or size you need to measure and make sure the patty will fit the bun. Since this is a rectangular burger it qualifies for bun measuring. Make the measurements about 1/2 inch bigger on all sides to account for the burger shrinking on the grill.
Cook the burgers
First I cooked the bacon. That way I could toast the bread in a mixture of butter and bacon fat. After the bread is toasted, add the burgers. When they are ready to flip, add the cheese. I like American cheese on a burger but you can use whatever you want! American fits the big mac profile, while cheddar might be more common on a club sandwich.
Build the big mac club sandwich
You can use store bought thousand island or Russian dressing as the special sauce, or you can make your own! I like this recipe. Top with some minced onion, then the burger, then bacon, pickles, and lettuce.
Continue with the second half of the big mc club sandwich. The middle bread with sauce on both sides of course, then more onion, the burger, bacon, tomato, lettuce, and the top bread!
Slice the big mac club sandwich
Put the traditional toothpicks in. Then slice it into 4 quarters. Press down as you slice the big mac club sandwich. The pressure combined with the toothpicks will help you slice cleanly, but do not press too hard so the juices run out!
Serving the big mac club sandwich
Typically you would serve a club sandwich with chips or fries in the center, and this big mac version is no different. For me, I just wanted to dig in when I made it. I had no time for fries!
The flavors of this were amazing! Right in between a club and a big mac in my opinion. The textures though was where it really shined. It’s all about toasting the bread perfectly.
Twists on this recipe
You could make some tweaks like cheddar instead of American, or only putting bacon on one of the layers instead of both. Overall though, this was well balanced and quite tasty!
I love a good Big Mac and I have made some fun recipes with that flavor profile like these deviled eggs, or this stuffing!
Big Mac Club Sandwich
Ingredients
- 4 slices bacon
- 6 slices sourdough sandwich bread
- 1 pound ground beef
- salt and pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 slices American cheese
- 1/2 cup thousand island or Russian dressing
- 1/4 cup minced onions
- 12 thin pickle chips
- 4 leaves red leaf lettuce
- 1 tomato sliced thin
Instructions
- Cook the bacon on a griddle, large cast iron pan, or non stick frying pan over medium high heat until crispy. Remove from heat to a plate lined with paper towels.
- While the bacon cooks, place a slice of bread on a piece of parchment paper. Draw an outline of the bread with a sharpie or pen, about 1/2 inch larger than the bread on all sides. Split the beef into 4 equal portions. Flip the parchment over, and use your outline as a guide for shaping the burgers. Make 4 burger patties, and season well with salt and pepper.
- Add 1 tablespoon of the butter to the bacon fat in the pan and add in 3 of the slices of bread, or as many slices as can fit in your pan. Cook to toast on both sides. Add the remaining butter and repeat with the remaining bread.
- Add the burgers to the pan when the bread is done. Cook about 3 – 5 minutes on the first side until the juices are collecting on top. Flip the burgers and top with the cheese. Cook another 3 minutes until cooked to your desired doneness.
- Place two slices of bread on plates or a cutting board. Top with some dressing, then minced onions. Top with a burger, then add on a slice of bacon, broken in half so it has full coverage on the sandwich. Next add pickle slices, then lettuce.
- Add dressing to both sides of the middle bread slice and add it on the pile next. Then top with onion, the next burger, bacon, tomato, lettuce, and then finally the top slice of bread with more dressing on it.
- Put 4 toothpicks into the sandwich. Slice into quarters and serve.