Highest Protein at McDonald's
McDonald's's menu ranked by Protein Density — the share of calories that come from protein. The best pick here is the Quarter Pounder with Cheese at 23.1% (30g protein in 520 calories). 2 are protein traps.
9 items tracked · sorted by Protein Density · US, CA menu
McDonald's' best item — Quarter Pounder with Cheese at 23.1% Protein Density (Silver tier) — ranks 8th of 9 chains by that measure.
| # | Item | Protein | Calories | Density % of calories from protein | g / 100 cal | Tier | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quarter Pounder with Cheese 1 burger | 30g | 520 | 23.1% | 5.8g | Silver | Complete |
| 2 | Chicken McNuggets (10 pc) 10 pieces | 23g | 410 | 22.4% | 5.6g | Silver | Complete |
| 3 | McDouble 1 burger | 22g | 400 | 22% | 5.5g | Silver | Complete |
| 4 | Egg McMuffin 1 sandwich | 17g | 310 | 21.9% | 5.5g | Silver | Complete |
| 5 | Sausage McMuffin with Egg 1 sandwich | 21g | 480 | 17.5% | 4.4g | Silver | Complete |
| 6 | Big Mac 1 burger | 25g | 590 | 16.9% | 4.2g | Silver | Complete |
| 7 | Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit 1 biscuit (regular) | 19g | 460 | 16.5% | 4.1g | Silver | Complete |
| 8 | McChicken 1 sandwich | 14g | 400 | 14% | 3.5g | Avoid | Complete |
| 9 | Hotcakes (no sausage) 3 hotcakes with syrup & butter | 9g | 580 | 6.2% | 1.6g | Avoid | Complementary |
Protein up, sodium up
Each dot is one McDonald's menu item. Up-and-right is where "high protein" starts costing you something else.
RING + DARK LABEL = TOP 3 SODIUM · THIN RING + LIGHT LABEL = TOP 3 PROTEIN
RING + DARK LABEL = TOP 3 SODIUM · THIN RING + LIGHT LABEL = TOP 3 PROTEIN
| Item | Protein | Sodium | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit | 19 g | 1300 mg | 16.5% |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese | 30 g | 1140 mg | 23.1% |
| Big Mac | 25 g | 1050 mg | 16.9% |
| McDouble | 22 g | 920 mg | 22% |
| Sausage McMuffin with Egg | 21 g | 830 mg | 17.5% |
| Chicken McNuggets (10 pc) | 23 g | 800 mg | 22.4% |
| Egg McMuffin | 17 g | 770 mg | 21.9% |
| McChicken | 14 g | 600 mg | 14% |
| Hotcakes (no sausage) | 9 g | 560 mg | 6.2% |
Is Quarter Pounder with Cheese enough?
Even the best McDonald's pick only helps if it fits your daily target. Calculate how much protein you need, then decide whether to order here or grab a denser option.
McDonald's and protein: common questions
What is the highest protein food at McDonald's?
The McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese has the most protein of any food on the menu we track: 30g of protein in 520 calories — a 23.1% Protein Density.
How much protein is in the McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese?
The McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese has 30g of protein and 520 calories — a 23.1% Protein Density.
How much protein is in McDonald's food?
Across the 9 McDonald's items we track, protein ranges from 9g to 30g per item, depending on what you order.
Is McDonald's a good source of protein?
Only 7 of 9 McDonald's items we track reach Silver tier or better, and 2 fall to Avoid tier — under 15% of calories from protein. McDonald's isn't a strong pick for hitting a protein target; check the full ranking below before ordering.
Other chains
Same Protein Density scoring, different drive-thru.
Highest protein at Starbucks →
Highest protein at Tim Hortons →
Highest protein at Chipotle →
Highest protein at Taco Bell →
Highest protein at Panera Bread →
Highest protein at Chick-fil-A →
Highest protein at Subway →
Highest protein at Panda Express →