McDonald's all started with Dick and Mac Mcdonald who moved to California to seek opportunities they thought were unavailable in New England. In 1948 they introduced their Speedee Service System featuring 15 cent hamburgers. It was so successful that the brothers began franchising their concept. Although McDonald's was well known for its burgers and fries, in 2015 they launched all-day breakfast, while that was suspended in many locations during the pandemic, we have seen it return in some. Today the menu offers 17 items, some of which are certainly healthier than others. Below are the best and worst options from the entire breakfast menu to help you choose wisely the next time you visit McDonald's. Plus, don't miss!
16
Big Breakfast with Hotcakes
Per order: 1,340 Calories, 64 g fat (25 g saturated fat), 2,090 mg sodium, 155 g carbs (6 g fiber, 48 g sugar), 35 g protein
This breakfast option includes a warm biscuit, savory hot sausage, scrambled eggs, crispy hash browns, and golden brown hotcakes with a side of butter and syrup. It provides 123 percent the daily recommended maximum of saturated fat, 91 percent of the daily recommended maximum of sodium, and 56 percent the daily recommended amount of carbs. And let's not forget it contains 67 percent the calories for the average American (based on 2,000).
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15
Hot Cakes and Sausage
Per order: 780 Calories, 33 g fat (13 g saturated fat), 880 mg sodium, 103 g carbs (2 g fiber, 45 g sugar), 16 g protein
This breakfast order comes with three hotcakes with a side of butter and syrup, plus a savory hot sausage. The carbs in this bad boy are equivalent to close to 7 slices of bread. In addition, it contains 64 percent the recommended daily maximum of artery-clogging saturated fat and 37 percent the daily recommended maximum of sodium.
14
Big Breakfast
Per order: 750 Calories, 49 g fat (18 g saturated fat), 1,490 mg sodium, 53 g carbs (3 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 25 g protein
This option comes with a warm biscuit, scrambled eggs, savory hot sausage, and hash browns. The contribution of all these ingredients makes this meal provide 90 percent of the recommended daily amount of artery-clogging saturated fat. If you have a history of heart disease, have high cholesterol, or trying to minimize your risk, certainly skip this breakfast item.
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13
Hotcakes
Per order: 590 Calories, 15 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 600 mg sodium, 102 g carbs (2 g fiber, 45 g sugar), 9 g protein
This McDonald's breakfast menu item comes with three hotcakes and a side of butter and syrup. Imagine instead of hotcakes you had 7 slices of bread piled on your plate—because that is how many carbs are on that plate!
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12
Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McGriddles
Per sandwich: 550 Calories, 32 g fat (13 g saturated fat), 1,290 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (2 g fiber, 15 g sugar), 20 g protein
This sandwich has sausage, egg, and American cheese in between two warm griddle cakes. It provides 65 percent of the recommended daily maximum of saturated fat and over 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Although you do get a healthy dose of protein, the overconsumed nutrients (saturated fat and sodium) outweigh the healthy nutrients making this option a not very healthy one.
11
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Bagel
Per sandwich: 550 Calories, 25 g fat (11 g saturated fat), 1,270 mg sodium, 54 g carbs (4 g fiber, 7 g sugar), 26 g protein
Applewood smoked bacon, an egg, and two slices of American cheese sit on top of this toasted bagel with butter. It has a similar amount of calories as Burger King's Bacon King Jr which also has only 2 grams more saturated fat than this breakfast item.
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10
Sausage Biscuit with Egg
Per sandwich: 530 Calories, 34 g fat (15 g saturated fat), 1,140 mg sodium, 38 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 17 g protein
With an enormous 34 grams of fat and half a day's worth of sodium in one small breakfast sandwich, the 17 grams of protein you'd get by ordering this meal aren't worth it.
9
Sausage McMuffin with Egg
Per sandwich: 480 Calories, 30 g fat (12 g saturated fat), 830 mg sodium, 30 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 17 g protein
McDonald's cooks brush the biscuit in this breakfast option with butter and top it off with hot sausage and egg. There are certainly better options that offer whole grains, fewer calories, and fewer grams of artery-clogging saturated fat and sodium.
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8
Hash Browns
Per order: 150 Calories, 9 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 320 mg sodium, 16 g carbs (1 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 1 g protein
Although this McDonald's breakfast menu is made of potatoes, don't let that fool you. Because the restaurant deep-fries them, these fried hashbrowns on their own are not a good option. Adding them to any option will just add unnecessary calories as most of the options on the menu already have a ton of sodium and saturated fat.
