If you’re heading to McDonald’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, chances are you’re not looking for a low-calorie meal. And you probably won’t find one anyway, though the restaurant has been adding healthier alternatives over the years, like salads. In any case, that isn’t really why you go to a place like McDonald’s. You go to indulge.
With that said, however, some menu items seriously tip the scales when it comes to calorie counts. And while all nutritional information is clearly on display, you might try not to look so you don’t realize just how much fat, calories, and sodium is in the burger you have in mind.
But interestingly, it isn’t even the delicious burgers that contain the most calories. In many cases, the drinks boast higher calorie counts, as well as other menu items.
Here’s a look at the 10 highest calorie items on the McDonald’s menu. Note that you might not be able to find them all in your local restaurant and some may no longer be available, or may only be limited time items.
10 Big Breakfast (640 Cals)
Not surprising given the many components, but surprising compared to other menu items is that this signature breakfast actually contains the 10th highest amount of calories on the menu. Consisting of a small serving of scrambled eggs, a sausage patty, toasted English muffin, and crispy hash brown, individually these items might not be so bad. But together? It’s hello, calorie city!
Oddly, you’re better off in the calorie department opting for a bacon and egg multigrain bagel, which has 20 fewer calories. But really, the difference in negligible. So if you want a big breakfast, just be prepared for the big calories that come with it.
9 Double Big Mac (680 Cals)
A menu classic, this double version of the signature Big Mac contains 680 calories of goodness, including four beef patties, processed cheddar cheese, pickles, onions, lettuce, and, of course, that special sauce.
Everything is sandwiched together in the toasted sesame seed bun, which includes a top, bottom, and additional middle portion to separate the patties and toppings into groups of two. While this isn’t the healthiest option on the menu, it certainly is one of the most delicious!
8 Large Vanilla Chai Tea Iced Frappe (720 Cals)
It’s tea so it must be low-cal, right? Nope. You can tone down the calories by opting for a medium (580) or small (460). But if you go large or go home, be prepared to rack up some calories before you even take a bite out of your actual food.
This frozen drink blends together vanilla and chai flavors with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cream along with ice to make the delicious concoction. Consider this item your dessert for the day should you choose to indulge.
7 Smokehouse BBQ Angus (730 Cals)
This burger has an Angus beef patty, smoky barbecue sauce, coleslaw mix, and Dijon honey mustard sauce, along with a single slice of jalapeno Monterey Jack cheese for a spicy kick, and a sesame and poppy seed bun.
Along with the high caloric count, it also has 37 grams of fat, 1,080mg of sodium, and even 16g of sugar. So watch out if you find this one on the menu in your local restaurant, as you might want to opt for something a bit healthier if you’re concerned about calories.
6 Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese (770 Cals)
This behemoth burger, not surprisingly, comes with behemoth calories, too. Featuring two quarter-pound beef patties, as the name implies, they also have two slices of melted cheese, slivered onions, and pickles, all on a sesame seed bun.
If you’re looking to cut calories, you can shave off a few hundred by getting the regular quarter pounder with cheese instead, which is 510 calories. Still pretty high, but your waistline might thank you.
5 Bacon and Cheddar Angus (770 Cals)
Very similar to the Mighty Angus, this burger contains much of the same ingredients, but with red onions and pickles. It, too, has, of course, bacon and cheese, along with ketchup, mustard, and Angus burger seasoning.
You save some calories opting for this burger instead of the Mighty, but not much. Fat is almost identical at 41 grams, and sodium is actually more at 1,400 mg.
4 Mighty Angus Original (790 Cals)
This mammoth burger ranks as the highest calorie one on the menu. Featuring 100% Angus beef, its signature toppings include smoky Angus sauce, hickory smoked bacon pieces, lettuce, tomato, processed cheese, and grilled onions. Like many others McDonald’s burgers, all of this goodness comes sandwiched within a sesame and poppy seed bun.
More shocking than the high amount of calories is the fat, which clocks in at a whopping 43 grams, along with a jaw-dropping 1,310 mg of sodium.
3 20 Chicken Nuggets (830 Cals)
The nuggets are in the top-five on the list, but in fairness, the high calorie count only comes if you grab a 20-pack and chow down on it by yourself. If so, the massive meal will mean you’re consuming 830 calories.
So think about that every time you bite into another nugget. Like with the milkshakes, you can cut things down by opting for a smaller size: a 10-pack is 410 calories, and a 6-pack is 250. Or consider going for a nugget happy meal, which includes 4 nuggets (170); but don’t forget to add the fries to your count: a small fries is 240.
2 Large Oreo Cookie Coffee Iced Frappe (850 Cals)
The second-highest calorie item on the list is this drink, which is technically more a desert than a drink to quench your thirst. This iced frappe, again wherever available, is a whopping 850 calories for its large size.
Again, you can save a few calories by going smaller: 670 calories come in the medium and 560 in the small. But really if you’re going to drink one of these, you might as well go all out and grab the large instead of opting for a slice of pie or ice cream for dessert.
1 Large Triple Thick Raspberry Milkshake (1,090 Cals)
You might think the highest calorie item on the menu is a big, meaty sandwich or greasy chicken nuggets. But nope, it’s actually a drink. Wherever this particular flavour of milkshake is available, it will set some people back more than half your recommended caloric intake for the day.
If you want to save a bit of calories for, you know, actual food, consider going for the medium size, which is “just” 700 calories, or the small at 530. Either way, though, if you’re trying not to drink your calories, maybe ask for water instead of ordering up one of these.
