Menu comparison · United States · October 23, 2026
McDonald’s Nutrition Comparison: 6 Items, Prices and Protein
A Quarter Pounder with Cheese has more protein than a Big Mac, while a McDouble and McChicken share the same calorie total but have different protein and sodium figures. Compare six familiar lunch choices below, then add the sides, sauces and drink you actually plan to order.
This comparison covers the McDouble, Quarter Pounder with Cheese, Big Mac, ten Chicken McNuggets, McChicken and Filet-O-Fish. Each is treated as one standard U.S. item. A sandwich is not a complete meal, and nuggets exclude dipping sauces.
Six McDonald’s Items Compared on the Same Nutrition Basis
Calories describe energy per standard serving. Protein, carbohydrates and fat are in grams; sodium is in milligrams. Comparing the same market and standard build avoids mixing U.S. figures with a different country’s recipe.
| Standard U.S. item | Calories | Protein (g) | Carbs (g) | Fat (g) | Sodium (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McDouble | 390 | 22 | 32 | 20 | 920 |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese | 520 | 30 | 42 | 26 | 1140 |
| Big Mac | 580 | 25 | 45 | 34 | 1060 |
| 10 Chicken McNuggets | 410 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 850 |
| McChicken | 390 | 14 | 38 | 21 | 560 |
| Filet-O-Fish | 380 | 16 | 38 | 19 | 580 |
The lowest calorie total among these six is the Filet-O-Fish at 380. The highest protein amount is the Quarter Pounder with Cheese at 30 grams. Those are separate findings. A single nutrient cannot establish the best overall choice for everyone.
The McDouble and McChicken both have 390 calories, yet the McDouble has 22 grams of protein compared with 14. The McDouble also has 920 milligrams of sodium compared with the McChicken’s 560. Equal calories therefore do not mean equal nutrition.
Price Comparison: Six Items at One Restaurant
The following are delivery-menu examples recorded October 22, 2026 for the McDonald’s at 4021 Lawrenceville Highway, Tucker, Georgia. They exclude separately applied tax, delivery fees and tips. They are not national averages, pickup quotes or a guarantee of what the restaurant charges today.
| Item | Delivery example price | Protein (g) | Protein per dollar |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDouble | $3.69 | 22 | 6.0 g |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese | $7.19 | 30 | 4.2 g |
| Big Mac | $7.29 | 25 | 3.4 g |
| 10 Chicken McNuggets | $7.49 | 23 | 3.1 g |
| McChicken | $3.09 | 14 | 4.5 g |
| Filet-O-Fish | $6.69 | 16 | 2.4 g |
Protein per dollar is calculated by dividing the standard item’s protein grams by its example price. In this one menu, the McDouble has the highest ratio among the six at about 6.1 grams per dollar. This is a comparison of these listed prices, rather than a claim about every restaurant or current app promotion.
A participating-restaurant McValue price can change the result. The McDouble and McChicken are advertised on the Under $3 value menu, with local terms and delivery exclusions. Keep that offer separate from the delivery examples here.
Protein per Portion and per 100 Calories
Total protein answers how much is in the named serving. Protein per 100 calories answers a different question: how concentrated that protein is relative to the serving’s calories. Divide protein grams by calories and multiply by 100.
| Item | Calories | Protein per serving | Protein per 100 calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDouble | 390 | 22 g | 5.6 g |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese | 520 | 30 g | 5.8 g |
| Big Mac | 580 | 25 g | 4.3 g |
| 10 Chicken McNuggets | 410 | 23 g | 5.6 g |
| McChicken | 390 | 14 g | 3.6 g |
| Filet-O-Fish | 380 | 16 g | 4.2 g |
The Quarter Pounder and ten nuggets are close on protein per 100 calories, even though the Quarter Pounder has seven more grams of protein in total. The nugget serving also starts with 110 fewer calories. Sauce changes that comparison, so keep the serving conditions attached to the number.
These ratios are calculations from rounded reference values. They are useful for comparing the stated items, but they do not measure ingredient quality, fullness or what a particular person should eat.
Big Mac vs Quarter Pounder with Cheese: More than a Size Question
The Big Mac has 580 calories and 25 grams of protein. The Quarter Pounder with Cheese has 520 calories and 30 grams. In their standard builds, the Quarter Pounder has 60 fewer calories and five more grams of protein.
Sodium goes in the other direction: the Quarter Pounder is listed at 1,140 milligrams, compared with 1,060 for the Big Mac. The larger protein figure does not make it the lower-sodium choice. Compare the nutrient that matters to your decision rather than transferring one result to the whole sandwich.
The recipes also differ. A Big Mac uses its signature sauce, lettuce and a bun with a middle layer. The Quarter Pounder uses one larger beef patty, two cheese slices, ketchup, mustard, pickles and onions. Its quarter-pound description refers to the patty before cooking. Our burger menu comparison explains the builds.
The owner’s personal burger preference
The site owner has shared that they tried the Quarter Pounder with Cheese during a McDonald’s visit and liked it. That is a personal preference, rather than a nutrition verdict or a claim that every item here was personally taste-tested.
McDouble vs McChicken: Same Calories, Different Trade-offs
The 390-calorie total can make these sandwiches look interchangeable in a quick menu scan. Their ingredients and nutrition show why that comparison needs another step. The McDouble is a two-patty beef burger with one cheese slice; the McChicken is a breaded chicken sandwich with lettuce and mayonnaise.
