Boone’s analysis puts McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) at 13% of an adult’s daily calories, 19% of the daily salt limit for a child aged 4 to 6 and 0.1 teaspoons of free sugar.
How many calories are in a McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)? It contains 261 kcal, 13g of fat (1.5g saturated), 0.6g of sugar and 0.57g of salt.
Build a full meal with our nutrition calculator
A Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) is ordered at the end of a meal, on top of everything already eaten. Use the Boone meal calculator to build a full meal rather than view this item on its own — add a main, fries, dips and a drink, then choose your age and sex for a more accurate view of how it fits into a day.
Nutrition information
Nutrition information: McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
| Energy | 261 kcal |
| Fat | 13g |
| of which saturates | 1.5g |
| Carbohydrate | 21g |
| of which sugars | 0.6g |
| Fibre | 1.4g |
| Salt | 0.57g |
| Protein | 15g |
Nutrition figures are McDonald’s UK published data, per item as sold and before any optional sauces or extras. Boone converts them to the portion and age comparisons on this page.
A McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) contains 261 kcal, which is 13% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake. It provides 13g of total fat, of which 1.5g is saturated, 0.6g of sugar, 0.57g of salt, 15g of protein and 1.4g of fibre.
The saturated fat content of 1.5g represents 8% of the adult daily guideline of 20g.
Every portion compared
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets comes in 2 portions. Boone puts the range at 261 kcal for the 6 pieces up to 261 kcal for the 6 pieces, a difference of 0 kcal from the same food.
Nutrition by portion: McDonald's Chicken McNuggets
| Portion | Energy | Fat | Saturates | Carbs | Sugar | Fibre | Protein | Salt |
|---|
| 6 pieces | 261 kcal | 13g | 1.5g | 21g | 0.6g | 1.4g | 15g | 0.57g |
| 9 pieces | 261 kcal | 13g | 1.5g | 21g | 0.6g | 1.4g | 15g | 0.57g |
Figures are McDonald’s UK published data per portion. Any as-served row is Boone’s calculation, adding the dip McDonald’s says the item is served with but excludes from its published figures.
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) sits at the lighter end of the menu
At 261 kcal and 0.6g of free sugar, McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) stays well inside every daily guideline Boone checks. Few items on this menu do.
Adult daily reference intakes (Reference Intake, RI)
Calories2,000 kcal
Total fat70g
Saturated fat20g
Carbohydrate260g
Sugars90g
Fibre30g
Salt6g
Protein50g
Sugar in McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) contains 0.6g of free sugar per standard serving (0.1 teaspoons). Low sugar
The NHS free sugar limit is 30g per day for adults, 24g for children aged 7 to 10, and 19g for children aged 4 to 6. Free sugar excludes the sugars naturally present in milk and whole fruit. The table below shows how this compares across all age groups.
Free sugar by portion: McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
| Portion | Adult (female)
30g | Adult (male)
30g | Age 11 to 17
30g | Age 7 to 10
24g | Age 4 to 6
19g |
|---|
| Per portion | 0.6g
2% | 0.6g
2% | 0.6g
2% | 0.6g
2% | 0.6g
3% |
| Teaspoons | 0.1 tsp |
Boone calculates these percentages from McDonald's UK published nutrition data against UK Dietary Reference Values and NHS free sugar and salt limits. Free sugar, salt, calories and saturated fat are limits to stay under; fibre is a target to reach, so a high percentage there is a good thing. For guidance only.
Salt in McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) contains 0.57g of salt per standard serving. Low salt
Children have lower salt limits: 3g per day for ages 4 to 6, 5g for ages 7 to 10. The table below shows how this serving compares to daily limits for adults and children.
Salt by portion: McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
| Portion | Adult (female)
6g | Adult (male)
6g | Age 11 to 17
6g | Age 7 to 10
5g | Age 4 to 6
3g |
|---|
| Per portion | 0.57g
9% | 0.57g
9% | 0.57g
9% | 0.57g
11% | 0.57g
19% |
Boone calculates these percentages from McDonald's UK published nutrition data against UK Dietary Reference Values and NHS free sugar and salt limits. Free sugar, salt, calories and saturated fat are limits to stay under; fibre is a target to reach, so a high percentage there is a good thing. For guidance only.
Calories in McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) contains 261 kcal per standard serving. Low calorie share
Daily calorie needs vary by age and sex. The table below shows how this serving compares to typical daily reference intakes.