7
Sausage McGriddles
Per sandwich: 430 Calories, 24 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 990 mg sodium, 42 g carbs (1 g fiber, 15 g sugar), 11 g protein
Soft, warm, sweet griddle cakes sandwich a hot sausage patty in this menu item. The saturated fat and sodium are on the higher side. If you do choose this option, make it a once-in-a-while choice.
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6
Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles
Per sandwich: 420 Calories, 18 g fat (8 g saturated fat), 1,240 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (2 g fiber, 15 g sugar), 18 g protein
This sandwich is with warm griddle cakes with the sweet taste of maple topped with thick-cut Applewood smoked bacon, an egg, and a slice of American cheese. It's certainly not the worst choice on the menu, but it shouldn't be a regular item ordered off the menu given the amount of sodium, saturated fat, and sugar it contains.
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5
Sausage McMuffin
Per sandwich: 400 Calories, 25 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 760 mg sodium, 29 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 14 g protein
A savory hot sausage, a slice of melted American cheese, a toasted English muffin, and a perfectly cooked egg makes a great breakfast. Pair with a cup of coffee with a splash of milk (not a fancy cup of Joe!) for a reasonable breakfast.
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4
Sausage Burrito
Per burrito: 300 Calories, 16 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 780 mg sodium, 26 g carbs (1 g fiber, 2 g sugar), 13 g protein
This portion-controlled soft tortilla is filled with a scrambled egg, sausage, melted cheese, green chiles, and onions. It does contain 33 percent of the daily recommended maximum of sodium, so if that is of concern opt for the top two best choices listed.
3
Egg McMuffin
Per sandwich: 300 Calories, 12 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 760 mg sodium, 30 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 17 g protein
This breakfast sandwich is made with a Grade A egg on a toasted English muffin topped with real butter, plus lean Canadian bacon and American cheese. It has the lowest amount of saturated fat of all breakfast items, except the Sausage Burrito—both contain 30 percent of the daily recommended maximum.
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2
Fruit & Maple Oatmeal
Per serving: 310 Calories, 4 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 140 mg sodium, 62 g carbs (5 g fiber, 33 g sugar), 6 g protein
You'll get two full servings of whole-grain oats in this warm bowl of oatmeal. It also contains red and green apples, cranberries, and two varieties of raisins. This breakfast option has two healthy food groups, specifically fruit and whole grains that most Americans don't get enough of. You can order it with or without brown sugar.
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1
Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait
Per parfait: 210 Calories, 3 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 75 mg sodium, 40 g carbs (1 g fiber, 28 g sugar), 6 g protein
This parfait is made with low-fat creamy vanilla yogurt, layers of blueberries and strawberries, and a crunchy granola topping. You'll be getting three food groups in for breakfast for a very reasonable amount of calories. It's also the only breakfast menu option that has a reasonable amount of sodium! While this item was discontinued during the pandemic, we hope it comes back eventually.
Read more about the best and worst at McDonald's:
The Worst Menu Items McDonald's Employees Would Never Eat Themselves
The Best Secret Menu Options at McDonald's
McDonald's Just Confirmed It's Not Bringing Back This Beloved Menu Item
FAQs
McDonald's Entire Breakfast Menu—Ranked For Nutrition!? ›
In terms of a balanced meal, the Egg McMuffin might be one of the best options. At 310 calories, it has 17 grams of protein, 30 grams of carbohydrates, and 13 grams of fat.
What is the healthiest breakfast item at McDonald's? ›In terms of a balanced meal, the Egg McMuffin might be one of the best options. At 310 calories, it has 17 grams of protein, 30 grams of carbohydrates, and 13 grams of fat.
Which McDonald's breakfast has the least amount of calories? ›The bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, is the lowest-calorie breakfast sandwich at McDonald's, which has 290 calories. The other breakfast sandwiches at McDonald's range in calories, from the Sausage Biscuit with 350 calories to the Double Sausage McMuffin with 460 calories.
What is the highest protein breakfast item from McDonald's? ›With 21g of protein, the Sausage McMuffin with Egg is the breakfast options with the most protein at McDonald's. While it contains almost 500 calories, if you're looking for the most protein, this is certainly a decent option.
Is a McMuffin better for you than a biscuit? ›The Best: The McDonald's Egg McMuffin® has 300 calories, 5 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of fiber, 18 grams of protein and 820 mg sodium. This basic breakfast sandwich has fewer calories and less saturated fat than any of the McDonald's options with sausage, bacon or served on biscuits or McGriddles®.
Is Taco Bell breakfast healthier than McDonald's? ›McDonalds possesses more caloric, fattier meals than Taco Bell in general. Image by author. As one can see, the calories from fat, cholesterol, trans fats, and saturated fats are generally higher for a McDonalds meal.
