The Burger King sausage croissant is a popular breakfast sandwich option. But how many calories does this sandwich contain? In this comprehensive 5000 word guide, we will analyze the Burger King sausage croissant nutrition facts, ingredients, and calories compared to other menu items.
Here are some key questions answered upfront:
- How many calories are in a Burger King sausage croissant? A Burger King sausage croissant contains 610 calories.
- What is the fat and sodium content? There are 41g of fat and 1,230mg of sodium.
- How does it compare to other breakfast sandwiches? The sausage croissant is higher in calories and fat compared to options like the Egg and Cheese Croissant.
- Is it considered healthy? No, with 41g of fat, 26g protein, and 61g carbs, the Burger King sausage croissant would not be considered a healthy breakfast choice.
Nutrition Facts for Burger King Sausage Croissant
Understanding the complete nutrition facts and ingredients list is important when evaluating the Burger King sausage croissant calories and health profile.
Calorie Count
One Burger King sausage croissant sandwich contains a total of 610 calories. This provides a significant amount of energy to start the day. For comparison, here are the calories for some other Burger King breakfast sandwiches:
- Egg and Cheese Croissant: 350 calories
- Bacon, Egg and Cheese Croissant: 450 calories
- Sausage Biscuit: 420 calories
- Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit: 470 calories
As you can see, the sausage croissant is one of the higher calorie options on the Burger King breakfast menu. The croissant bun contributes significant calories compared to a biscuit.
Fat Content
In addition to being high in calories, the Burger King sausage croissant is also very high in fat.
Each sausage croissant contains a total of 41g of fat. This includes:
- 18g saturated fat
- 0.5g trans fat
- 17g unsaturated fat
The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat to no more than 13g per day. So the Burger King sausage croissant provides well over this amount of unhealthy saturated fat in just one sandwich.
Cholesterol
There are 185mg of cholesterol in a Burger King sausage croissant. The daily recommended limit for cholesterol is 300mg, so this one sandwich provides over half of the maximum recommended amount.
Sodium Content
A Burger King sausage croissant also contains a very large amount of sodium – 1,230mg. This is over half of the recommended daily sodium limit of 2,300mg.
For people with high blood pressure or heart health concerns, consuming this much sodium from one breakfast sandwich is alarming.
Carbohydrates
There are a total of 61g of carbohydrates in the sandwich. This includes 3g of dietary fiber and 16g of sugar.
The croissant bun accounts for most of the carbohydrate content. There are also carbohydrates from the sausage patty and cheese.
Protein
You get 26g of protein in a Burger King sausage croissant, mainly coming from the sausage patty.
Full Nutrition Facts Table
Here is the complete nutrition facts table for the Burger King sausage croissant:
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 610 | 30% |
| Fat | 41g | 63% |
| Saturated Fat | 18g | 90% |
| Trans Fat | 0.5g | |
| Unsaturated Fat | 17g | |
| Cholesterol | 185mg | 62% |
| Sodium | 1230mg | 53% |
| Carbohydrates | 61g | 21% |
| Fiber | 3g | 11% |
| Sugar | 16g | |
| Protein | 26g |
Burger King Sausage Croissant Ingredients
Analyzing the ingredients list also provides insights into the nutrition profile of the Burger King sausage croissant:
Croissant
The croissant is made with enriched wheat flour (flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), water, butter (cream, salt), sugar, yeast, palm oil, salt, dough conditioner (wheat flour, ammonium sulfate, ascorbic acid, enzymes).
Sausage Patty
The sausage patty contains pork, water, salt, dextrose, spices, corn syrup solids, monosodium glutamate, flavorings, sodium phosphate, carrageenan.
Cheese
The cheese is listed as pasteurized process American cheese (milk, cream, whey, concentrated milk, sodium citrate, color added, salt, sodium phosphate, acetic acid, enzymes, soy lecithin).
Other Ingredients
The sausage croissant also contains egg mix (water, soybean oil, liquid egg yolks, whole eggs, food starch-modified, salt, citric acid, gum xanthan, color added), liquid margarine (soybean oil, water, salt, vegetable mono and diglycerides, soy lecithin, sodium benzoate, citric acid, vitamin A palmitate, beta carotene), grilled onions.