The McDouble supplies eight more grams of protein and 360 more milligrams of sodium in the standard reference. Its carbohydrate total is six grams lower. Choosing between them should account for the recipe you want, the local price and those specific differences.
For the burger’s cheese portions, meal offer and customization questions, use the McDouble guide. Removing an ingredient needs matching data; the standard numbers here should not be presented as the exact values for a customized order.
Ten McNuggets vs Filet-O-Fish: Count the Sauce Correctly
Ten nuggets have 410 calories and 23 grams of protein before dipping sauces. The Filet-O-Fish has 380 calories and 16 grams of protein in its complete standard sandwich, which already includes tartar sauce, its bun and cheese.
That distinction prevents a common calculation error. Do not add tartar sauce again to the fish sandwich’s standard total, and do not assume the nugget total already includes the cups you select.
One 45-calorie Tangy Barbeque sauce brings ten nuggets to 455 calories. Two 110-calorie Creamy Ranch servings bring them to 630. The protein figure is not a reason to leave the sauce out of the calorie calculation. Our ten-piece nugget guide covers the box, meal and sauce options separately.
How Fries and Drinks Change the Comparison
Add the actual side and beverage to the entrée. The following examples use published standard portions, with the Coca-Cola reference explicitly labeled as a small no-ice serving. They are arithmetic examples, not a claim that a restaurant sells each combination as a named bundle.
| Order example | Calories before addition | Added portion | Calculated total |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDouble + small fries | 390 | 230-calorie small fries | 620 |
| Quarter Pounder + medium fries | 520 | 320-calorie medium fries | 840 |
| 10 nuggets + Tangy Barbeque | 410 | One 45-calorie sauce serving | 455 |
| 10 nuggets + two Creamy Ranch | 410 | Two 110-calorie sauce servings | 630 |
| McChicken + small Coca-Cola | 390 | 200-calorie small no-ice Coke reference | 590 |
A different ice fill, drink size, recipe or country can have a different beverage value. Keep a published meal’s stated configuration together rather than replacing one component with a number from another listing.
Replacing a sweetened drink with an unsweetened one can change calories and sugars, while the burger, nuggets or fries still contribute their own sodium and fat. An order should be compared as a whole. The drinks guide separates plain soda, tea, black coffee and prepared specialty drinks.
Choose by the Question You Are Trying to Answer
- Most protein in one of these six standard items: Quarter Pounder with Cheese, 30 grams.
- Fewest calories among these six: Filet-O-Fish, 380, before any sides or drink.
- Lowest sodium among these six: McChicken, 560 milligrams.
- Most protein per dollar in the stated delivery example: McDouble, about 6.1 grams per dollar.
- A sauce-led beef sandwich: Big Mac, chosen for its recipe rather than a claim that it leads the nutrition columns.
Each conclusion has a defined comparison set. None establishes the cheapest, lowest-sodium or most suitable order across the full McDonald’s menu. The broader nutrition reference includes breakfast, sides and other standard items.
Ingredients and Allergens Need Their Own Check
Nutrition totals do not establish whether an item is suitable for a food allergy. Beef, chicken and fish products use different ingredients, and allergens can be present in buns, breading, cheese, sauces or other components.
Ten standard U.S. nuggets contain wheat in their coating. A Filet-O-Fish contains fish, and its other components introduce further ingredient considerations. Removing a visible ingredient does not guarantee protection from cross-contact in shared preparation areas.
Use current ingredient information for the exact item and ask the restaurant about preparation for an allergy-related order. This article compares published menu figures; it does not provide an individual medical or dietary assessment.
McDonald’s Nutrition Comparison: Five FAQs
Which of these six McDonald’s items has the most protein?
The standard Quarter Pounder with Cheese has the most total protein in this comparison, at 30 grams. Ten nuggets have 23 grams before dipping sauces, and the McDouble has 22 grams.
Are the McDouble and McChicken nutritionally the same?
No. Both are listed at 390 calories, but the McDouble has 22 grams of protein and 920 milligrams of sodium, while the McChicken has 14 grams and 560 milligrams. Their recipes and other nutrients also differ.
Does the nugget calorie number include sauce?
The 410-calorie ten-piece nugget figure excludes dipping sauces. One Tangy Barbeque serving adds 45 calories; two Creamy Ranch servings add 220. Count the actual cups you order.
Which item has the most protein per dollar?
At the one Tucker delivery menu recorded for this comparison, the $3.69 McDouble provides about 6.1 grams of protein per dollar. That is a local, dated calculation, not a nationwide ranking; offers and local prices change the result.
Can I use these figures for a customized meal?
The figures describe standard U.S. servings. Ingredient changes, different sides, drink sizes and sauces need matching data. Count the complete order and do not treat the standard item value as a measured custom meal.
McDonald’s Nutrition Comparison: Make the Final Check Local
Start with a named item and standard portion, compare the nutrients directly, and then add the sides, drink and sauces. Use the actual restaurant’s price and available offer before judging value.
For the wider menu, return to the McDonald’s nutrition guide, check current deal conditions, or browse more menu comparison articles. A useful comparison keeps the food, serving and price context attached to every number.