McDonald’s is known for its mouthwatering burgers, fried sides, sodas and shakes, which are often high in calories. Among McDonald’s sauce offerings is the BBQ sauce packet. While tasty, some health-conscious consumers may wonder about the calorie count of this popular condiment.
Quick Answer
A standard McDonald’s BBQ sauce packet contains 20 calories.
Calorie Count of McDonald’s BBQ Sauce Packet
McDonald’s offers BBQ sauce as a condiment option for burgers, chicken sandwiches, nuggets and fries. The BBQ sauce comes in a 0.28 oz packet. Each 0.28 oz packet contains:
- 20 calories
- 160 mg sodium
- 4 g sugar
The calories come mostly from added sugars. A single BBQ sauce packet contains 4 grams of sugar. There are 4 calories per gram of sugar, so the 4 grams accounts for 16 of the 20 calories.
The other ingredients – tomatoes, vinegar, molasses, food starch, soybean oil, liquid smoke flavoring, spices, onion, natural flavor, garlic, caramel color and more – make up the remaining calories.
BBQ Sauce Packet Nutrition Facts
Here is the full nutrition information for a McDonald’s BBQ sauce packet (1 packet or 0.28 oz):
| Nutrition Facts | Amount | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 20 | 1% |
| Total Fat 0 g | 0% | |
| Sodium 160 mg | 7% | |
| Total Carbohydrate 4 g | 1% | |
| – Sugars | 4 g | |
| Protein 0 g |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
As you can see, the BBQ sauce packet is low in calories and fat but contains a considerable amount of sodium. There are 160 mg sodium in one packet, which is 7% of the recommended daily value.
Comparing McDonald’s BBQ Sauce to Other Condiments
How do the calories in a McDonald’s BBQ sauce packet compare to other popular McDonald’s condiments?
Here’s a look at the calories per packet for other McDonald’s sauces and condiments:
| Sauce | Calories per Packet |
|---|---|
| Ketchup | 15 |
| BBQ Sauce | 20 |
| Ranch | 35 |
| Honey | 20 |
| Sweet ‘N Sour | 40 |
| Mustard | 0 |
The BBQ sauce packet is moderate in calories compared to other McDonald’s sauces. It has more calories than ketchup and mustard (which has 0 calories) but less than ranch, honey and sweet ‘n sour sauce.
How Many Calories in Larger Servings of McDonald’s BBQ Sauce?
So far we’ve looked at calories per individual packet. But what if you use more than one packet of McDonald’s BBQ sauce?
Here are the calories for larger serving sizes of McDonald’s BBQ sauce:
| BBQ Sauce Amount | Calories |
|---|---|
| 1 packet (0.28 oz) | 20 |
| 2 packets (0.56 oz) | 40 |
| 3 packets (0.84 oz) | 60 |
| 1 oz | 71 |
| 1/4 cup (2 oz) | 142 |
| 1/2 cup (4 oz) | 284 |
As expected, the calories scale up linearly with increased sauce amounts. Using 3 packets would provide 60 calories, while 1/4 cup of sauce would give you 142 calories.
Is McDonald’s BBQ Sauce Healthy?
Is McDonald’s BBQ sauce a healthy option compared to other BBQ sauces?
Here is how it compares per tablespoon serving:
| BBQ Sauce (1 Tbsp) | Calories | Sugar (g) | Sodium (mg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s | 24 | 1 | 40 |
| Sweet Baby Ray’s (original) | 17 | 3 | 130 |
| Kraft (original) | 15 | 4 | 160 |
| Stubbs (original) | 15 | 4 | 260 |
McDonald’s BBQ sauce is moderately higher in calories but contains less sugar and sodium compared to leading BBQ sauce brands like Sweet Baby Ray’s, Kraft and Stubbs.
Overall, McDonald’s BBQ sauce is about average in nutritional value compared to other commercial BBQ sauces.
Calories in BBQ Sauce for McDonald’s Menu Items
Now let’s take a look at how many calories BBQ sauce adds to popular McDonald’s menu items.
Here are calories with and without 1 packet of BBQ sauce for some common McDonald’s burgers, chicken sandwiches and sides:
| Menu Item | Calories | Calories with BBQ Sauce |
|---|---|---|
| Hamburger | 250 | 270 |
| Cheeseburger | 300 | 320 |
| Big Mac | 540 | 560 |
| McChicken | 350 | 370 |
| 10pc McNuggets | 470 | 490 |
| Small Fries | 230 | 250 |
Adding a packet of BBQ sauce only increases calories by 20 for each menu item. So while BBQ sauce does add some extra calories, it’s a relatively small amount compared to the total calories of McDonald’s burgers, nuggets and fries.
Does McDonald’s BBQ Sauce Affect Weight Gain?
Will the calories in McDonald’s BBQ sauce lead to weight gain if you use it frequently?
The calories in a BBQ sauce packet are minimal (just 20 calories), but they can add up if you use multiple packets.
Here’s how many BBQ sauce packets you would need to consume to gain 1 pound:
- 1 pound of fat = 3,500 calories
- Calories in 1 BBQ sauce packet = 20
- 3,500 calories / 20 calories per packet = 175 packets
It would take about 175 packets of McDonald’s BBQ sauce to gain 1 pound of fat. That’s a lot of sauce packets!
An occasional BBQ sauce packet is unlikely to significantly impact weight. But regularly using multiple packets with your meal could contribute small amounts of extra calories that add up over time.
To prevent overuse, stick to the standard 1 packet per meal and account for the 20 calories by balancing it out elsewhere in your daily calorie intake.
Tips for Enjoying McDonald’s BBQ Sauce
Here are some tips for enjoying McDonald’s BBQ sauce without overdoing the calories:
- Use just 1 packet per meal
- Pair it with lower calorie menu items like hamburgers, grilled or crispy chicken sandwiches
- Skip the sauce when having higher calorie items like Big Macs or large fries
- Ask for sauce on the side and dip lightly rather than pouring directly on food
- Balance calories by cutting back on other high-calorie sauces and condiments in your meal
- Request less calorie-dense alternatives like mustard, vinegar or buffalo sauce
- Order a side salad instead of fries for dipping in BBQ sauce
With smart choices, you can work McDonald’s BBQ sauce into your meal without going overboard on calories.
Which McDonald’s Menu Items Pair Best with BBQ Sauce?
The BBQ sauce brings a sweet, tangy and smoky flavor that pairs well with many McDonald’s menu items.
Here are some of the best menu items to enjoy with McDonald’s BBQ sauce:
Burgers
BBQ sauce is a classic pairing for beef burgers. It goes great with any McDonald’s burger, especially the:
- Hamburger
- Cheeseburger
- Quarter Pounder
- Double Quarter Pounder
- Big Mac
Chicken Sandwiches
The sweet BBQ flavor complements chicken sandwiches like the:
- McChicken
- Crispy Chicken Sandwich
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich
- Spicy Chicken Sandwich
Chicken Nuggets
BBQ sauce is a popular dip for chicken nuggets and strips:
- Chicken McNuggets
- Buttermilk Crispy Tenders
French Fries
Dipping fries in BBQ sauce is a tasty combination. It goes well with:
- Small, medium or large fries
- Any size of shared McDonald’s Fries
Conclusion
McDonald’s BBQ sauce delivers signature sweet and smoky barbecue flavor with just 20 calories per packet. While not the lowest calorie sauce option, it can be enjoyed in moderation without significant impact to your daily calorie intake. Stick to one packet per meal, pair it with lighter menu items, and balance it out with smarter choices for the rest of your meal.
