Nutrition from McDonald’s official U.S. data · Checked Oct. 29, 2026 · Independent guide
McChicken price, calories, protein, ingredients, the $5 Meal Deal and how it compares with the McCrispy, all in one place.
A McDonald’s McChicken has 390 calories and 14 grams of protein, and it sits on the Under $3 Menu at participating U.S. restaurants. It’s a breaded chicken patty, shredded lettuce and mayo on a toasted regular bun. That’s the whole sandwich.
Below you’ll find the full nutrition panel, the ingredient list, what it costs right now, the $5 McChicken Meal Deal and an honest McChicken vs McCrispy comparison. For everything else, see our McDonald’s menu with prices.
McChicken at a glance
Here’s the short version, using McDonald’s own U.S. nutrition data and its April 2026 value menu announcement. Prices are set by each restaurant, so treat the price line as a range, not a promise.
| What you want to know | McChicken |
|---|---|
| Price tier | Under $3 Menu (participating U.S. restaurants) |
| Meal Deal | $5 with 4 piece McNuggets, small fries, small drink |
| Calories | 390 |
| Protein | 14 g |
| Carbs / fat | 38 g / 21 g |
| Sodium | 560 mg (24% DV) |
| Toppings | Shredded lettuce, mayonnaise |
| Bun | Toasted regular bun |
| Allergens | Wheat, egg; bun may contain sesame |
What’s on a McChicken?
Four things come on a McChicken: the McChicken patty, a regular bun, shredded lettuce and mayonnaise. There’s no cheese, no pickles and no tomato. McDonald’s toasts the bun before it builds the sandwich.
The sauce in the U.S. is plain mayonnaise. McDonald’s lists it as soybean oil, egg yolk, water, distilled vinegar, salt, sugar, spice and lemon juice concentrate. If you’ve heard of “McChicken Sauce,” that’s the seasoned mayo used in Canada, the UK, Australia and New Zealand.
That’s the part people are surprised by. The U.S. version is about as plain as fast food gets, which is why it’s so easy to customize (more on that further down).
What’s in the McChicken patty?
Yes, it’s real chicken. The first ingredient on McDonald’s list is boneless chicken, followed by bleached wheat flour, water and a vegetable oil blend of canola, corn and soybean oil.
The rest is breading and seasoning: wheat flour, modified corn starch, sea salt, spice, paprika, dextrose, garlic powder, yeast and a few leavening agents. So the meat is chicken, but the patty as a whole isn’t “100% chicken.” No breaded patty is.
White meat or dark meat? McDonald’s current U.S. list only says “boneless chicken.” Back in 2015, its website called the patty a blend of white and dark meat chicken, and we haven’t seen McDonald’s say that changed.
McChicken allergens
The patty and bun contain wheat. The mayo contains egg. McDonald’s also flags that the regular bun may contain sesame.
McDonald’s says it can’t promise any item is free of allergens because of shared cooking and prep areas. If you have a serious allergy, ask the crew before ordering. Asking for no mayo removes the egg from the sandwich itself.
How much is a McChicken?
A McChicken costs under $3 at most participating U.S. McDonald’s. It’s part of the Under $3 Menu, which McDonald’s added to its McValue lineup on April 21, 2026.
Each restaurant sets its own price, and McDonald’s says so in the fine print. Price trackers list it around $2.89 in many areas. Expect a little more in big cities, airports, toll-road stops and anywhere rent is high.
What about after tax? At a $2.89 menu price and a 7% sales tax, you’d pay about $3.09. In a state with no food sales tax on restaurant meals the number won’t change much, but most states do tax restaurant food.
The fastest way to see the real price for your nearest restaurant is the McDonald’s app. Pick the store, open the menu, and the McChicken price shows before you order. You can compare it against the rest of the full McDonald’s menu there too.
What’s in the $5 McChicken Meal Deal?
The McChicken Meal Deal is $5 and includes a McChicken, a 4 piece Chicken McNuggets, small fries and a small soft drink. McDonald’s announced it on April 2, 2026, along with a $6 McDouble Meal Deal.
That’s a lot of food for five dollars. Buying those four items separately off the value menu would cost more at almost any store.
Two catches. McDonald’s notes that Meal Deal options “may be priced higher at select restaurants,” and the deal isn’t valid for delivery. If you want more nuggets than four, our guide to the 10 piece Chicken McNuggets covers sizes and prices.
Searching for “McChicken and a small fry” usually means people want exactly this deal. It’s cheaper than ordering the two items on their own.
Is a McChicken still $1?
No. The $1 McChicken is gone from regular U.S. menus. It was a Dollar Menu staple for years, and as recently as 2018 it sat in the $1 tier of the $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu.
McDonald’s kept that dollar price for a long time by shrinking the sandwich. Wikipedia’s history of the item notes the patty got smaller over the years to protect the price point, which matches what longtime fans say on Reddit.
