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McDonald's US McChicken: calories and sugar by portion, age and sex

Boone’s analysis puts McDonald's US McChicken at 20% of an adult’s daily calories, 37% of the daily sodium limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 1.0 teaspoons of added sugar.

How many calories are in a McDonald's US McChicken? It contains 390 calories, 21g of fat (3.5g saturated), 4g of added sugar and 560mg of sodium.

Build a full meal with our nutrition calculator

Use the Boone meal calculator to build a full meal rather than view this item on its own. Add fries, a drink, dips and a dessert, then choose your age and sex, and switch between US and UK guidance, for a more accurate view of how a McChicken fits into a day.

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Nutrition information

Nutrition information: McDonald's US McChicken

Calories390
Total fat21g
of which saturated3.5g
Trans fat0g
Carbohydrate38g
Total sugars4g
Includes added sugars4g
Fibre1g
Protein14g
Sodium560mg

Nutrition figures are McDonald’s USA 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.

McDonald's US McChicken contains 390 calories, which is 20% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value used on US food labels. It provides 21g of total fat, of which 3.5g is saturated, 4g of total sugars (4g added), 560mg of sodium, 14g of protein and 1g of fibre.

The saturated fat content of 3.5g represents 18% of the 20g Daily Value.

McDonald's US McChicken is assembled from 4 separately manufactured components, combined at the point of sale. The McChicken patty alone carries 7 different classes of additive. Across the whole item the ingredient list names dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, flavourings, colours, phosphates and raising agents, hydrogenated or interesterified oils and protein and dairy fractions. None of these add nutritional value. They exist to make the item survive industrial production, storage and transport.

McDonald's US McChicken carries a large share of a child’s daily sodium

McDonald's US McChicken contains 560mg of sodium, which is 37% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8.

FDA Daily Values (2,000-calorie diet)

Calories2,000
Total fat78g
Saturated fat20g
Carbohydrate275g
Added sugars50g
Fibre28g
Sodium2,300mg
Protein50g

Added sugar vs total sugar

Where the sugar comes from: McDonald's US McChicken

Effectively all 4g counts as added sugar, or about 1.0 teaspoons against the 10g per-meal limit.

Added sugars come from

  • dextrose in the McChicken patty
  • sugar, dextrose in the regular bun
  • sugar, lemon juice concentrate in the mayonnaise

Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030: no more than 10g of added sugar per meal from age 11 and none for children aged 10 and under. FDA Daily Value: 50g a day. Sources are read from the published ingredient list for each component.

Ultra-processed food: what is really in it

Processing and additives: McDonald's US McChicken

McDonald's US McChicken is assembled from 4 separately manufactured components, combined and served at the point of sale. Reading the ingredient list closely, it contains dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, flavourings, colours, phosphates and raising agents, hydrogenated or interesterified oils and protein and dairy fractions. These are not there to add nutritional value. They make industrial production and distribution possible.

Dextrose

A simple sugar used for browning, bulk and mild sweetness. Found in the McChicken patty and regular bun.

Maltodextrin

Bulks out a product and carries flavour, with little taste of its own. Found in the regular bun.

Modified starches

Starches altered industrially to thicken, bind or hold texture through freezing and reheating. Found in the McChicken patty and regular bun.

Emulsifiers

Help oil-based and water-based ingredients blend and stay blended. Found in the regular bun.

Flavourings

Add or restore taste lost during processing. Found in the McChicken patty and regular bun.

Colours

Restore or standardise appearance after processing. Found in the McChicken patty.

Phosphates and raising agents

Hold moisture in meat, control acidity or make batters and doughs rise. Found in the McChicken patty.

Hydrogenated or interesterified oils

Industrially hardened fats used for stability and frying life. Found in the McChicken patty.

Protein and dairy fractions

Isolated proteins and dairy by-products used to add bulk, structure or a creamy texture. Found in the McChicken patty and regular bun.

Boone classifies McDonald's US McChicken 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, September 2026.

McDonald's US McChicken contains at least 47 distinct ingredients: 21 raw and 26 manufactured. Ordered as a full meal with a dip and a dessert that reaches 80, of which 44 are manufactured. Raw means something you could buy and cook with at home; manufactured means a substance that only exists as an output of industrial processing.

Ingredient count by order: McDonald's US McChicken

What you orderRawManufacturedTotal% manufactured
McDonald's US McChicken on its own21264755%
McDonald's US McChicken + medium fries22274955%
McDonald's US McChicken + fries + a dip28346255%
McDonald's US McChicken + fries + dip + a medium Coca-Cola29366555%
McDonald's US McChicken + fries + dip + drink + an OREO McFlurry36448055%

The 26 manufactured ingredients

ammonium bicarbonate, ascorbic acid, corn starch, dextrose, enzymes, faba bean protein, folic acid, hydrogenated soybean oil, maltodextrin, modified corn starch, modified food starch, monocalcium phosphate, monoglycerides, natural flavor, natural flavors with extractives of paprika, niacin, pea protein, potassium chloride, potato protein, reduced iron, riboflavin, rice protein, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium phosphate, thiamine mononitrate, wheat gluten.