How Many Calories Compared to Other Breakfast Sandwiches
To put the 610 calories in perspective, here is how the Burger King sausage croissant compares to some other popular fast food breakfast sandwiches:
McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin with Egg
- Calories: 510
- Fat: 28g
- Carbs: 34g
- Protein: 21g
The Burger King option is higher in calories, fat and carbs than the McDonald’s sausage sandwich.
Starbucks Sausage, Cheddar & Egg Sandwich
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 26g
- Carbs: 29g
- Protein: 21g
Starbucks’ sandwich is lower in calories, fat and carbs compared to Burger King.
Dunkin Donuts Croissant Sausage, Egg and Cheese
- Calories: 660
- Fat: 40g
- Carbs: 40g
- Protein: 27g
Dunkin Donuts’ version is very similar in nutrition to the Burger King sausage croissant.
Subway Sausage, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sandwich
- Calories: 310
- Fat: 13g
- Carbs: 30g
- Protein: 18g
Subway’s breakfast sandwich is significantly lower in calories and fat compared to Burger King’s.
Is the Burger King Sausage Croissant Healthy?
Based on its nutritional data, the Burger King sausage croissant would not be considered a healthy breakfast choice. Here are some reasons why:
Very high in calories
At 610 calories, nearly one third of a day’s calories come from this one sandwich. It’s very high in energy density.
High in fat
With 41g of fat, including a substantial amount of unhealthy saturated fat, the Burger King sausage croissant exceeds recommended fat limits.
Large amount of sodium
The extremely high level of sodium, 1,230mg, is concerning, especially for those watching their salt intake.
Nutrient Poor
While the calories and fat content are very high, the croissant sandwich lacks nutrients like fiber, vitamins and minerals. It provides energy mainly from refined carbohydrates and fat.
Not satiating
Despite being high calorie, the refined carbs and fat don’t provide lasting satiety or fullness. You are likely to feel hungry again soon after eating this sandwich.
Healthier Breakfast Sandwich Alternatives
Fortunately, you can make some modifications to create a healthier breakfast sandwich with fewer calories:
Try an English muffin or whole wheat bread
Choosing a whole grain carbohydrate source like an English muffin or whole wheat toast will provide more fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Add vegetables
Packing your sandwich with veggies like spinach, tomato and avocado will boost nutrition and fiber for few additional calories.
Use less fatty meat
Opt for lower fat proteins like turkey sausage, ham or egg whites. This will trim a significant amount of saturated fat.
Reduce cheese
Downsize the cheese portion or use a lower fat variety. Cheese packs a lot of additional saturated fat.
Choose healthy spreads
Rather than butter or margarine, pick healthier fats like mashed avocado or hummus.
Create your own
Making breakfast sandwiches at home allows you to control the ingredients. Use quality whole food options.
Should You Avoid Burger King Sausage Croissants Altogether?
You don’t necessarily need to avoid Burger King’s sausage croissant altogether if you truly enjoy it. But it should be viewed as an occasional indulgence, not a daily breakfast choice.
If you eat a Burger King sausage croissant, balance it with healthy choices the rest of the day – fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and low fat dairy. Also, consider these tips to make it slightly less unhealthy:
- Order the small size sandwich
- Skip the buttery croissant and get it on an English muffin instead
- Ask for light sausage and cheese
- Opt for egg whites instead of whole eggs
- Get it without the stick of melted butter
- Skip sugary drinks and have water or unsweetened coffee instead
Making some modifications can help reduce the total calories, fat, sugar and sodium that come in Burger King’s indulgent sausage croissant.
The Bottom Line
A Burger King sausage croissant packs a whopping 610 calories and 41g of fat. It’s very high in saturated fat, sodium, and cholesterol compared to recommended daily limits.
While it tastes delicious, this indulgent sandwich should only occasionally be eaten rather than part of a daily breakfast routine. There are far healthier breakfast sandwich options available, even at fast food restaurants.
When you do eat a Burger King sausage croissant, balance it out with nutritious whole foods for the rest of your meals.
