McDonald's under 500 calories: 37 orders, ranked
Of the 66 McDonald's items we track, 37 are single orders at or under 500 calories — 56% of the menu. The most protein in one item under 500 is the McCrispy® Strips, 31 g for 400 calories; the most filling by protein and fiber per calorie is the McCrispy® Strips (31 g protein, 2 g fiber, 400 cal). 27 entrées fit under 500; 21 do not.
Source: healthyfastfood.org (third-party host) · Data refreshed
- 37 orders under 500
- 31g most protein in one item
- 31g protein in a full meal
- 21 entrées over 500
As of September 2026, 37 of the 66 McDonald's items we track fit under 500 calories, and the most protein in a complete McDonald's meal under 500 is 31 g (McCrispy® Strips, Cuties, and a water).
Three complete McDonald's meals under 500 calories
Under 500, the most-protein entrée — the McCrispy® Strips, 400 cal — leaves 100 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). The lightest meal is unchanged from under 400; the others use the extra 100 calories.
Most protein
- McCrispy® Strips400 cal · 31g
- Cuties35 cal · 0g
- Water0 cal
435 of 500 cal · 31 g protein
What to say at the counter: “McCrispy® Strips, Cuties, and a water — 435 cal, 31 g protein.”
Get it at the nearest McDonald's →Most filling
- McCrispy® Strips400 cal · 31g
- Cuties35 cal · 0g
- Water0 cal
435 of 500 cal · 31 g protein
What to say at the counter: “McCrispy® Strips, Cuties, and a water — 435 cal, 31 g protein.”
Get it at the nearest McDonald's →Lightest
- Hamburger250 cal · 12g
- Cuties35 cal · 0g
- Water0 cal
285 of 500 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 500 calories → Swap any item, add a side, share the link.
Every McDonald's order under 500 calories, ranked by protein
Single orders only — no kids' meals, combos, sauces or toppings — by grams of protein, then calories. The median order under 500 is 390 calories and 27 of the 37 are entrées. Figures as McDonald's published them (how we check them).
| # | Item | Calories | Protein | Protein / 100 cal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McCrispy® Strips | 400 | 31g | 7.8g |
| 2 | McCrispy® | 470 | 26g | 5.5g |
| 3 | Double Cheeseburger | 440 | 25g | 5.7g |
| 4 | Hamburger Happy Meal® | 475 | 23g | 4.8g |
| 5 | McDouble® | 390 | 22g | 5.6g |
| 6 | Daily Double | 490 | 22g | 4.5g |
| 7 | Double Hamburger | 330 | 20g | 6.1g |
| 8 | Sausage McMuffin® with Egg | 480 | 20g | 4.2g |
| 9 | Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit (Large Size) | 480 | 19g | 4.0g |
| 10 | Egg McMuffin® | 310 | 17g | 5.5g |
| 11 | Caesar Snack Wrap® | 390 | 17g | 4.4g |
| 12 | Spicy Snack Wrap® | 390 | 17g | 4.4g |
| 13 | Ranch Snack Wrap® | 400 | 17g | 4.3g |
| 14 | Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles® | 430 | 17g | 4.0g |
| 15 | Honey Brown Butter Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit | 490 | 17g | 3.5g |
| 16 | Filet-O-Fish® | 380 | 16g | 4.2g |
| 17 | Chicken McNuggets® (6 Piece) | 270 | 15g | 5.6g |
| 18 | Cheeseburger | 300 | 15g | 5.0g |
| 19 | Sausage McMuffin® | 400 | 14g | 3.5g |
| 20 | McChicken Biscuit | 420 | 14g | 3.3g |
| 21 | 4 Piece Chicken McNuggets® Happy Meal® (6 Piece) | 475 | 14g | 2.9g |
| 22 | Sausage Burrito | 310 | 13g | 4.2g |
| 23 | Egg Cheese Biscuit | 390 | 13g | 3.3g |
| 24 | Hamburger | 250 | 12g | 4.8g |
| 25 | Sausage Biscuit (Large Size) | 490 | 12g | 2.4g |
| 26 | Sausage McGriddles® | 430 | 11g | 2.6g |
| 27 | Bagel (plain) | 270 | 9g | 3.3g |
| 28 | Hot Fudge Sundae | 330 | 8g | 2.4g |
| 29 | Hot Caramel Sundae | 330 | 7g | 2.1g |
| 30 | Fruit & Maple Oatmeal (w/ Brown Sugar) | 310 | 6g | 1.9g |
| 31 | World Famous Fries® (Small) | 230 | 3g | 1.3g |
| 32 | Pumpkin and Creme Pie | 280 | 3g | 1.1g |
| 33 | Strawberry & Creme Pie | 300 | 3g | 1.0g |
| 34 | Hash Browns | 140 | 2g | 1.4g |
| 35 | Chocolate Chip Cookie | 170 | 2g | 1.2g |
| 36 | Baked Apple Pie | 230 | 2g | 0.9g |
| 37 | Cuties | 35 | 0g | 0.0g |
What 500 calories buys at McDonald's
Going from 400 to 500 calories adds 12 orders: McChicken Biscuit (420), Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles® (430), Sausage McGriddles® (430), Double Cheeseburger (440), McCrispy® (470), 4 Piece Chicken McNuggets® Happy Meal® (6 Piece) (475), Hamburger Happy Meal® (475) and Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit (Large Size) (480) and 4 more.
What doesn't fit under 500
21 of 48 McDonald's entrées are over 500 calories; the lightest of them, the Egg and Cheese Bagel, misses by 20 calories at 520. With more room, see McDonald's under 600. Tighter budget: McDonald's under 400. Closest misses: Egg and Cheese Bagel (520), McRib (520), Quarter Pounder® with Cheese (520), Triple Cheeseburger (520) and Deluxe McCrispy® (530).
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 300 calories (11 orders)
- McDonald's under 400 calories (25 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 500 calories at other chains
The same cap at 3 Burgers chains, or the cross-chain pillar: fast food under 500 calories.