The 21 raw ingredients

baking soda, bleached wheat flour, boneless chicken, canola oil, corn oil, distilled vinegar, egg yolk, garlic powder, lemon juice concentrate, lettuce, malted barley flour, paprika, salt, soybean oil, spice, sugar, sunflower and/or canola oil, vinegar, water, wheat flour, yeast.

What those ingredients are, by type

Other additives and processing aids8
Vitamins and fortification6
Grains and flours5
Oils and fats5
Fruit, vegetables and nuts5
Starches4
Acids and acidity regulators3
Meat, fish, dairy and eggs2
Salt and minerals2
Herbs and spices2
Sugars and syrups2
Flavourings and extracts2
Water1

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 “leavening (baking soda)” counts baking soda once. Ice and water added at the counter are not counted. 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. Every figure here is a minimum. The build uses a Sweet ’n Sour sauce.

Ingredients

McDonald's US McChicken is assembled from 4 separately manufactured components.

Ingredients by component: McDonald's US McChicken

McChicken patty

Boneless Chicken, Bleached Wheat Flour, Water, Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil), Wheat Flour, Modified Corn Starch, Sea Salt, Spice, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Paprika, Dextrose, Sodium Phosphates, Leavening (ammonium Bicarbonate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Baking Soda, Monocalcium Phosphate), Wheat Gluten, Natural Flavors With Extractives Of Paprika, Yeast, Corn Starch, Garlic Powder.

Regular bun

Enriched Flour (wheat Flour, Malted Barley Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Water, Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Contains 2% Or Less: Salt, Dextrose, Corn Starch, Modified Food Starch, Wheat Gluten, Vinegar, Vegetable Proteins (pea, Potato, Rice And/or Faba), Sunflower And/or Canola Oil, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, Dough Conditioners (enzymes, Ascorbic Acid, Monoglycerides).

Shredded lettuce

Lettuce.

Mayonnaise

Soybean Oil, Egg Yolk, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Sugar, Spice, Lemon Juice Concentrate.

Ingredients taken from the McDonald’s USA product pages, retrieved September 2026, with obvious spelling errors corrected. Recipes change - always check in restaurant before ordering if you have an allergy.

Allergens at a glance

McDonald's US McChicken contains wheat and egg.

Allergen information: McDonald's US McChicken

AllergenStatus
MilkNot declared
EggsContains
FishNot declared
Crustacean shellfishNot declared
Tree nutsNot declared
PeanutsNot declared
WheatContains
SoybeansNot declared
SesameMay contain
Also declared under UK rules
Barley (cereal containing gluten)Present, UK rules

The mayonnaise lists an unnamed spice, which may include mustard. Contains = declared by McDonald’s USA. May contain = McDonald’s states the allergen may be present. McDonald’s prepares food in shared kitchens, so no item can be guaranteed allergen free. UK rules also require barley, oats, mustard, celery and sulphites to be declared; these are shown where the ingredient list names them. Retrieved September 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories are in a McDonald's US McChicken?+

Boone calculates that McDonald's US McChicken contains 390 calories, which is 20% of the 2,000-calorie Daily Value and 26% of the daily needs of a moderately active child aged 4 to 8.

How much added sugar is in a McDonald's US McChicken?+

Boone calculates that McDonald's US McChicken contains 4g of added sugar, about 1.0 teaspoons, which is 8% of the 50g FDA Daily Value.

Is McDonald's US McChicken within US sugar guidance for children?+

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 recommend no added sugar for children aged 10 and under and no more than 10g per meal from age 11. With 4g of added sugar, McDonald's US McChicken fits the per-meal limit for ages 11 and up but not the guidance for younger children.

How much saturated fat is in a McDonald's US McChicken?+

McDonald's US McChicken contains 3.5g of saturated fat. Boone calculates this as 18% of the 20g Daily Value and 21% of the 17g limit for a child aged 4 to 8.

How much sodium is in a McDonald's US McChicken?+

McDonald's US McChicken contains 560mg of sodium. Boone calculates that as 37% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8 and 24% of the 2,300mg adult limit.

Is McDonald's US McChicken ultra-processed?+

Boone classifies McDonald's US McChicken as NOVA group 4. Reading the published ingredient list, it is assembled from 4 separately manufactured components and contains dextrose, maltodextrin, modified starches, emulsifiers, flavourings, colours, phosphates and raising agents, hydrogenated or interesterified oils and protein and dairy fractions. NOVA group 4 describes how far a food is from its whole-food form, not how nutritious it is.

How much fibre is in a McDonald's US McChicken?+

McDonald's US McChicken contains 1g of fibre. Boone calculates that as 4% of the 28g Daily Value and 5% of the 21g target for a child aged 4 to 8. Fibre is a target to reach rather than a limit to stay under.

Is McDonald's US McChicken suitable for children?+

Boone’s analysis flags that its 560mg of sodium is 37% of the daily limit for a child aged 4 to 8; its 4g of added sugar is above the Dietary Guidelines advice of no added sugar for children aged 10 and under. That does not make it off limits, but it does mean a McChicken uses up a large share of a young child’s day in one item.

How much protein is in a McDonald's US McChicken?+

McDonald's US McChicken contains 14g of protein, which Boone calculates as 28% of the 50g Daily Value.