Is McDonald's patty keto?

Hamburger This classic McDonald's menu item is another decent budget option if you want to eat keto at McDonald's! As always, order without the bun and ketchup. This rule goes for all the burgers that follow in the rest of this list - NO KETCHUP, NO BUN!

thedietchefs.com - 19+ Low Carb Keto McDonalds Menu Items You HAVE To Try

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Whether you’re traveling, in a hurry, or just don’t want to give up the beloved fast-food chain, there are many ways you can order low carb and keto at McDonald’s! So, I taste-tested and compiled a list of all the keto options you can have at McDonald’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! All of these ideas are all below 5 net carbs and cost less than $7.

Low Carb Keto Menu Items at McDonald’s

So, I know what you’re thinking about coming into this article:

“Keto options at McDonald’s, Joe? Really?”

But hear me out!

Though McDonald’s isn’t everyone’s first choice when it comes to great low carb fast food, it can come in handy for sticking to your keto diet when you’re traveling or are in a hurry. Plus, not everyone has access to quality ingredients (especially in these times) or the free time to cook at home, so this can be a quick & convenient option for when you need it!

Also, McDonald’s can be super nostalgic!

So if you’re anything like me, you might enjoy a little taste of that classic McDonald’s sausage patty while still maintaining your low carb diet.

So, have I convinced you yet?

Good.

Now let’s get into the list!

What to Avoid for Keto at McDonald’s

Drinks and Desserts

The first thing you want to avoid is the soft drinks since these are loaded with sugar and unnecessary carbs and calories. However, you can opt for a diet soda since those have 0 net carbs. Some more sugary menu items on the McDonald’s menu are the ice creams and milkshakes - those are another no-go.

Lastly, you’ll want to stay away from the sugar-free coffee options.

They may be sugar-free, but they aren’t carb-free.

Instead, you can order black coffee and bring your low carb sweeteners like Stevia, Swerve, Or Monk Fruit.

Breads & Breaded Items

Of course, breads, and breaded items are totally out of the question.

That means buns, biscuits, muffins, wraps, bagels, or anything else breaded like the chicken nuggets and crispy chicken sandwiches. That said, you can easily substitute any buns or wraps with my keto cloud bread, keto sandwich bread, or keto tortillas! You can make them ahead of time – you’ll only need a few pantry staples, plus, they’re super quick & easy!

Sauces & Dressings

You’ll also obviously want to avoid the french fries and ketchup. And ketchup comes on almost EVERY SANDWICH so make sure to ALWAYS ASK FOR NO KETCHUP! Instead of ketchup on your burger, you can order mustard or mayo, which both have 0 net carbs! Oh, and if you’ve made some of my recipes like my keto BBQ chicken or my low carb meatloaf, you probably already have keto-friendly ketchup lying around! So, just bring your own. Along the same lines as the ketchup are the salad dressing options - those add a lot of unnecessary carbs and calories.

I recommend making your own using the available dipping sauces.

The creamy ranch dipping sauce and the buffalo dipping sauce both have only 1 net carb. You can mix them to make an delicious low carb spicy ranch dressing to add to your burgers or salads!

Using the McDonald’s App for Keto Orders

My biggest pro-tip for anyone on the keto diet is to order through the McDonald’s mobile app as I did. It’s the best way to get all the details of your – let’s be honest – kind of complicated keto order right, and it’s super convenient since you just have to pick it up! Plus, there are usually some deals on the app that can save you a little extra money that you wouldn’t know if you’re just using the drive-thru.

Keto Breakfast Options on the McDonald’s Menu

McDonald’s breakfast menu is so popular that it’s become an all-day thing in many places. So, here are some of the breakfast items you can order and how to make them keto!

1. Sausage McMuffin

To make the classic McMuffin keto, you just have to order it without the muffin. What you end up with is a sausage patty topped with a slice of cheese. The price comes out to $1.89 and only has 2 net carbs! And, in terms of calories, you’re looking at about 260 calories By the way, I think this would be the perfect time to whip out your keto cloud bread!

2. Egg McMuffin

To make the Egg McMuffin keto, order it without the muffin. You'll end up getting a rounded egg, cheese, and some Canadian bacon. Though it’s a little more expensive at $4.00, you’re getting some more protein from that rounded egg. By the way, the rounded egg only has 1 carb, which makes it the lowest carb egg option in McDonald’s!

Plus, it’s the only egg item at McDonald’s that’s cooked fresh on-site!

All told, if you order your Egg McMuffin like this, it will end up having just 3 net carbs and 260 calories. Pro-tip, try pairing this Egg McMuffin order with one of these keto yogurts to round out your breakfast.

3. Sausage, Egg, & Cheese McMuffin

When you order this with no muffin, you get the classic McDonald’s sausage patty, a rounded egg, and a slice of cheese. At $2.00, you’re getting the best value out of this one compared to the other McMuffin options.

