McDonald's under 300 calories: 11 orders, ranked
Of the 66 McDonald's items we track, 11 are single orders at or under 300 calories — 17% of the menu. The most protein in one item under 300 is the Chicken McNuggets® (6 Piece), 15 g for 270 calories; the most filling by protein and fiber per calorie is the Chicken McNuggets® (6 Piece) (15 g protein, 1 g fiber, 270 cal). 4 entrées fit under 300; 44 do not.
Source: healthyfastfood.org (third-party host) · Data refreshed
- 11 orders under 300
- 15g most protein in one item
- 15g protein in a full meal
- 44 entrées over 300
As of September 2026, 11 of the 66 McDonald's items we track fit under 300 calories, and the most protein in a complete McDonald's meal under 300 is 15 g (A Chicken McNuggets® (6 Piece) and a water).
Three complete McDonald's meals under 300 calories
Under 300, the most-protein entrée — the Chicken McNuggets® (6 Piece), 270 cal — leaves 30 calories for a side. Entrée first, then a side, then a drink if there is room — the same greedy order the MinMax app uses (water unless a shake adds 10 g of protein).
Most protein
- Chicken McNuggets® (6 Piece)270 cal · 15g
- Water0 cal
270 of 300 cal · 15 g protein
What to say at the counter: “A Chicken McNuggets® (6 Piece) and a water — 270 cal, 15 g protein.”
Get it at the nearest McDonald's →Most filling
- Chicken McNuggets® (6 Piece)270 cal · 15g
- Water0 cal
270 of 300 cal · 15 g protein
What to say at the counter: “A Chicken McNuggets® (6 Piece) and a water — 270 cal, 15 g protein.”
Get it at the nearest McDonald's →Lightest
- Hamburger250 cal · 12g
- Cuties35 cal · 0g
- Water0 cal
285 of 300 cal · 12 g protein
What to say at the counter: “A Hamburger, Cuties, and a water — 285 cal, 12 g protein.”
Get it at the nearest McDonald's →Build your own McDonald's order under 300 calories → Swap any item, add a side, share the link.
Every McDonald's order under 300 calories, ranked by protein
Single orders only — no kids' meals, combos, sauces or toppings — by grams of protein, then calories. The median order under 300 is 250 calories and 4 of the 11 are entrées. Figures as McDonald's published them (how we check them).
| # | Item | Calories | Protein | Protein / 100 cal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chicken McNuggets® (6 Piece) | 270 | 15g | 5.6g |
| 2 | Cheeseburger | 300 | 15g | 5.0g |
| 3 | Hamburger | 250 | 12g | 4.8g |
| 4 | Bagel (plain) | 270 | 9g | 3.3g |
| 5 | World Famous Fries® (Small) | 230 | 3g | 1.3g |
| 6 | Pumpkin and Creme Pie | 280 | 3g | 1.1g |
| 7 | Strawberry & Creme Pie | 300 | 3g | 1.0g |
| 8 | Hash Browns | 140 | 2g | 1.4g |
| 9 | Chocolate Chip Cookie | 170 | 2g | 1.2g |
| 10 | Baked Apple Pie | 230 | 2g | 0.9g |
| 11 | Cuties | 35 | 0g | 0.0g |
What 300 calories buys at McDonald's
The 8 lightest orders under 300: Cuties (35), Hash Browns (140), Chocolate Chip Cookie (170), Baked Apple Pie (230), World Famous Fries® (Small) (230), Hamburger (250), Bagel (plain) (270) and Chicken McNuggets® (6 Piece) (270).
What doesn't fit under 300
44 of 48 McDonald's entrées are over 300 calories; the lightest of them, the Egg McMuffin®, misses by 10 calories at 310. With more room, see McDonald's under 400. Closest misses: Egg McMuffin® (310), Sausage Burrito (310), Double Hamburger (330), Filet-O-Fish® (380) and Caesar Snack Wrap® (390).
Eat at McDonald's without blowing your cap
MinMax finds the best McDonald's meal under your calorie goal — at the location nearest you — and lets you swap items to hit your protein. Free on iPhone.
Download MinMax — free What the app doesMore at McDonald's
- McDonald's calories & nutrition (all 66 items)
- McDonald's under 400 calories (25 orders)
- McDonald's under 500 calories (37 orders)
- McDonald's under 600 calories (54 orders)
- High-protein McDonald's orders (13 items)
- McDonald's calorie calculator (build an order under your cap)
Under 300 calories at other chains
The same cap at 3 Burgers chains, or the cross-chain pillar: fast food under 300 calories.