Calories by portion: McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
| Portion | Adult (female)
2000 kcal | Adult (male)
2500 kcal | Age 11 to 17
1936 kcal | Age 7 to 10
1553 kcal | Age 4 to 6
1291 kcal |
|---|
| Per portion | 261 kcal
13% | 261 kcal
10% | 261 kcal
13% | 261 kcal
17% | 261 kcal
20% |
Boone calculates these percentages from McDonald's UK published nutrition data against UK Dietary Reference Values and NHS free sugar and salt limits. Free sugar, salt, calories and saturated fat are limits to stay under; fibre is a target to reach, so a high percentage there is a good thing. For guidance only.
Saturated fat in McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) contains 1.5g of saturated fat per standard serving. Low saturated fat
The saturated fat guideline is 20g a day for women and 30g for men, and lower again for children. The table below shows how this serving compares.
Saturated fat by portion: McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
| Portion | Adult (female)
20g | Adult (male)
30g | Age 11 to 17
20g | Age 7 to 10
18g | Age 4 to 6
16g |
|---|
| Per portion | 1.5g
8% | 1.5g
5% | 1.5g
8% | 1.5g
8% | 1.5g
9% |
Boone calculates these percentages from McDonald's UK published nutrition data against UK Dietary Reference Values and NHS free sugar and salt limits. Free sugar, salt, calories and saturated fat are limits to stay under; fibre is a target to reach, so a high percentage there is a good thing. For guidance only.
Fibre in McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) contains 1.4g of fibre per standard serving. Some fibre
Fibre is the one figure here that is a target to reach rather than a limit to stay under. UK guidance is 30g a day for adults, 25g for ages 11 to 17, 20g for ages 7 to 10 and 15g for ages 4 to 6. Most people in the UK fall well short. The table below shows how much of a day’s fibre this serving provides.
Fibre by portion: McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
| Portion | Adult (female)
30g | Adult (male)
30g | Age 11 to 17
25g | Age 7 to 10
20g | Age 4 to 6
15g |
|---|
| Per portion | 1.4g
5% | 1.4g
5% | 1.4g
6% | 1.4g
7% | 1.4g
9% |
Boone calculates these percentages from McDonald's UK published nutrition data against UK Dietary Reference Values and NHS free sugar and salt limits. Free sugar, salt, calories and saturated fat are limits to stay under; fibre is a target to reach, so a high percentage there is a good thing. For guidance only.
Ultra-processed food: what is really in it
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) are assembled from 1 separate component, each manufactured and prepared separately, often at different factories, before being combined and cooked at the point of sale. The component is close to a single ingredient, with comparatively little additional formulation.
None of this means the ingredients are unsafe; all additives used are approved for use in UK food. What it indicates is the degree of industrial formulation involved. A home-cooked equivalent, made from a small number of fresh or minimally processed ingredients prepared in one kitchen, would typically involve far fewer steps and far fewer additives. The version sold at McDonald's reaches a comparable end result using a longer list of industrially processed components, several manufacturing sites, and a number of functional additives designed to keep the product consistent across thousands of restaurants.
What's in it: Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
Chicken McNuggets
Chicken breast meat formed into nugget shapes with a seasoned crispy breaded coating, fried in vegetable oil
Looking at the ingredient list rather than just the nutrition panel tells a different story. Even where individual macros (sugar, salt, calories) look moderate, the number of separately manufactured components, and the additives used to bind, emulsify, preserve, colour and flavour them, place almost every hot item on the McDonald's menu in the most processed food category under the NOVA classification system.
Processing (NOVA classification)
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) fall into NOVA group 4, ultra-processed food. The NOVA classification system groups foods by the extent and purpose of the processing involved, rather than by their individual nutrients. Group 4 covers products that are formulated mostly or entirely from substances derived from foods, plus additives, using a series of industrial processes with little or no whole food remaining recognisable in the final product. In this item, that is reflected in the breaded or formed components, processed cheese, and multi-stage assembly typical of fast food production. This classification applies to almost all hot menu items at McDonald's, and indeed to most fast food and packaged convenience food generally; it is not a finding specific to this item.
Allergens at a glance
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces) contains wheat and celery.
Allergen information: McDonald's Chicken McNuggets (9 pieces)
| Allergen | Status |
|---|
| Wheat | Contains |
| Rye | Not present |
| Barley | Not present |
| Oats | Not present |
| Sesame | Not present |
| Soya | Not present |
| Milk | May contain traces |
| Eggs | Not present |
| Fish | Not present |
| Crustaceans | Not present |
| Celery | Contains |
| Mustard | Not present |
| Molluscs | Not present |
| Lupin | Not present |
Contains = declared as an ingredient. May contain traces = McDonald's states the allergen cannot be excluded. McDonald's prepares food in kitchens where all 14 major allergens are present and equipment is shared, so no item can be guaranteed allergen free, even when ingredients are removed on request. Buns, rolls and tortilla wraps are toasted in the same toaster as sesame-topped buns.