Are egg McMuffins real eggs? ›We use a freshly cracked, Grade A egg for our famous Egg McMuffin® sandwich. It gets its iconic round shape when we cook it on the grill with an 'egg ring. ' And that's just the start of your favorite morning sandwich!
Are egg Mcmuffins unhealthy? ›An Egg McMuffin is definitely better than something like a donut, Cording says. “It does provide a good balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates,” she points out. “When you compare it to something sweet and carby like a donut or muffin, you're getting more nutritional value.”
Which is healthier Egg McMuffin or Sausage McMuffin? ›The healthiest option out of the two is the Egg McMuffin. It contains 290 calories, 12g of fat, 8g of saturated fat, 770mg of sodium, and 18g of protein, while the sausage McMuffin features 460 calories, 25g of fat,10g of saturated fat, 950mg of sodium, and 14g of protein.
Is Big breakfast at McDonald's healthy? ›Big Breakfast
The contribution of all these ingredients makes this meal provide 90 percent of the recommended daily amount of artery-clogging saturated fat. If you have a history of heart disease, have high cholesterol, or trying to minimize your risk, certainly skip this breakfast item.
How much protein in McDonald's Big Breakfast with Hotcakes? ›
McDonald's Big Breakfast with hotcakes (1 order) contains 156.8g total carbs, 150.9g net carbs, 66g fat, 35.1g protein, and 1350 calories.
Does Mcdonalds sell healthy breakfast? ›The healthiest McDonald's breakfast option is their Simple Range which provides a range of healthier meals for those looking for lighter options. This range includes classics such as Sausage & Egg McMuffin with fewer than 300 calories and a grilled chicken & egg wrap with under 350 calories.
How many calories in a big breakfast with Hotcakes? ›There are 1,340 calories in McDonald's Big Breakfast with Hotcakes.
Which breakfast sandwich is healthier? ›For the healthiest choice, skip the sausage to cut down on sodium, opt for a lighter bread choice to save calories (choose an English muffin, wrap or toast over a bagel, croissant, pancake or biscuit) and go for the whole-grain option whenever available for added fiber.
Is it OK to eat an Egg McMuffin everyday? ›Fastfood is not dangerous. Fast-food can be eaten once a week and as long as your other meals are healthy you should be fine. Convenience is not the same as good healthy cooked food which fills you up.
Are English Mcmuffins healthy? ›An English muffin isn't healthy on its own as it does not provide a balanced meal by itself, but it can still be part of a healthy diet. English muffins can be rich in fiber and several important nutrients, such as selenium, manganese, and B vitamins.
What is the unhealthiest menu item at McDonald's? ›- Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese.
- Big Breakfast with Hotcakes.
- Caramel Frappé
- McFlurry with M&M's.
- Quarter Pounder With Cheese Bacon.
- Large Fries.
- Hotcakes Breakfast.
- Chocolate Shake.
- Chipotle. jejim/Shutterstock. ...
- MOD Pizza. A pizza joint may not seem like a healthy fast-food option initially, but it's all about the toppings. ...
- Starbucks. Nils Versemann / Shutterstock. ...
- Jason's Deli. ...
- Panera Bread. ...
- Cava. ...
- Chick-fil-A.
A pork sausage patty, lightly seasoned with herbs, a free range egg and a slice of cheese, in a hot, toasted English muffin. Perfect.
What is the least unhealthy thing at McDonald's? ›- Fruit & Maple Oatmeal.
- Hamburger.
- Southwest Grilled Chicken Salad.
- Bacon Ranch Grilled Chicken Salad.
- Egg McMuffin.
- Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich.
- Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait.
What can a diabetic eat for breakfast at McDonald's? ›
Opt for menu items with lower carbs and watch those calories. For example, a good choice for breakfast could be an Egg McMuffin, with 30 g carbohydrates and 300 calories. A sausage McMuffin comes with 29 g carbs and 400 calories. Leave off the cheese, and you decrease your carb intake and save yourself 50 calories.
What chemicals are in egg Mcmuffins? ›That's in addition to water, yeast, and two percent or less of the following: salt, calcium sulfate, calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, rice flour, barley malt, artificial/natural flavors, dough conditioners, calcium propionate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), and (more) soy lecithin.
Why is the McGriddle so good? ›"The reason pancake bread is so successful in the bacon, egg, and cheese McGriddle as well as the sausage, egg, and cheese McGriddle is that the inherent sweetness — via pockets of gooey maple syrups — is countered by the salt of breakfast meats," a reviewer for Thrillist wrote.
