McDonald’s Highest Protein Per Dollar Item

Ahh, it is the infamous golden arched restaurant. It is the most beloved and yet hated brand in America. Now, I am a health fanatic and rarely eat at McDonald’s. In fact, even though there’s a McDonald’s right across the street from where I live, I haven’t stepped foot in there for 2 years! (I broke the record to research and write this article).

If I were to ever eat at McDonald’s, I would at least like to know the highest protein per dollar item so that I get the maximum “value” of my meal. This is for all the bodybuilding fanatics out there who wish to know the statistics.

Note: All statistics are based off of my local McDonald’s in Ontario. But I assume margins are the same around the world and thus, my analysis should be correct for most McDonald’s in North America.

5. Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese (7.59 g/$)

Price: $6.19
Total Protein: 47 grams

It costs a hefty $6.19 per sandwich but packs an impressive 47 grams of protein, giving it 7.59 grams of protein per dollar. However, be wary as it also contains 1310 mg of sodium, giving you more than 50% of your daily needs. It contains 45 grams of fat, which is 69% of your daily needs.

4. Angus Third Pounder (Bacon & Cheese) (7.72 g/$)

Price: $6.09
Total Protein: 47 grams

It’s priced at $6.09 per sandwich with 47 grams of protein, giving it 7.72 grams of protein per dollar. This single sandwich contain 1990 mg of sodium which is 80% of your daily needs! Not to mention, it has 44 grams of fat as well.

3. Bacon Cheeseburger (Bacon McDouble) (8.22 g/$)

Price: $2.19
Total Protein: 18 grams

This value menu item tops #3 with it priced at $2.19 and 18 grams of protein, giving it 8.22 grams of protein per dollar. It has 910 mg of sodium, 15 grams of fat, and 340 calories.

2. Double Cheeseburger (12.05 g/$)

Price: $1.99
Total Protein: 24 grams

This other value menu item takes the silver at $1.99 and 24 grams of protein, giving it an impressive 12.06 grams of protein per dollar. It is low on sodium (910 mg), fat (15 grams), and calories (340)…compared to other McDonald’s items of course!

1. McDouble (13.83 g/$)

Price: $1.59
Total Protein: 22 grams

Drum Roll….The number #1 protein per dollar item in McDonald’s is…the $1.59 McDouble. With 22 grams of protein and a stunning 13.84 protein per dollar, this value menu item takes the throne with a wide margin. You are also getting the maximize worth for your dollar as it takes number 1 for calories per dollar (238.99) and grams per dollar (93.71).
Oh and it also has 910 mg of sodium, 18 grams of fat, and 380 calories.

Honorable Mention: Healthiest Item- Side Garden Salad (7.5% Protein; 40 cal)

For a salad, it has an astonishing 7.5% protein to calorie percentage. For the weight and health conscious people, this item is awesome. It packs a mere 40 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, and 60 mg of sodium. However, for a protein to dollar ratio, it gives a pathetic 1.31 grams per dollar.
Remember, this does not include the calorie dense salad dressing, so don’t go around ordering this and using up the entire packet thinking it’s only 40 calories!

The following is the complete list for those who want to know the protein per dollar for the rest of the menu:

Sandwiches:

Name	Price	Protein	Protein / $	Weight (g)	Weight / $	Calories (cal)	Calories / $	Protein / Calories
McDouble	$1.59	22	13.84	149	93.71	380	238.99	5.79%
Double Cheeseburger	$1.99	24	12.06	162	81.41	430	216.08	5.58%
Bacon McDouble (Cheeseburger)	$2.19	18	8.22	122	55.71	340	155.25	5.29%
Angus Third Pounder (Bacon & Cheese)	$6.09	47	7.72	286	46.96	780	128.08	6.03%
Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese	$6.19	47	7.59	277	44.75	760	122.78	6.18%
Junior Chicken sandwich	$1.59	12	7.55	132	83.02	380	238.99	3.16%
Quarter Pounder BLT	$5.59	41	7.33	225	40.25	620	110.91	6.61%
Chicken Snack Wrap	$1.99	14	7.04	112	56.28	290	145.73	4.83%
Angus Third Pounder (Deluxe)	$6.09	42	6.90	299	49.10	780	128.08	5.38%
Chicken & Bacon Signature McWrap with Grilled Chicken	$5.19	35	6.74	226	43.55	480	92.49	7.29%
Double Big Mac	$6.19	40	6.46	268	43.30	700	113.09	5.71%
Chicken & Bacon Signature McWrap with Crispy Chicken	$5.19	31	5.97	230	44.32	600	115.61	5.17%
Quarter Pounder with Cheese	$5.09	30	5.89	200	39.29	530	104.13	5.66%
McBistro Southwest Chicken with Grilled Chicken	$5.59	32	5.72	233	41.68	460	82.29	6.96%
McBistro Chicken BLT with Grilled Chicken	$5.59	31	5.55	224	40.07	480	85.87	6.46%
Sweet Chili Signature McWrap with Grilled Chicken	$5.19	27	5.20	228	43.93	410	79.00	6.59%
McBistro Southwest Chicken with Crispy Chicken	$5.59	28	5.01	245	43.83	560	100.18	5.00%
McBistro Chicken BLT with Crispy Chicken	$5.59	28	5.01	236	42.22	580	103.76	4.83%
Big Mac Burger	$5.09	24	4.72	209	41.06	540	106.09	4.44%
Sweet Chili Signature McWrap with Crispy Chicken	$5.19	23	4.43	232	44.70	530	102.12	4.34%
Double Filet-O-Fish	$5.89	26	4.41	210	35.65	570	96.77	4.56%
10 White Meat Chicken McNuggets	$6.29	25	3.97	172	27.34	490	77.90	5.10%
McChicken Sandwich	$5.09	17	3.34	173	33.99	470	92.34	3.62%
Filet-O-Fish sandwich	$4.79	16	3.34	140	29.23	410	85.59	3.90%
Sante Fe Signature McWrap	$4.59	15	3.27	229	49.89	490	106.75	3.06%
6 White Meat Chicken McNuggets	$5.09	15	2.95	103	20.24	290	56.97	5.17%
Mediterranean Signature McWrap	$4.59	12	2.61	211	45.97	450	98.04	2.67%

Salads:

Name	Price	Protein	Protein / $	Weight (g)	Weight / $	Calories (cal)	Calories / $	Protein / Calories
Cashew Teriyaki Salad with Crispy Chicken	$7.19	25	3.48	323	44.92	400	55.63	6.25%
Tuscan Salad with Crispy Chicken	$7.19	22	3.06	346	48.12	430	59.81	5.12%
Caesar Entrée Salad	$7.19	6	0.83	183	25.45	250	34.77	2.40%
Side Garden Fresh Salad	$2.29	3	1.31	116	50.66	40	17.47	7.50%
Side Caesar Salad	$2.29	4	1.75	91	39.74	120	52.40	3.33%

Menu Prices:

Sources:

Sources are taken from McDonald’s Canada website in the nutrition section and calculated based on prices above.
McDonald’s Menu