The McChicken is a popular crispy chicken sandwich at McDonald’s that consists of a battered, breaded, and fried chicken patty with shredded lettuce, and mayonnaise, nestled between two toasted buns.
Originally introduced in 1980, the McChicken weighs 143 grams and has 410 calories, which makes it the lowest-calorie option on the chicken sandwich menu category, and also an ideal choice for dieters and weight watchers.
Made with a blend of seasoned white and dark chicken meat, McChicken patties also include other ingredients such as wheat flour, chicken skin, toasted wheat crumbs, water, and vegetable oil among others to make it crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Just the way you want it to be.
The best fast-food items usually come in at under 500 calories even when paired with a side and a drink. So the McChicken sandwich might fit the bill.
As long as you combine it with the right things, you can enjoy a full meal that includes the crispy chicken sandwich, your choice of side, and a drink, all for 600 calories or fewer.
Although the FDA says that 400 calories per item is a lot, the McChicken is the leanest chicken sandwich you’ll find on the McDonald’s menu. And while 400 calories isn’t bad for breakfast or lunch, what may make this an unhealthy choice is the amount of refined carbs it has, which will cause blood glucose levels to fluctuate and can cause weight gain, and diseases such as diabetes.
As per the FDA, “having calorie and other nutrition information available has the potential to save and improve lives.”
So with that said, below are the nutrition facts for one of McDonald’s most popular menu items. This way you’ll be able to make good choices that you won’t regret later.
McChicken Calories and Nutrition
The McChicken has 410 calories, 22 grams of fat, 39 grams of carbs, and 15 grams of protein. Breaking it down into percentages of total calories, 48% are from fat, 38 percent are from carbs, and 14 percent are from protein.
See the table below for more information.
| McChicken Nutrition | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 410 |
| Calories From Fat | 190 |
| Total Fat | 22g |
| Saturated Fat | 4g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 45mg |
| Sodium | 590mg |
| Carbohydrates | 39g |
| Fiber | 2g |
| Sugars | 5g |
| Protein | 15g |
You can make it more healthy and even keto-friendly by eating it plain. No bun, no mayo, and no cheese.
Calories in a McChicken without Bun and Mayo
A plain McChicken without the bun only has 160 calories, 9 grams of fat, 10 grams of carbs, and 9 grams of protein.
But if you just lose the bun and keep the mayo, the sandwich will now contain 210 calories, 14 grams of fat, 14 grams of fat, and 10 grams of protein.
Allergens
The McChicken contains the following known allergens:
- Egg
- Wheat
Allergen and Ingredient Information via: McDonalds.