Why did McDonald's discontinue Big breakfast? ›No, McDonald's isn't bringing back its popular all-day breakfast next month. The fast-food giant ended the offering during the early days of pandemic lockdowns as part of a broader scheme to simplify service. Bloated menus can overwhelm customers, slow down kitchen operations and lead to longer drive-thru lines.
Is it true you should eat a big breakfast? ›Eating a big breakfast and a smaller dinner could aid weight loss by making you feel less hungry, say researchers. Scientists precisely controlled people's meals to compare the impact of a large breakfast or a large dinner.
What happened to McDonald's all day breakfast? ›McDonald's all-day breakfast isn't around anymore, but the McCafe menu is available all day long. McDonald's all-day breakfast has been discontinued since 2020, and there are no plans on bringing it back (NOOOOO!).
How much protein is in a McDonald's deluxe breakfast? ›Profile of Protein in Item
100g of McDonald's Deluxe Breakfast contains 7.6g of protein, which is about the same as 1.3 eggs, 0.3 chicken breasts, or 0.5 cups (147g) of black beans.
"The Big Breakfast with Hotcakes meal has 1340 calories, 63 grams total fat, 25 grams saturated fat, and 2070 mg sodium," she says, adding that "1340 calories might be the entire daily calorie budget for someone desiring weight loss." And after that meal? "Sorry, you can't eat the rest of the day," she responds.
Is McDonald's Big Breakfast with hotcakes healthy? ›Big Breakfast with Hotcakes
The meal packs in tons of calories, saturated fat, and sodium, which no amount of healthy eating can cancel out. According to Eat This, Not That!, this order amounts to 1,340 calories. It also contains 25 grams of saturated fat and 2,090 milligrams of sodium.
McDonald's has been serving the iconic Filet-O-Fish since 1965, and it's one of the healthier fast food fish sandwiches out there. It's the lowest in calories and sodium, compared to the others, says Yelena Wheeler, M.P.H., R.D.N., of MIDSS.
What is a nutritious breakfast? ›
For the most nutritious breakfast, try to choose whole, unprocessed foods from each of the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy. Try to include proteins from foods like yogurts (look for varieties with less sugar added), eggs, nuts and seeds or legumes.
Is McDonald's hash brown healthy? ›Though there are some benefits to eating McDonald's Hash Browns, they are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. In addition, one hash brown contains about 17 g of fat and 216 mg of sodium. Eating thesehash browns regularly can lead to weight gain, as well as increased risk of heart disease.
How many calories in a McDonald's deluxe breakfast? ›There are 1197 calories in a 1 item 14.8 oz (420.000g) serving size of McDONALD'S, Deluxe Breakfast, with syrup and margarine. The calorie breakdown is 48% fat, 41% carbs, and 11% protein.
How many calories are in McDonald's hotcakes with syrup and butter? ›580 Cal.580 Cal. If you love pancakes, you've got to try McDonald's hotcakes with a side of real butter and sweet maple flavored hotcake syrup. This McDonald's breakfast comes with 3 golden brown hotcakes. There are 580 calories in McDonald's hotcakes.
How many calories in a sausage egg and cheese Mcgriddle? ›There are 550 calories in a Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McGriddles®. Pick up on your terms through the drive thru or with McDonald's curbside pickup when you Mobile Order & Pay! McDonald's App download and registration required.
Who eats the healthiest breakfast in the world? ›Iceland comes out on top!
Their breakfast is high in protein, fibre, and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and low in fat and salt.
wholegrain cereal (such as untoasted muesli, bran cereals or whole-wheat biscuits) with milk, natural yoghurt and fresh fruit. fresh fruits and raw nuts.
Is scrambled egg for breakfast healthy? ›In and of themselves, scrambled eggs are a healthy dish. Eggs are high in protein as well as B vitamins and vitamin D; eggs also contain heart-healthy unsaturated fats. However, when butter, cream, cream cheese, or shredded cheese are added, the calories, cholesterol, and fat content increase.
What is the healthiest Egg McMuffin? ›The healthiest breakfast option at McDonald's is the Egg White Delight McMuffin. It contains 250 calories, 8 grams of fat, 18 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber. The Egg White Delight is also a good source of Calcium and Vitamin D.
Is McDonald's breakfast burrito healthy? ›Look no further than the Sausage Burrito. At 400 calories, 20 grams of fat, and 23 grams of carbohydrates, this burrito is a nutritious choice for your morning meal. Not to mention, it contains a whopping 19g of protein and 8% of your daily iron intake.