The Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger at Wendy’s contains approximately 870 calories. This burger features two quarter pound beef patties, smoked bacon, American cheese, bourbon bacon sauce, crispy fried onions, pickles, and a toasted bun.
Calories are an important consideration when choosing menu items at fast food restaurants like Wendy’s. With rising rates of obesity and diet-related diseases, many consumers want to be informed about the calorie content of the food they eat so they can make healthier choices. Wendy’s provides nutrition information for all of its menu items, but digging into the details can be challenging. This article will analyze the calorie content of one of Wendy’s most popular burgers – the Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger.
Overview of the Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger
The Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger is one of Wendy’s premium burger offerings. It contains the following ingredients:
- Two quarter pound beef patties
- Two slices of melty American Cheese
- Applewood smoked bacon
- Bourbon bacon sauce
- Crispy fried onions
- Pickle slices
- Toasted bun
The combination of juicy beef patties, smoky bacon, gooey cheese, sweet bourbon sauce, and crunchy onions make this a standout burger option for Wendy’s customers looking for an indulgent, flavorful sandwich.
Determining the Calorie Count
So just how many calories are packed into the Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger? Let’s break it down ingredient by ingredient.
Beef Patties
The Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger starts with two quarter pound fresh, never frozen beef patties. Each quarter pound patty contains approximately 340 calories, so two patties is 680 calories.
Cheese
The burger comes with two slices of melty American cheese. Each slice of American cheese adds about 50 calories, so two slices equals 100 calories.
Bacon
What would a bacon cheeseburger be without the bacon? The Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger comes with two slices of applewood smoked bacon. Each slice of bacon has around 40 calories, so two slices adds 80 calories.
Bourbon Bacon Sauce
The signature bourbon bacon sauce gives this burger its distinctive sweet and smoky flavor. A serving of the bourbon bacon sauce contains around 90 calories.
Crispy Onions
For an extra crunch, the Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger is topped with crispy fried onions. A serving of the crispy onions adds about 70 calories.
Pickle Slices
A few tangy pickle slices add flavor without too many calories. Two pickle slices contain about 5 calories.
Bun
Finally, all of the ingredients are sandwiched between a toasted bun. The bun used for the Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger has around 150 calories.
Total Calorie Count
Adding up the calories from each ingredient gives us the total calorie count for the whole Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger:
| Ingredient | Calories |
|---|---|
| Beef Patties | 680 |
| Cheese | 100 |
| Bacon | 80 |
| Bourbon Bacon Sauce | 90 |
| Crispy Onions | 70 |
| Pickle Slices | 5 |
| Bun | 150 |
| Total Calories | 870 |
So the total calorie count for a Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger at Wendy’s comes out to approximately 870 calories.
Nutritional Context
To put the 870 calories into context, here is how it compares to the recommended daily calorie intake for adult men and women:
- Recommended calories per day for an average sedentary adult woman: 2,000
- Recommended calories per day for an average sedentary adult man: 2,500
So the Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger contains 43% of the recommended daily calories for an average sedentary woman, and 35% for an average sedentary man. For someone who is more active, the percentage would be lower, but still quite substantial.
Comparing Burger Calorie Counts
The Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger is one of the higher calorie options on Wendy’s menu. Here is how it compares to some other Wendy’s burgers:
| Burger | Calories |
|---|---|
| Junior Hamburger | 260 |
| Classic Single | 410 |
| Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger | 870 |
| Baconator | 930 |
The Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger has over double the calories of a Junior Hamburger and about half the calories of the highest calorie Baconator burger. So while it’s one of Wendy’s higher calorie options, it’s by no means the most caloric item on the menu.
Lower Calorie Options at Wendy’s
For consumers who want to watch their calorie intake, Wendy’s does offer some lower calorie alternatives, such as:
- Junior Hamburger – 260 calories
- Crispy Chicken Sandwich – 340 calories
- 4 piece Chicken Nuggets – 190 calories
- Garden Side Salad with dressing – 60-270 calories
- Baked Potato – 270 calories
- Chili – 190 calories
Choosing lower calorie sides and toppings can also help reduce the calorie count of any Wendy’s meal.
Tips for Consuming High Calorie Burgers
For those who want to occasionally enjoy indulgent burgers like the Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger while watching their overall calorie intake, here are some tips:
- Order a smaller size burger or skip extras like bacon and extra cheese
- Swap the fries for a lower calorie side like a salad or chili
- Split the burger with a friend or eat half now and half later
- Drink water or unsweetened tea instead of high calorie soda
- Balance out the meal with lower calorie foods for the rest of the day
- Exercise a bit more before or after eating a high calorie meal to burn additional calories
The Importance of Portion Control
Portion control is key when consuming high calorie menu items like the Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger. Even healthy foods can lead to weight gain if consumed in large portions. Here are some tips for keeping portions under control:
- Read nutrition labels to understand appropriate serving sizes
- Use smaller plates, bowls, and utensils to avoid over-serving
- Measure out snacks like nuts or chips into single-size servings
- Refrigerate or freeze leftovers immediately so overeating is less tempting
- Slow down eating and savor each bite to prevent overconsumption
- Drink water before and during meals to help feel satiated
The Role of Exercise
No matter what your diet looks like, getting regular exercise is vitally important for health, fitness, and weight management. To burn off the 870 calories in a Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger, here is how much exercise would be required for a 155 pound person:
| Activity | Calories Burned |
|---|---|
| Walking (3mph) | 2 hours |
| Jogging (5mph) | 1 hour 10 minutes |
| Hiking | 1 hour 25 minutes |
| Cycling (moderate effort) | 1 hour |
| Swimming laps | 50 minutes |
As this shows, burning off a high calorie meal requires a significant amount of physical activity. But exercise has so many benefits beyond calorie burn, so it is recommended even for people who consume fast food in moderation.
The Bottom Line
The Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger from Wendy’s packs a caloric punch at 870 calories. While an occasional indulgence is unlikely to cause harm for most people, consuming burgers like this too frequently can lead to weight gain and associated health issues. Being mindful of portion sizes, balancing out high calorie meals, and staying active are all keys to enjoying treats like the Bourbon Bacon Cheeseburger while maintaining overall health.
