8 Best Keto Options at McDonald's (2024)

byBrian Nageleupdated December 12, 2023, 2:49 am0 Comments

Welcome to the definitive guide for keto enthusiasts visiting McDonald’s with its iconic golden arches. It could be difficult to locate low-carb solutions in a society full of fast-food temptations. Don’t worry, we’re going to take you on a delicious tour of the greatest keto-friendly options available under those recognizable red roofs. We’ll find the hidden treasures that fit your low-carb lifestyle, from flavorful salads to bunless miracles. Although McDonald’s may not be the first place that springs to mind when thinking about keto, you can enjoy the convenience without sacrificing your nutritional objectives if you make a few thoughtful decisions. As we break down the menu and reinvent your McDonald’s experience on the ketogenic route, get ready to enjoy delicious foods guilt-free.

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit, Without the Biscuit

The bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit is one of McDonald’s most popular breakfast items, and you don’t have to skip out on it just because you’re eating keto-friendly. Without any modifications, this breakfast item comes in at 460 calories and 39 carbs – but a big chunk of those calories and carbs come from the buttermilk biscuit that your egg, bacon, and cheese are sitting on.To make this item keto-friendly, just ask for the sandwich without the biscuit. You’ll still get most of the 17 grams of protein, but without the biscuit, you’ll be making your breakfast low-carb.

Big Mac Without the Bun

Just because you’re on the keto diet doesn’t mean you also can’t enjoy a Big Mac. With pickles, onions, Big Mac sauce, and lettuce, there’s plenty to love about this ingredient-packed sandwich.While it’s certainly not the healthiest item or even the most keto-friendly on the menu, you can still enjoy the sandwich minus the bun without worrying that you’re cheating your diet.Without the bun, the Big Mac offers only 5 grams of carbs, 25 grams of fat, and 18 grams of protein.

Double Cheeseburger With No Bun

You may not be up to eating an entire Big Mac, but the double cheeseburger is just as keto-friendly as long as you skip the bun on this one too. While a cheeseburger may not be as filling as an egg or sausage biscuit, it does have the added perk of being lower in saturated fat.With the bun, the double cheeseburger is only around 450 calories. And, if you ask for the sandwich minus the bun, you’ll get 4 grams of carbs, 20 grams of protein, and 20 grams of fat. Keep in mind that the cheeseburger does come with a pickle, which has an artificial preservative on it. If you’re not a fan of artificial preservatives, you should ask for the cheeseburger without the pickle as well.

Artisan Chicken Sandwich (No Bun)

If you don’t mind grilled chicken over fried, McDonald’s Artisan grilled chicken sandwich is high in protein and one of the more filling keto-friendly choices on McDonald’s menu. Like any sandwich, you’ll need to order this sandwich without the bun to keep it low-carb.Nutritionally, the artisan grilled chicken sandwich has 1 gram of carbs, 33 grams of protein, and 2 grams of fat. Grilled chicken is one of the healthier options on McDonald’s menu. If you don’t think one sandwich is going to be filling enough, you can always pair this item with a side salad, which is another keto-friendly option.

Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McMuffin (No Muffin)

While most of McDonald’s keto-friendly options are on their lunch and dinner menu, one keto item that you can still order for breakfast at McDonald’s includes the sausage, egg, and cheese McMuffin – hold the muffin.Even without the muffin, you’ll still get plenty of protein with the sausage patty and cheese. As far as nutritional information goes, a sausage, egg, and cheese McMuffin that’s minus the muffin still has around 3 grams of carbs, 29 grams of fat, and 16 grams of protein.

Big Breakfast (No Hash Browns or Biscuit)

Sometimes you need something that’s a little more filling than a sandwich for breakfast, and in that case, you may want to try ordering the Big Breakfast. Not only is this dish filling, but if you eliminate the hash browns and the buttermilk biscuit, you can keep your carb count low and turn this item keto-friendly.With the modifications, you’ll still get a healthy helping of scrambled eggs and a sausage patty when you order this item. When it comes to exact carbs and fats, the Big Breakfast does pretty well without the potatoes and bread – there are 2 grams of carbs, 29 grams of fat, and 19 grams of protein.

Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese with No Bun

Sometimes you’re just looking to indulge in something filling, juicy, and cheesy, and there’s almost no better option than McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. This is personally one of my favorite picks from McDonald’s (keto-friendly or not), and fortunately, you can still stick to the keto diet without having to skip it. The only modification you’ll need to make to the quarter pounder is losing the bun.If you don’t mind losing the bun, this may be the most filling keto option at McDonald’s – it has 45 grams of protein, 10 grams of carbs, and 42 grams of fat.

Side Salad

It won’t be as filling as a quarter pounder or a Big Mac, but if you’re looking for something that’s light and keto-friendly in the drive-thru, my recommendation is to skip the fries and go for the side salad instead. Even if it may not fill you up like a full meal, the side salad is chock-full of vegetables that will add plenty of fiber and other valuable nutrients to your meal.You can also order the side salad as an add-on to a sandwich or another menu item. The side salad only has 3 grams of carbs, 0 grams of fat, and only 1 gram of protein.McDonald’s no longer offers chicken salads, but they do have grilled chicken. If you’re looking for more protein, you can ask them to add grilled chicken to your salad, or order the grilled chicken sandwich and add it yourself!