You can still get it for $1 or $1.50 sometimes. Those are app deals that come and go, and they vary by restaurant. Check the Deals tab in the McDonald’s app before you order.
Why does a McChicken cost more on DoorDash?
Delivery apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats usually show higher menu prices than the counter, then add delivery and service fees on top. A sub-$3 sandwich can easily end up past $5 once it reaches your door.
The $5 Meal Deal also isn’t valid for delivery, per McDonald’s. If price is the reason you’re ordering a McChicken, pick it up.
McChicken nutrition facts
One McChicken has 390 calories, 14 g protein, 38 g carbs and 21 g total fat. Here’s the full panel from McDonald’s U.S. site.
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 390 | – |
| Total fat | 21 g | 27% |
| Saturated fat | 3.5 g | 18% |
| Trans fat | 0 g | – |
| Cholesterol | 40 mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 560 mg | 24% |
| Total carbs | 38 g | 14% |
| Dietary fiber | 1 g | 5% |
| Total sugars | 4 g | – |
| Added sugars | 4 g | 7% |
| Protein | 14 g | – |
| Calcium | 20 mg | 2% |
| Iron | 2 mg | 10% |
| Potassium | 310 mg | 6% |
Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
How many calories are in a McChicken?
A McChicken has 390 calories with the standard mayo. That’s the number McDonald’s lists for the U.S. sandwich today.
You’ll see other numbers online. Older pages cite 410 calories for a 140 g sandwich, and some calorie apps show 357 calories based on USDA data. Those come from older or averaged recipes, so go with 390.
For context, a Big Mac has 580 calories. A McChicken comes in 190 calories lighter.
How much protein is in a McChicken?
A McChicken has 14 grams of protein. That’s on the low side for a chicken sandwich, because the patty is thin and a good share of it is breading.
Here are the macros in plain terms: 14 g protein, 38 g carbs and 21 g fat. Fat supplies nearly half the calories, mostly from the frying oil and the mayo.
If protein is your goal, the McCrispy has 26 g and a Quarter Pounder with Cheese has 30 g. Two McChickens get you 28 g, for 780 calories.
How many calories are in a McChicken without mayo?
McDonald’s doesn’t post a separate calorie count for a McChicken with no mayo. Its nutrition calculator lets you remove toppings, and that’s the most accurate way to check the number for your order.
A rough guide: a typical tablespoon of regular mayonnaise is around 90 to 100 calories. The McChicken gets a modest squirt, so dropping it should take the sandwich into the low 300s. We couldn’t confirm the exact figure, so treat that as an estimate.
Ordering it “plain” (no mayo, no lettuce) only changes the mayo math, since shredded lettuce has almost no calories.
Is the McChicken healthy?
Not really, but it’s one of the lighter sandwiches on the menu. At 390 calories and 560 mg sodium, it’s less than half the sodium of a McCrispy and 190 calories under a Big Mac.
The weak spot is protein. You get about 3.6 grams of protein per 100 calories, while the McCrispy gives you about 5.5. If you’re counting macros, the McChicken fills you up less per calorie.
Our take: as an occasional cheap lunch, it’s fine. Skip the mayo, add a side salad or apple slices instead of fries, and it fits into most diets without much trouble.
McChicken vs McCrispy: which one should you get?
Get the McChicken if you want the cheapest chicken sandwich. Get the McCrispy if you want a bigger, meatier sandwich and don’t mind paying more for it.
They’re different sandwiches, not two sizes of the same one. The McCrispy (launched in 2021 as the Crispy Chicken Sandwich) uses a thicker crispy chicken fillet on a potato roll with crinkle-cut pickles and butter. No lettuce, no mayo.
| Compare | McChicken | McCrispy |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 390 | 470 |
| Protein | 14 g | 26 g |
| Carbs | 38 g | 46 g |
| Fat | 21 g | 20 g |
| Sodium | 560 mg | 1,140 mg |
| Bun | Regular bun | Potato roll |
| Toppings | Lettuce, mayo | Pickles, butter |
| Price | Under $3 Menu | Regular menu price |
The sodium gap is the one people miss. The McCrispy has 1,140 mg, about half a day’s worth, compared with 560 mg in the McChicken.
So which is better? For value, the McChicken wins easily. For actual chicken in the sandwich, the McCrispy wins, and it isn’t close. If you’re hungry, two McChickens give you 28 g of protein, a bit more than one McCrispy. Check the app to compare the two prices at your store.
Ways to order a better McChicken
Because the McChicken is so plain, small changes make a big difference. Here are the ones that work at most U.S. restaurants, through the app or at the counter.
- Add a slice of American cheese. It’s a small upcharge and makes the sandwich taste closer to a deluxe version.
- Ask for extra lettuce. Usually free.
- Swap the mayo for a dipping sauce. Sweet ‘N Sour is a popular pick, and Tangy BBQ works well too.
