High protein intake is essential whether you are losing weight or building muscles, and that’s why you may need to know what food has the most protein at McDonald’s that you can eat on the go.
The most protein-containing food items at McDonald’s are:
- Double Quarter Pounder® cheeseburger.
- Big Breakfast® with hotcakes.
- Deluxe crispy chicken sandwich.
- Chicken McNuggets®.
- Large-size strawberry, chocolate, vanilla shake, etc.
To help you with your fitness goals, we will explore what has the most protein at McDonald’s and how you can customize their food to make it suitable for your health gains.
Is McDonald’s a Good Source of Protein?
McDonald’s fast food menu features burgers, french fries, chicken sandwiches, and various breakfast items but doesn’t have any specialized protein food options.
However, this does not mean you cannot find food that contains a reasonable amount of protein at McDonald’s. On the contrary, you can get it with a bit of research and comparing nutrition summaries of products by visiting their website.
Nutritionists suggest implementing the 80/20 rule in your dietary patterns, such as consuming 80 percent of healthy and protein-rich food while being flexible with the remaining 20 percent.
High Protein Foods at McDonald’s
If you are looking for high-protein food at McDonald’s, you may get disappointed because they don’t have plenty of such options. However, you may find protein-rich items in their stores simultaneously higher on the calorie side.
Let’s explore the McDonald’s menu and extract some protein-rich items.
US adults’ recommended daily protein intake is 0.8g per kg of body weight, but active persons need more to support muscle growth and repair. At the same time, one gram of protein equals four calories.
1. High Protein Burgers at McDonald’s
McDonald’s has a wide range of burgers, so let’s dive into them and explore how enriching they are in protein.
Double Quarter Pounder® Cheeseburger
Double Quarter Pounder® cheeseburger is the most protein-rich burger at McDonald’s, which comes with two quarter-pound beef patties and cheese slices.
While on top of patties, this burger contains silver onions and pickles with no artificial preservatives or flavors.
Nutritional values: McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder® cheeseburger contains 740 calories, 42 grams of fat, 43 grams of carbs, and 48 grams of protein.
Ask the order taker at McDonald’s to skip the cheese slices if you want to reduce the fat portion.
Double Cheeseburger
McDonald’s double cheeseburger contains a lot of protein and comes with two 100% salt and black pepper seasoned beef patties.
Additionally, this burger consists of chopped onion, pickles, ketchup, mustard sauce, and two cheese slices.
Nutritional values: McDonald’s double cheeseburger has 450 calories, 24 grams of fat, 34 grams of carbs, and 25 grams of protein.
Quarter Pounder®* With Cheese Bacon Burger
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder® with cheese bacon burger consists of a quarter-pound high protein fresh Mc beef patty topped with deliciously juicy bacon.
Moreover, a cheese slice, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and spicy sauce, served on a sesame seed bun, add more value to this burger.
Nutritional values: McDonald’s Quarter Pounder® with cheese bacon burger contains 630 calories, 35 grams of fat, 43 grams of carbs, and 36 grams of protein.
Eliminate the bun if you are only looking for protein; however, this option may only be available at some McDonald’s locations.
2. High Protein Breakfast at McDonald’s
McDonald’s has protein-rich food items on its breakfast menu, so let’s discuss them individually and see what they offer.
Sausage McMuffin® With Egg
McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin® with egg is a balanced portion of calories, carbs, and proteins that features a slice of melty American cheese slice, a savory hot sausage, and a delicious freshly cracked egg on a freshly toasted English muffin.
Nutritional values: McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin® with egg has 480 calories, 31 grams of fat, 30 grams of carbs, and 20 grams of protein.
The egg in the McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin® is a source of natural and healthy protein.
Big Breakfast® With Hotcakes
If you are on a cheat day and want a heavy brunch, this McDonald’s Big Breakfast® with hotcakes is appropriate for you due to its protein-rich ingredients.
This meal satisfies sweet and savory flavors and comes with a warm biscuit, hot sausage, crispy hash browns, fluffy scrambled eggs, and golden brown hotcakes with a side of real butter.
Nutritional values: McDonald’s Big Breakfast® with hotcakes contains 1340 calories, 63 grams of fat, 158 grams of carbs, and 36 grams of protein.
