A McDonald’s cheeseburger contains approximately 13 grams of carbohydrates according to the McDonald’s nutrition information. This comes from the bun, the ketchup and mustard, the pickle, and the McDonald’s special sauce that is used on the burger.
Carbs in a McDonald’s Bun
The bun used on a McDonald’s cheeseburger contains the majority of the carbohydrates. An average McDonald’s bun weighs about 50 grams and contains approximately 23 grams of carbohydrates. Since a full bun is used on a double cheeseburger and only half a bun is used on a single cheeseburger, this means a single cheeseburger bun has about 11-12 grams of carbohydrates.
Carbs in McDonald’s Burger Condiments
In addition to the bun, the condiments and toppings used on a McDonald’s cheeseburger also contribute a small amount of carbohydrates.
- Ketchup – 1 tablespoon (17g) contains around 4g carbs
- Mustard – 1 tablespoon (15g) contains around 1g carbs
- Pickle slices – 1-2 slices contains around 1g carbs
- Special sauce – 1 tablespoon contains around 1g carbs
Since a single McDonald’s cheeseburger likely has around 1 tablespoon each of ketchup and special sauce, 1 teaspoon of mustard, and 1-2 pickle slices, the total carbs from these condiments is approximately 7-8g.
Carbs in McDonald’s Burger Meat
Since the meat patty on a McDonald’s cheeseburger is 100% beef, it contains zero carbohydrates.
Carbs in McDonald’s Burger Cheese
The slice of cheese used on a McDonald’s cheeseburger also contains a negligible amount of carbohydrates. A single slice of pasteurized process American cheese provides less than 1g carbs.
Net Carbs in a McDonald’s Cheeseburger
To get the net carb count of a food, you subtract the amount of fiber since this is not digestible. However, a McDonald’s cheeseburger contains minimal fiber, so the net carbs would be very close to the total carbs.
Conclusion
Based on the nutritional information provided by McDonald’s and the typical serving sizes of each component, a single McDonald’s cheeseburger contains approximately 13 grams of total and net carbohydrates.
The majority of the carbs come from the bun at 11-12g. The condiments and toppings provide the other 1-2 grams of carbs. The meat patty and cheese do not contain any significant amount of carbohydrates.
So in summary, a plain McDonald’s cheeseburger contains around 13g total carbs and net carbs per burger.
McDonald’s Cheeseburger Carb Count
| Item | Grams of Carbs |
|---|---|
| Bun (1/2 bun) | 11-12g |
| Ketchup (1 Tbsp) | 4g |
| Mustard (1 tsp) | 1g |
| Pickles (1-2 slices) | 1g |
| Special Sauce (1 Tbsp) | 1g |
| Beef patty | 0g |
| Cheese (1 slice) | 0g |
| Total | ~13g |
Factors That Influence Carb Count
While the average McDonald’s cheeseburger contains about 13 grams of carbs, there are some factors that can alter the carbohydrate content slightly:
- Bun size – Regular vs quarter pound burger buns differ in weight
- Condiment portions – Amount of sauce and toppings added
- Pickle slices – Usually 1-2 slices but can vary
- Cooking method – Grilling vs frying can change bun absorption
- Location – Menu options and practices may vary
These factors could make the carb count range from around 12-15g for a cheeseburger. But the typical cheeseburger with standard condiments and toppings will provide right around 13 grams of total carbs and net carbs.
How Many Carbs Fit Your Diet?
The number of grams of carbs you can fit into your daily diet will depend on your nutritional goals and any dietary restrictions you may have.
- Standard diet – An average 2,000 calorie diet has a daily allotment of around 250g carbs.
- Low carb diet – Aim for under 130g carbs per day.
- Ketogenic diet – Restrict carbs to 50g or less per day.
- Diabetic diet – Limit refined carbs and follow individualized meal plan.
On a standard 2,000 calorie diet, a McDonald’s cheeseburger with 13g carbs would take up about 5% of your daily carb allowance. For low carb and ketogenic diets, you may want to skip the bun and limit high carb condiments.
Those with diabetes need to not only watch the carb count, but also consider the source and quality of the carbs in a McDonald’s cheeseburger. The refined flour bun and high sugar ketchup are less optimal sources of carbohydrates.
Tips for Ordering a Low Carb McDonald’s Cheeseburger
If you are limiting your carb intake, here are some tips for ordering a McDonald’s cheeseburger that reduces the carbs:
- Skip the bun or order a lettuce wrap
- Limit condiments and sauces
- Ask for extra pickles or onions instead of ketchup or special sauce
- Order a side salad instead of fries
- Choose bottled water or unsweetened iced tea for drink
- Avoid sugary desserts like pie or ice cream
Making these adjustments can reduce the carb count of your McDonald’s cheeseburger meal significantly. This makes it possible to fit a McDonald’s cheeseburger into a low carb, keto, or diabetic diet when you make the right substitutions.