- Go spicy on your own. There’s no spicy McChicken on the national U.S. menu now, so add a spicy dipping sauce where your restaurant has one.
- Order it “plain” for kids or picky eaters. That means no mayo and no lettuce.
- Ask for it made fresh. It takes a few extra minutes, but the patty comes out hotter and crisper.
The most famous McChicken hack is the McDouble stack: you order a McDouble and a McChicken, then put the whole McChicken between the two beef patties. The internet gave it a nickname that isn’t family-friendly. Crew members won’t assemble it for you, but nothing stops you from building it at the table.
You’ll find that one and more in our McDonald’s secret menu guide.
McChicken versions you might still find
The regular McChicken is the only version on McDonald’s national U.S. menu right now. Over the years, though, McDonald’s has sold several spin-offs, and some still show up locally or as limited-time items.
Is the McChicken Biscuit still available?
Not nationally. The McChicken Biscuit was added to the national breakfast menu in 2019, but it isn’t on McDonald’s current U.S. breakfast menu. Some franchise locations, mostly in the South, may still sell it, so check the app for your store.
Is the McChicken spicy?
The standard McChicken isn’t spicy. The patty has paprika and spice in the breading, but it’s mild.
McDonald’s has sold a Hot ‘n Spicy McChicken before. It launched nationally in January 2006, was gone by June 2006, came back on the Dollar Menu in March 2013, and wasn’t available nationally by mid-2015.
Other U.S. versions
McDonald’s has tested or sold a Bacon Cheddar McChicken (McDonald’s lists it at 520 calories), a Jalapeño Cheddar McChicken in 2011 and 2012, and a Buffalo Ranch McChicken in late 2013. There was even a teriyaki McTeriChicken at one Hawaii location.
Don’t count on any of these at your local store. If you see one on the menu board, it’s a regional or limited-time item.
McChicken outside the U.S.
The McChicken changes a lot by country. In Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand it comes on a sesame-seed bun with lettuce and that seasoned “McChicken Sauce.”
The cheap U.S.-style sandwich has other names abroad. Canada sells it as the Junior Chicken, and in the UK it’s the Mayo Chicken. In India, Hong Kong and Singapore, the McSpicy is the bigger, spicier chicken burger most people order instead.
How to make a McChicken at home
A homemade McChicken is easy because the sandwich has so few parts. The trick is the patty: it’s thin, wide and finely textured, more like a flattened chicken burger than a whole breast.
- Pulse 1 pound of boneless chicken (thighs and breasts mixed) in a food processor with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder and 1/2 teaspoon paprika.
- Shape four thin patties, about 4 inches wide, and freeze them on a tray for 20 minutes so they hold together.
- Dredge each patty in seasoned flour, dip it in water or club soda, then dredge again.
- Fry at 350°F for about 4 minutes, or until the center reads 165°F.
- Toast plain hamburger buns, then add shredded iceberg lettuce and a thin layer of mayo.
Short on time? Several grocery chains sell frozen breaded chicken patties that come close. Air-fry them, then build the sandwich the same way. It won’t be identical, but it’s close enough that most kids won’t notice.
A short history of the McChicken
The McChicken has been “discontinued” more than once, which is why people still search for it. Here’s the timeline.
- 1980: McDonald’s launches the McChicken. It sells poorly and is replaced by Chicken McNuggets.
- 1988: After McNuggets take off, the McChicken returns.
- September 26, 1996: It’s pulled from U.S. menus for the Crispy Chicken Deluxe.
- 1997: After letters and petitions, it comes back, first as a smaller “Cajun McChicken.”
- About 2001: The name goes back to McChicken, with a milder patty.
- 2018: It’s a $1 item on the $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu.
- April 21, 2026: It joins the new Under $3 Menu and anchors the $5 McChicken Meal Deal.
The 1997 comeback is the part I find most interesting. It’s one of the few times a fast food chain brought a sandwich back mostly because customers complained, and the McChicken has stayed on the menu since.
Common questions about the McChicken
How do you pronounce McChicken?
It’s said “mick-CHICK-in,” with the stress on “chick.” Most people run it together as one word.
Can you get a McChicken during breakfast?
Usually not. Most McDonald’s switch from breakfast to the regular menu at 10:30 a.m. on weekdays, and the McChicken shows up after that. Some 24-hour stores serve the full menu overnight.
Does the McChicken come with cheese or pickles?
No. It comes with shredded lettuce and mayo only. You can add cheese or pickles for a small charge at most restaurants.
Is the McChicken good?
For under $3, yes. It’s crunchy, simple and consistent from store to store. If you expect a thick, juicy chicken fillet, you’ll be happier with the McCrispy.
How can I check the McChicken price near me?
Open the McDonald’s app, choose your nearest restaurant and search the menu for McChicken. The app shows that store’s price and any active deals before you check out.
Before you order, take a quick look at the Deals tab. McChicken offers show up there more often than for almost any other sandwich on the menu.