And the whole thing has just 3 net carbs and 340 calories.

Honestly, this beats the Egg McMuffin, in my opinion. I just love the sausage patty – flavorful and tasty! Also, this keto McMuffin pairs perfectly with this keto smoothie recipe. So if you want to make yourself the ultimate keto breakfast, give that combo a shot.

4. Egg Biscuit

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So another trendy breakfast menu item at McDonald’s has got to be the biscuit sandwiches. And you can make any of the biscuit sandwiches low carb and keto by simply ordering them without the biscuit. If you order the Egg biscuit like this, you’ll get a McDonald’s folded egg – I call it the fluffy egg. Anyways, this keto McDonald's order will have just 2 net carbs and just 70 calories.

Also, it's worth mentioning, this is priced at $2.29.

So, honestly, a little steep for an egg.

Between you and me, I would go for the other biscuit varieties I talk about below for a better value. However, if you’re trying to go as low carb and low calorie as possible, this is your best bet from the McDonald’s breakfast menu! By the way, for more keto breakfast ideas, check out this list of healthy cereal options. There's a ton of great low carb options on it.

5. Sausage Biscuit

This low-carb breakfast option is actually from the dollar menu, so it’ll only cost you $1.00! Once again, you’ll want to order it with no biscuit so you get a plain McDonald’s sausage patty – which you can sandwich between some pieces of keto bread – at just 1 net carb and 190 calories. If you want, you can also order a slice of cheese to add on top (you can also do this for the first biscuit) for an additional carb.

6. Bacon, Egg, & Cheese Biscuit

For this McDonald’s biscuit ordered without a biscuit, you’ll receive a fluffy folded egg, some bacon, and some melted cheese for a total of $3.99. All told, the whole thing is just 2 net carbs and just 180 calories.

Not too shabby for a keto bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, eh?!

What I loved about this Bacon, Egg, & Cheese combo was that awesome bacon – its smoky & salty flavor paired wonderfully with that rich cheese and soft, fluffy egg.

It hits the spot!

7. Sausage, Egg, & Cheese Biscuit

The main difference is the McDonald’s sausage patty, which bumps the total price up to $4.39. Honestly, even though the price point is a little high, I enjoyed the nostalgia from this flavorful McDonald’s breakfast sausage. When it's combined with the fluffy & delicious egg, and the soft melted cheese, it reminds me of my childhood. My grandma used to take me to McDonald’s when I was a kid, and this was always my order. Anyways, when comparing this to the Bacon, Egg, & Cheese combo, both are absolute winners – but the sausage version gets a couple of extra points for nostalgia. By the way, this menu item comes out to 3 net carbs and 270 calories.

8. Bacon, Egg, & Cheese McGriddle

Of course, no McDonald’s breakfast list would be complete without the McGriddle!

But obviously, we’ll be ordering them with no griddle cakes.

Basically, you’re getting some of that delicious bacon, a fluffy folded egg, and some cheese. And the price comes out to $3.99 with 3 net carbs and 270 calories – pretty much the same thing as the biscuit!

9. Sausage Burrito

So McDonald’s didn’t have this when I went, but I know that if you order this without the tortilla shell (use my keto tortillas instead!), it comes out to 4 net carbs. And if you order it with no cheese, you can bring that down to just 3 net carbs!

That said, as far as the price goes it's $1.29.

Keto Burger Options at McDonald’s

Of course, we’ll also be talking about the McDonald’s burgers, and how you can make them low carb and keto-friendly! The pro-tip for all of these menu items below is to order them no bun and no ketchup. You can order them with some extra shredded lettuce or side salad to make a full meal!

Or, you can also substitute the bun with some homemade keto bread.

I highly recommend this keto cloud bread – it has the right shape and texture to imitate a burger bun, plus it has 0 net carbs!

1. Hamburger

This classic McDonald’s menu item is another decent budget option if you want to eat keto at McDonald’s!

As always, order without the bun and ketchup.

This rule goes for all the burgers that follow in the rest of this list - NO KETCHUP, NO BUN! What you get for $1 is a burger patty with pickles, lettuce, and onions. Though something to keep in mind is that the burger you’re getting isn’t exactly the highest quality meat since we are ordering from the dollar menu. And then you can always throw on some mustard, mayo, or the spicy buffalo ranch mix I recommended earlier for the dressing. All told, this comes out to 0 net carbs – add 1 net carb if you’re including shredded lettuce and 1 net carb for any keto-friendly dips you add – and just 90 calories!

2. Cheeseburger

So when you make this keto, you get a beef patty, cheese, mustard, onions, and pickles. The whole thing comes out to $1.49 for 2 net carbs and 140 calories. Cheeseburgers are honestly such a great comfort food – I even have an easy keto cheeseburger casserole recipe on my blog – so this would be wonderful sandwiched between some keto bread or as a cheeseburger salad!