Should You Eat a McDonald’s Cheeseburger on a Low Carb Diet?
While you can make adjustments to reduce the carbs, there are some reasons you may want to avoid cheeseburgers and other fast food on a strict low carb or keto diet:
- Bun-less burgers can be messy to eat
- Lower fiber without bun impacts digestion
- Higher in saturated fat and sodium
- Minimally nutritious due to processing
- Too tempting to add fries and soda
For these reasons, many low carb and keto dieters choose to skip fast food burgers in favor of healthier homemade options. Some more keto-friendly fast food options could include salad entrées or grilled chicken.
However, an occasional cheeseburger without the bun and starchy sides may be acceptable for some following a moderate low carb diet, provided it fits their daily macros. In general though, fast food like McDonald’s may be best limited or avoided on very strict or therapeutic carbohydrate restricted diets.
Other Popular McDonald’s Menu Items
To compare, here is the carb count for some other popular McDonald’s menu items:
| Menu Item | Grams of Carbs |
|---|---|
| Big Mac | 45g |
| Filet-O-Fish | 38g |
| 10pc McNuggets | 26g |
| Medium Fries | 64g |
| Medium Soda | 65g |
| Vanilla Cone | 33g |
| McFlurry | 88g |
As shown, typical McDonald’s burgers, fries, drinks, and desserts are very high in carbohydrates. Sticking to the simplest sandwiches and skipping any sugary drinks or fries is best for limiting carbs.
Should You Eat McDonald’s on a Keto Diet?
The ketogenic diet typically limits carbs to only 50g per day. This means most standard McDonald’s menu items would take up the majority of your daily allowance due to buns, sauces, fries, etc.
By swapping a bun for lettuce and skipping any sides and condiments, you may be able to fit a simple McDonald’s cheeseburger into a keto diet. But this would use up nearly all your carbs for the day.
Most keto experts recommend avoiding fast food burgers and fries altogether. Focus instead on low carb options like grilled chicken or salmon with green veggies to stay under your carb limit and get more nutritional value.
Should You Eat McDonald’s on a Diabetic Diet?
People with diabetes not only have to watch their carb counts, but also need to focus on the source and quality of carbohydrates.
The refined flour buns, high sugar ketchup and soda, and starchy fries at McDonald’s are poor choices for regulating blood sugar levels. These items can spike blood sugar rapidly.
If you do eat an occasional McDonald’s cheeseburger as a diabetic, get it without the bun and condiments. Pair it with a side salad and water instead of fries and soda. And be sure to monitor your blood sugar closely.
In general though, diabetics are better off preparing meals at home where they can control ingredients and carb counts. Fast food is not an optimal choice for diabetes management.
Healthiest Ways to Customize Your McDonald’s Order
While it’s best to limit fast food for health, here are some tips for ordering a more nutritious McDonald’s meal:
- Choose grilled chicken sandwiches instead of burgers
- Skip sugary drinks, opt for water
- Order a side salad with vinaigrette instead of fries
- Add extra veggies like lettuce, tomato, onion
- Limit high carb sauces and condiments
- Have apple slices instead of dessert
Customizing your meal using the tips above can significantly lighten the carb load and improve the nutrition of your McDonald’s order.
Healthier Low Carb Fast Food Options
If you want to keep carbs low but still grab fast food occasionally, here are some healthier low carb meal options:
- Wendy’s – Grilled chicken sandwich or burger in a lettuce wrap
- Chick-fil-A – Grilled nuggets or chicken salad
- Subway – Low carb wraps like lettuce or protein bowls
- Chipotle – Burrito bowl without rice or beans
- Jimmy Johns – Unwich lettuce wrapped sandwiches
Most major chains now offer lower carb alternatives to bread, buns, and fries. Just watch out for sugary drinks and condiments that can add extra unwanted carbs.
Is a McDonald’s Cheeseburger Keto-Friendly?
Although it’s possible to order a McDonald’s cheeseburger without the bun and high-carb toppings, it likely would still contain too many carbs to fit into a ketogenic diet.
Even without the bun and condiments, the ketchup, pickles, special sauce and onions could still total around 5g net carbs. And a plain patty and cheese would lack nutrients and be difficult to eat.
It’s best for keto dieters to avoid fast food burgers and fries altogether. Focus instead on low carb proteins like grilled chicken or steak along with green veggies and healthy fats from avocados, nuts or olive oil.
Bottom Line
A standard McDonald’s cheeseburger contains approximately 13 grams of net carbohydrates, coming mostly from the bun. Removing the bun and limiting condiments can reduce the carbs to fit a moderate low carb diet, but it still may be too high in carbs for keto and diabetic diets.
In general, fast food is not the best option when minimizing carbs or eating healthy. But you can customize orders to make better choices if needed. Focus on grilled proteins, veggies, and water instead of sugary condiments and sides for the healthiest low carb fast food options.