Skipping the sugary items from McDonald’s Big Breakfast® with hotcakes will decrease a significant portion of calories.
Big Breakfast®
The McDonald’s Big Breakfast® is a high-protein classic brunch choice for those who want a satisfying meal that offers a delicious balance of sweet and spicy flavors.
The meal comprises several breakfast staples, including a warm biscuit, fluffy scrambled eggs, savory Mc sausage, and crispy golden hash browns.
Nutritional values: McDonald’s Big Breakfast® has 740 calories, 48 grams of fat, 57 grams of carbs, and 26 grams of protein.
3. High Protein Sandwiches at McDonald’s
Here are the most protein-rich and low-calorie sandwiches available at McDonald’s.
Deluxe Crispy Chicken Sandwich
The deluxe crispy chicken sandwich from McDonald’s is a tasty and high-protein option for those looking for a little extra with their sandwich toppings.
The sandwich encapsulates shredded lettuce, Roma tomatoes, and mayo, taking the already crispy, juicy, and tender chicken to the next level.
Nutritional values: deluxe crispy chicken sandwich contains 530 calories, 26 grams of fat, 27 grams of protein, and 48 grams of carbs.
Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich
McDonald’s spicy crispy chicken sandwich will never disappoint you if you are craving something southern-style with high protein.
This spicy and crispy sandwich comes with a fried chick fillet on a potato roll topped with spicy pepper sauce and crinkled cut pickles.
Nutritional values: McDonald’s spicy crispy chicken sandwich has 530 calories, 48 grams of carbs, 26 grams of fat, and 27 grams of protein.
4. High Protein Nuggets at McDonald’s
Finding protein-rich sides and snacks at McDonald’s is challenging; however, Chicken McNuggets® is the best option.
These nuggets are a well-known menu item at McDonald’s, known for their juicy, tender, and high protein bite-sized chicken coated in a crispy breading.
They can be ordered in different quantities to suit your needs and are often served with various dipping sauces to add extra flavor.
Nutritional values: Chicken McNuggets® (10 pieces) contains 420 calories, 25 grams of fat, 23 grams of protein, and 25 grams of carbs.
Ten-piece McNuggets are enough for an adult to maintain a healthy calorie-to-protein ratio.
5. High Protein Shakes at McDonald’s
McDonald’s shakes can be a good choice if you want something that won’t make you feel gluttony, along with a high protein intake.
Ask the order taker to minimize the quantity of sugar syrup to reduce the calorie count, but this doesn’t affect the proteins in the shake.
Large Vanilla Triple Thick Shake®
A large serving of McDonald’s Vanilla Triple Thick Shake® is a healthy source of protein which contains McCafe’s vanilla syrup and creamy vanilla soft serve topped with whipped light cream for a cool, tasty treat.
Nutritional values: McDonald’s large Vanilla Triple Thick Shake® has 17 grams of protein, 780 calories, 19 grams of fat, and 133 grams of carbs.
Large Chocolate Triple Thick Shake®
Chocolate shake is a sweet treat for protein lovers at McDonald’s, made with deliciously creamy milk and chocolate syrup and finished with a creamy whipped topping.
Nutritional values: McDonald’s large Chocolate Triple Thick Shake® has 800 calories, 18 grams of protein, 20 grams of fat, and 134 grams of carbs.
Large Strawberry Triple Thick Shake®
McDonald’s prepares its protein-rich Strawberry Triple Thick Shake® with creamy vanilla milk and strawberry syrup, topped with whipped cream.
Nutritional values: McDonald’s large Strawberry Triple Thick Shake® has 850 calories, 19 grams of protein, 143 grams of carbs, and 21 grams of fat.
Summary
In this article, we have discussed what has the most protein at McDonald’s and some tricks to make your meal less fatty.
We hope you can now find healthy and protein-rich food at fast food restaurants like McDonald’s and the way to customize them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does McDonald’s Have Sugar-Free Options?
Yes, McDonald’s has sugar-free food options for a person with diabetes, such as hash browns, scrambled eggs, salads, bacon burgers., etc.
Does McDonald’s Have a Keto Option?
Yes, McDonald’s does not have an official ketogenic (keto) menu item, but you can order items that fit within a keto diet, such as burgers without buns, salads with grilled chicken, and eggs with cheese.
