Boone’s analysis puts McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) at 28% of an adult’s daily calories and 87% of the daily salt limit for a child aged 4 to 6.
How many calories are in a McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces)? It contains 560 kcal, 28g of fat (2.7g saturated), 0g of sugar and 2.6g of salt, one of the higher-calorie items on the menu.
Build a full meal with our nutrition calculator
A Chicken Selects (5 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 Selects (5 pieces)
| Energy | 560 kcal |
| Fat | 28g |
| of which saturates | 2.7g |
| Carbohydrate | 36g |
| of which sugars | 0g |
| Fibre | 2.3g |
| Salt | 2.6g |
| Protein | 39g |
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 Selects (5 pieces) contains 560 kcal, which is 28% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake. It provides 28g of total fat, of which 2.7g is saturated, 0g of sugar, 2.6g of salt, 39g of protein and 2.3g of fibre.
The saturated fat content of 2.7g represents 14% of the adult daily guideline of 20g.
Every portion compared
McDonald's Chicken Selects comes in 2 portions. Boone puts the range at 336 kcal for the 3 pieces up to 560 kcal for the 5 pieces, a difference of 224 kcal from the same food.
Nutrition by portion: McDonald's Chicken Selects
| Portion | Energy | Fat | Saturates | Carbs | Sugar | Fibre | Protein | Salt |
|---|
| 3 pieces | 336 kcal | 17g | 1.6g | 22g | 0g | 1.4g | 23g | 1.6g |
| 5 pieces | 560 kcal | 28g | 2.7g | 36g | 0g | 2.3g | 39g | 2.6g |
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 Selects (5 pieces) is assembled from 1 separately manufactured component. The chicken selects alone carries 6 different classes of additive. Across the whole item the ingredient list names acidity regulators, dextrose, flavourings, modified starches, raising agents and stabilisers. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make the item survive industrial production, freezing and transport.
McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) carries a large share of a child’s daily salt
A McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) contains 2.6g of salt, which is 87% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6. It is also high in calories.
Adult daily reference intakes (Reference Intake, RI)
Calories2,000 kcal
Total fat70g
Saturated fat20g
Carbohydrate260g
Sugars90g
Fibre30g
Salt6g
Protein50g
Sugar in McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces)
McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) contains 0g of free sugar per standard serving (0.0 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 Selects (5 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 | 0g
0% | 0g
0% | 0g
0% | 0g
0% | 0g
0% |
| Teaspoons | 0.0 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 Selects (5 pieces)
McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) contains 2.6g of salt per standard serving. Moderate 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 Selects (5 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 | 2.6g
43% | 2.6g
43% | 2.6g
43% | 2.6g
52% | 2.6g
87% |
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 Selects (5 pieces)
McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) contains 560 kcal per standard serving. Moderate 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 Selects (5 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 | 560 kcal
28% | 560 kcal
22% | 560 kcal
29% | 560 kcal
36% | 560 kcal
43% |
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 Selects (5 pieces)
McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) contains 2.7g 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 Selects (5 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 | 2.7g
14% | 2.7g
9% | 2.7g
14% | 2.7g
15% | 2.7g
17% |
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 Selects (5 pieces)
McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) contains 2.3g 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 Selects (5 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 | 2.3g
8% | 2.3g
8% | 2.3g
9% | 2.3g
12% | 2.3g
15% |
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
Processing and additives: McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces)
McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) is assembled from 1 separately manufactured component. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains acidity regulators, dextrose, flavourings, modified starches, raising agents and stabilisers. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.
Acidity regulators
Hold the ph steady so flavour and shelf life stay consistent. Found in the chicken selects.
Dextrose
A simple sugar used for browning, bulk and mild sweetness. Found in the chicken selects.
Flavourings
Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the chicken selects.
Modified starches
Thicken and hold water in a way unmodified flour cannot. Found in the chicken selects.
Raising agents
Make doughs and batters rise without a long ferment. Found in the chicken selects.
Stabilisers
Stop mixtures separating and hold texture during storage and transport. Found in the chicken selects.
Boone classifies McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) as NOVA group 4, ultra-processed, based on the additives named above. NOVA groups foods by how far they are from their whole-food form, not by how nutritious they are. A group 4 food is not automatically unhealthy, and a group 1 food is not automatically healthy. Read from the published ingredient list, 17-18 August 2026.
A McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) contains at least 14 distinct ingredients: 7 raw and 7 manufactured.
Ingredient count by order: McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces)
| What you order | Raw | Manufactured | Total | % manufactured |
|---|
| McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) on its own | 7 | 7 | 14 | 50% |
The 7 manufactured ingredients
carrageenan, contains celery, dextrose, modified starch, spice extract, wheat gluten, yeast extract.
The 7 raw ingredients
chicken breast meat, onion and garlic powder, rapeseed oil, salt, sunflower oil, water, wheat flour.
What those ingredients are, by type
Oils and fats2
Flavourings2
Grains and flours2
Sugars and syrups1
Stabilisers and thickeners1
Starches1
Salt and minerals1
Meat, fish, dairy and eggs1
Fruit and vegetables1
Boone counts every distinct named ingredient on McDonald’s published component lists, including sub-ingredients, and removes duplicates, so salt appearing in four components counts once. Additive class names are dropped and the named substance kept, so “stabiliser (guar gum)” counts guar gum once. Raw covers whole foods and basic kitchen staples such as flour, sugar, salt and oil. Manufactured covers substances that only exist as an output of industrial processing. Where McDonald’s lists more than one approved supplier recipe only the primary one is counted, so every figure here is a minimum. The build uses a Sweet and Sour dip.
Allergens at a glance
McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 pieces) contains wheat and celery.
Allergen information: McDonald's Chicken Selects (5 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. Retrieved 17-18 August 2026.
