McDonald's Triple Cheeseburger: calories and sugar by portion and age

A McDonald's Triple Cheeseburger contains 577 kcal. With small fries the total reaches 827 kcal. With medium fries the total reaches 907 kcal. With large fries the total reaches 1,007 kcal. Adding a medium Coca-Cola to a medium meal brings the total to 1,087 kcal. The Triple Cheeseburger represents 29% of the 2,000 kcal adult daily reference intake and is one of the higher-calorie items on the core McDonald's menu.

Per item: 577 kcal, 33g fat (16g saturated), 33g carbohydrate (7g sugar), 2.9g salt, 35g protein. The saturated fat content of 16g is, by Boone’s calculation, 80% of the adult daily guideline of 20g from a single item. The salt content of 2.9g is 48% of the adult daily limit of 6g and 97% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6. The protein content of 35g is 70% of the adult daily guide and 175% of the daily target for a child aged 4 to 6.

A McDonald's Triple Cheeseburger contains 16g of saturated fat, which is, by Boone’s calculation, 80% of the adult daily guideline of 20g from a single item. For a child aged 11 to 17 with an estimated daily saturated fat guideline of approximately 13g, it represents 123% of their daily allowance — exceeding the entire daily guideline from a single burger. For a child aged 7 to 10 it represents approximately 100% of their estimated daily allowance. The three beef patties and three processed cheese slices together account for the high saturated fat content, with the cheese slices contributing approximately 4.8g collectively.

A McDonald's Triple Cheeseburger contains 2.9g of salt, which is, by Boone’s calculation, 48% of the adult daily limit of 6g. For a child aged 4 to 6 with a daily salt limit of 3g, the Triple Cheeseburger alone uses 97% of their entire daily allowance — almost the complete daily limit from a single burger. Adding medium fries brings the total to approximately 3.5g, significantly exceeding the full daily salt limit for a child aged 4 to 6. Each additional cheese slice contributes approximately 0.4g of salt compared to the Double Cheeseburger.

A McDonald's Triple Cheeseburger contains 577 kcal compared to 436 kcal in a Double Cheeseburger — 141 extra calories from the additional patty and cheese slice. Saturated fat rises from 10.5g to 16g — an increase of 5.5g. Salt rises from 2g to 2.9g. Protein rises from 25g to 35g. The third beef patty and third cheese slice account for the entire difference. The saturated fat jump is the most significant change — from 53% to 80% of the adult daily guideline. The Triple Cheeseburger has no nutritional advantage over the Double Cheeseburger beyond additional protein.

Each step up the McDonald's cheeseburger range roughly adds 5g of saturated fat. Hamburger: 3.2g. Cheeseburger: 5.5g. Double Cheeseburger: 10.5g. Triple Cheeseburger: 16g. As a percentage of the adult daily saturated fat guideline of 20g, the progression is 16%, 28%, 53% and 80% respectively. For children aged 7 to 10 with a lower daily guideline, the Triple Cheeseburger exceeds their entire estimated daily allowance from a single item. The pattern makes clear that each additional patty and cheese slice is not a minor nutritional step.

A McDonald's Triple Cheeseburger with small fries contains approximately 827 kcal. With medium fries the total is approximately 907 kcal. With large fries the total is approximately 1,007 kcal — exceeding 1,000 calories from the burger and fries alone. For an adult with a daily energy need of 2,000 kcal, a Triple Cheeseburger with large fries represents approximately 50% of their daily requirement from one meal. The salt total with medium fries reaches approximately 3.5g, exceeding the full daily limit for a child aged 4 to 6.

A McDonald's Triple Cheeseburger provides 35g of protein, which is, by Boone’s calculation, 70% of the adult daily protein guide of around 50g. For a child aged 7 to 10 with a daily protein guide of around 28g, one Triple Cheeseburger provides 125% of their daily target from a single item. The protein comes from the three beef patties and three processed cheese slices. At 35g it is one of the highest protein contributions of any item on the core McDonald's burger menu, though this comes alongside 16g of saturated fat and 2.9g of salt.

A McDonald's Triple Cheeseburger contains 7g of sugar, all of which counts as free sugar under NHS guidelines. Boone calculates this as 23% of the adult daily free sugar limit of 30g and 29% of the limit for a child aged 7 to 10. The sugar content is identical to the Cheeseburger and Double Cheeseburger — additional beef patties and cheese slices add no meaningful sugar. As with all McDonald's orders, the drink is the most significant sugar variable. Adding a medium Coca-Cola adds approximately 35g of free sugar, exceeding the adult daily free sugar limit on its own.

Yes. A McDonald's Triple Cheeseburger falls into NOVA group 4, ultra-processed foods. The bun contains emulsifiers, antioxidants, maltodextrin and dextrose. Each of the three processed cheese slices contains emulsifying salts, whey powder and colours. The pickle slices contain a firming agent and preservative. All additives are approved for use in UK food. The NOVA classification reflects the degree of industrial formulation rather than whether the food is unsafe to eat.

A McDonald's Triple Cheeseburger contains wheat, soya and milk. It may also contain traces of barley, rye and sesame from shared kitchen equipment. It does not contain eggs, fish, crustaceans, celery, mustard, molluscs or lupin as ingredients. The milk allergen comes from the three processed cheese slices. The allergen profile is identical to the Double Cheeseburger — the additional patty and cheese slice do not introduce new allergens. McDonald's UK cannot guarantee any item is completely allergen-free due to shared kitchen equipment.

A McDonald's Big Mac contains approximately 509 kcal compared to 577 kcal in a Triple Cheeseburger — 68 fewer calories. The Big Mac contains approximately 9.6g of saturated fat versus 16g in the Triple Cheeseburger, making the Triple Cheeseburger significantly higher in saturated fat. The Big Mac contains approximately 2g of salt versus 2.9g in the Triple Cheeseburger. Despite being more widely known and more expensive, the Big Mac is the more moderate choice on every nutritional measure compared to the Triple Cheeseburger.

The Triple Cheeseburger is not on the McDonald's Happy Meal menu and is not marketed at children. For a child aged 7 to 10, the saturated fat content of 16g exceeds their estimated entire daily guideline and the salt content of 2.9g uses 58% of their daily limit from the burger alone. For a child aged 4 to 6 the salt figure is 97% of their daily limit. The Triple Cheeseburger is not an appropriate choice for children at any age. The Hamburger remains the most moderate option for children ordering from the core McDonald's burger menu.

Water is the lowest calorie option at zero calories and zero sugar. A medium water with a Triple Cheeseburger and medium fries keeps the meal at approximately 907 kcal with no drink sugar. A medium Diet Coke or sugar-free Sprite adds zero calories and zero sugar. A medium Coca-Cola adds approximately 180 kcal and 35g of free sugar. Given that the Triple Cheeseburger already delivers 80% of the adult daily saturated fat guideline and 48% of the daily salt limit, keeping drink sugar low is the most practical remaining lever within the meal.

A McDonald's Triple Cheeseburger medium meal — burger with medium fries and medium Coca-Cola — contains approximately 1,087 kcal, 35g of free sugar from the drink, 3.5g of salt from the burger and fries combined, and 17-18g of saturated fat. That is, by Boone’s calculation, 54% of the adult daily calorie reference intake, more than the adult daily free sugar limit, and approaching or exceeding the entire adult daily saturated fat guideline from a single meal. Substituting water for the Coca-Cola reduces the meal to approximately 907 kcal and removes all drink sugar.