3. McDouble

For more protein, you can get the McDouble instead of the cheeseburger – you also get cheese, mustard, pickles, and onions but with some added lettuce and twice the amount of beef! At $1.89, you’re only paying $0.40 more than the cheeseburger, which is a pretty good deal. Overall, the McDouble without buns or ketchup has 3 net carbs and 220 calories.

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4. Double Cheeseburger

Another affordable option for keto at McDonald’s comes from the $2 menu.

For the additional 11 cents, you’re getting the same ingredients as the McDouble but with twice the amount of cheese! This order is also 3 net carbs and has a slightly higher calorie count of 290 calories.

5. Triple Cheeseburger

If you can spare another dollar, you can get the Triple Cheeseburger for an additional beef patty. I think the best move with this order is to get a side salad with it and make a big-time cheeseburger salad!

Seriously, for just $3 you end up with a ton of food.

Plus, it has just 3 net carbs!

And if you’re also counting your calorie intake, you’re looking at about 360 calories.

6. Quarter Pounder

Honestly, this has got to be my favorite keto option from everything I’ve tried so far on the McDonald’s menu. Minus the buns and ketchup, you get lettuce, pickles, onions, mustard, cheese, and a way better quality beef patty.

Honestly, it’s one of the nicer looking burgers on this list!

At $5.29 it’s obviously not the cheapest burger at McDonald’s, but the patty quality definitely makes a difference, so I recommend giving it a try!

Also, it’s just 3 net carbs and 310 calories.

7. Double Quarter Pounder

So, the Double Quarter Pounder (why don’t they just call it the Half Pounder!?) comes with two quality beef patties, two slices of cheese, and the usual lettuce, pickles, onions, and mustard – all the good stuff. Now, you’re getting a lot more meat but paying a premium of $6.99 or basically $7 – just something to keep in mind!

All told, this comes out to 4 net carbs and 520 calories.

8. Big Mac

Last but not least is the famous Big Mac.

And you can easily make this keto. Order it with no bun and no big mac sauce – the sauce adds 2g extra carbs! What you end up with is 2 slices of cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles, and a couple of beef patties. Now, something that surprised me was that you’re getting the same beef patties as the burgers from the dollar menu! So obviously, you’ll want to go for the Quarter Pounder in terms of beef quality.

Especially because at $5.19, there’s only a 10 cent price difference.

By the way, if you are getting the Big Mac, you can sub in mayo for the big mac sauce and save yourself some carbs. And if you order the McDonald’s Big Mac this way, it has about 3 net carbs and 240 calories.

Keto Chicken and Salad Options at McDonald’s

Now, there were actually a few things I couldn’t order at McDonald’s since produce is a little harder to come by these days. However, if you can get these at your McDonald’s, I’ve included my pro-tips for making them keto, and their total carb counts below!

1. Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich

But if you’re really craving for chicken, you can get the Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich. Just order it with no bun for a total of 2 net carbs!

And FYI, this sandwich costs $4.39.

2. Bacon Ranch Grilled Chicken Salad

McDonald’s didn’t have any salads available when I went, but I highly recommend trying this bacon and chicken salad if you get the chance! To make it keto, order with no cheese, no tomato, and no dressing – you can order the ranch dipping sauce as a substitute with just 1 net carb!

By the way, this salad will run you $4.59

3. Side Salad

As I’ve mentioned, you should definitely consider adding a side salad to any of your burger orders at McDonald’s if you can! They’re super low carb and low calorie. And, you can make a super quick burger bowl or burger salad. Make sure to order your side salad with no tomatoes to make it just 1 net carb!

With the tomatoes, it'll be 2 net carbs.

And as far as the price goes, it's $1.59.

Other On-The-Go Keto Options

If you haven’t read it yet, I recommend checking out my other article on keto options at Taco Bell! Honestly, I found a lot more great value orders there compared to my McDonald’s haul. And also, if you’re passing by Walmart, I have a great list of keto snack ideas at Walmart. The list features a TON of really great quick, easy, on the go travel-friendly keto snack options - and while you're their you might want to check out some of these low carb beer options. And, of course, if Starbucks is your thing, I put together a full list of all the best keto drinks and snacks you can get there too. Oh, and I recently did a breakdown of all the best keto orders at Chick-Fil-A and Subway.

Those are definitely worth a look too.

By the way, if you're trying to lose weight, you might even like this list of the best pre workout for weight loss, this list of the best protein bars for weight loss, or this list of the best home exercise equipment for weight loss as well.

Anyway, I hope this list helps you with your keto journey!

As always, sound off in the comments if you tried any of these keto options at McDonald’s or if you have more ideas for posts like these that you want to see!

thedietchefs.com - 19+ Low Carb Keto McDonalds Menu Items You HAVE To Try