The ButterBurger is one of the signature menu items at Culver’s, a fast food restaurant chain located primarily in the Midwestern United States. A standard ButterBurger consists of a buttered bun, beef patty, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and Culver’s sauce. With its buttery bun and juicy patty, the ButterBurger is a indulgent treat for burger lovers. However, with indulgence often comes extra calories. So how many calories are actually in a Culver’s ButterBurger with cheese?
Calories in Each Ingredient
To determine the total calories in a ButterBurger, we need to look at the calories in each ingredient:
Bun
Culver’s uses a signature lightly buttered and toasted bun for the ButterBurger. A standard burger bun contains around 150 calories. Since Culver’s butters and lightly toasts their buns, the bun for a ButterBurger likely contains around 200 calories.
Beef Patty
The beef patties used for Culver’s ButterBurgers are 1/3 pound patties. A standard 1/3 pound burger patty contains about 315 calories. Culver’s likely uses a similar sized patty with comparable calories for their ButterBurgers.
Cheese
The standard cheese offered on a Culver’s ButterBurger is American cheese. A single slice of American cheese contains about 50 calories.
Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles
The lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles on a ButterBurger provide nutrients and flavor, but add minimal calories. Together these veggies likely contribute around 20-30 calories total.
Culver’s Sauce
Every ButterBurger comes topped with Culver’s signature creamy, buttery sauce. Two tablespoons of sauce likely adds around 90 calories.
Total Calories
Adding up the calories from each ingredient gives us a rough total calorie count for a standard Culver’s ButterBurger with cheese:
| Ingredient | Calories |
|---|---|
| Bun | 200 |
| Beef Patty | 315 |
| Cheese | 50 |
| Veggies | 25 |
| Sauce | 90 |
| Total | 680 |
So a standard Culver’s ButterBurger with cheese contains approximately 680 calories. This calorie count is for a single patty burger without any additional toppings or customizations. Additional patties or ingredients like bacon can add significantly more calories.
Nutrition Facts for a ButterBurger with Cheese
While the basic calorie count gives us a good estimate, looking at the complete nutrition facts label provides a full overview of the ButterBurger’s nutritional contents:
| Nutrition Facts | 1 burger |
|---|---|
| Calories | 680 |
| Total Fat | 43g |
| Saturated Fat | 18g |
| Trans Fat | 1.5g |
| Cholesterol | 145mg |
| Sodium | 970mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 34g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g |
| Sugar | 9g |
| Protein | 29g |
As we can see, the ButterBurger delivers a substantial amount of fat and sodium. The saturated fat content is 90% of the recommended daily value. The sodium content is over 40% of the daily recommended value. So while indulgently tasty, consuming a Culver’s ButterBurger with cheese does come with a significant calorie and fat cost.
Ways to Reduce Calories in a ButterBurger
If you want to enjoy a ButterBurger but reduce the calorie count, there are a few tweaks you can make:
– Opt for a single patty instead of a double. This cuts over 300 calories.
– Skip the cheese to save 50 calories.
– Order a lettuce wrap instead of a bun to subtract 200 calories.
– Ask for light sauce or sauce on the side to control how much you use.
– Replace fries with a side salad or side of steamed veggies.
– Split the burger in half and share it with a friend.
– Opt for a chicken or turkey burger instead of beef.
Making combinations of these swaps can really add up in calorie savings while still letting you enjoy the iconic ButterBurger taste.
Comparing ButterBurgers to Other Fast Food Burgers
How does the calorie count of a Culver’s ButterBurger stack up against burgers from other popular fast food chains? Here is a comparison:
| Burger | Calories |
|---|---|
| McDonald’s Big Mac | 540 |
| Burger King Whopper | 670 |
| Wendy’s Baconator | 910 |
| Culver’s ButterBurger with Cheese | 680 |
| Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger | 920 |
| In-N-Out Double Double | 670 |
The ButterBurger comes in on the higher side for calorie count compared to other popular fast food burgers. Only the Wendy’s Baconator and Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger contain more calories. So while indulgent, the ButterBurger has fewer calories than some other premium burgers.
Health Impact of Regularly Eating ButterBurgers
Should you be concerned about frequently eating high calorie ButterBurgers? Here is a look at some of the health impacts of regularly indulging in these burgers:
– Weight gain – At around 680 calories, a ButterBurger contains over 30% of the average adult’s recommended daily calories in just one sandwich. Eating them frequently can easily lead to excessive calorie intake and weight gain over time.
– Increased cholesterol and heart disease risk – The high saturated fat content of the ButterBurgers can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels and increase risk for cardiovascular disease.
– Higher sodium intake – The nearly 1000mg of sodium in a ButterBurger accounts for nearly half of the recommended daily sodium limit. Too much sodium can negatively impact blood pressure.
– Nutritional deficiencies – Burger-heavy diets often lack proper intakes of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients vital for good health. Important food groups like fruits, vegetables and whole grains often get pushed out by excessive burgers.
– Increased cancer risk – Some studies link regular red and processed meat consumption to increased cancer risk. Grilling burgers over high heat produces compounds that may be carcinogenic as well.
Of course, enjoying the occasional ButterBurger likely won’t cause major damage. But making a habit of eating these calorie-laden sandwiches multiple times per week instead of more balanced meals can certainly take its toll on your health over time. Moderation is key when indulging in such decadent burgers.
Healthier Alternative Burger Options
If you want to satisfy a burger craving but make a more waistline and health conscious choice, here are some options to consider:
– Turkey or veggie burgers – Swapping beef for turkey or a plant-based veggie patty slashes fat, calories and cholesterol. Load it up with veggies for more nutrition.
– Lettuce wrap – Ditching the bun eliminates a significant source of refined carbs and calories.
– Build your own burger – Choose lean ground beef or turkey and pile on the veggie toppings while limiting cheese and fatty condiments.
– Portobello mushroom cap – Grilled marinated portobello mushrooms make a hearty, lower cal plant-based burger alternative.
– Salmon burger – Swapping beef for grilled salmon adds anti-inflammatory omega-3s and cuts fat.
– Bean-based veggie burger – Black bean and other legume-based veggie burgers offer protein, fiber and nutrients without the meat.
Taking a more homemade approach to burgers allows you to control the ingredients and nutrition profile. You can still satisfy the burger craving with healthier alternatives.
Conclusion
A Culver’s ButterBurger with cheese contains approximately 680 calories and delivers plenty of saturated fat and sodium. While an indulgent treat on occasion, making a habit of eating these calorie and fat-laden burgers instead of more balanced meals can take a toll on your health and waistline over time. Moderation is key if you want to regularly enjoy ButterBurgers. Making some simple tweaks or swapping in healthier burger alternatives once in a while can also help control your overall calorie intake. Being mindful about your ButterBurger consumption will let you indulge your cravings occasionally while maintaining overall good nutrition.
