Quick Answer
A McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with cheese, without the bun, has approximately 0-1 grams of net carbs. The burger patty and cheese contain minimal carbs, while the toppings and sauces may add a small amount of carbohydrates.
Ingredients and Nutrition Info
The main ingredients in a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with cheese are:
- Beef patty (100% beef with no fillers, additives or preservatives)
- Pasteurized process American cheese
- Onions
- Pickles
- Ketchup
- Mustard
Without the sesame seed bun, the burger patty and cheese contain almost zero carbs. The potential carb sources are:
| Ingredient | Net Carbs |
| 2 pickle slices | 1 gram |
| 1 tbsp ketchup | 4 grams |
| 1 tsp mustard | 0 grams |
So in total, with the standard toppings, the quarter pounder without a bun has roughly 5 grams of carbs. Depending on how much ketchup and how many pickles are added, the net carbs can range from 0-5 grams.
Bun-less Low Carb Options
Ordering a quarter pounder without the bun is a great low carb fast food option. Some other ways to further reduce carbs:
- Ask for extra lettuce leaves instead of a bun
- Substitute mustard instead of ketchup
- Order extra pickles and onions for flavor
- Add bacon or avocado for more fat
- Ask for no ketchup or ketchup on the side
Adding lettuce leaves or extra vegetables can provide volume and satisfaction from the burger, while ditching the ketchup and bun keeps net carbs extremely low.
Low Carb Keto Fast Food Options
For low carb and keto diets, fast food burgers wrapped in lettuce are a tasty and convenient meal option. Here are some other low carb fast food choices under 5 grams of net carbs:
- Wendy’s Baconator without the bun
- Five Guys bacon cheeseburger in a lettuce wrap
- Jimmy John’s Unwich (lettuce wrap sandwich)
- Chipotle burrito bowl with no rice, beans or tortilla
- Subway salad with double meat and low carb veggies
- Grilled chicken sandwich or nuggets
- Omelets or scrambled eggs with meat
Most fast food restaurants offer bunless burger options, lettuce wrap sandwiches, and salad and grilled chicken entrees that can be customized to be very low carb. Just watch out for high sugar sauces and dressings.
What About Special Sauces and Ketchup?
The main high carb sauces to watch out for at fast food restaurants are:
- Ketchup – 4g net carbs per tablespoon
- Special sauce – 7g net carbs per packet
- Honey mustard – 5g net carbs per packet
- Sweet and sour or duck sauce – 13g net carbs per packet
To reduce carbs, ask for burgers and sandwiches plain or mustard, oil and vinegar dressing, buffalo or ranch sauce. Or request sauces on the side and use sparingly. Avoid sweet BBQ sauce, honey mustard and other sugary sauces.
Tips for Ordering Low Carb Fast Food
Here are some tips for customizing fast food orders for lower carb counts:
- Bunless burgers, chicken sandwiches, or lettuce wraps
- Salads with low carb dressing on the side
- Grilled chicken breast or thighs
- Omelets or eggs made to order
- Extra vegetables instead of fries or rice
- No sugary sauces or sauces on the side
- Add avocado or bacon for healthy fats
- No croutons, tortilla strips, or other high carb toppings
With some simple substitutions and customizations, you can enjoy fast food and eat low carb. Just watch your portions and ingredients carefully.
What About the Keto Diet?
On a ketogenic diet, the goal is to get your body into a state of ketosis. This requires keeping net carbs under 20-50 grams per day.
Ordering a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder without the bun keeps carbs low enough to fit into a keto lifestyle. However, you need to account for carbs from any other meals, snacks or beverages you consume that day.
Some tips for keto fast food:
- Try to stay under 20g net carbs for the full day
- Drink unsweetened tea, water, or coffee
- Avoid menu items breaded in carbs (like chicken nuggets)
- Stay away from fries, milkshakes, sugary drinks, desserts
- Stack extra lettuce, veggies, avocado instead of buns
With smart substitutions and carb counting, fast food can definitely be part of a keto eating plan. Just pay close attention to total net carbs for the day from all foods, snacks and drinks.
Low Carb Diets for Weight Loss
Limiting carbohydrates and eating more protein and healthy fats can help manage hunger and promote fat loss. Benefits of reduced carb diets for weight loss include:
- Better appetite control and reduced cravings
- Promotes fat burning versus fat storage
- Provides steady energy and blood sugar levels
- Ketogenic diets enhance fat burning effects
- High protein intake preserves lean body mass
- Eliminating excess refined carbs supports fat loss
For best results, focus on getting quality proteins, healthy fats, and fiber from veggies on a low carb plan. Limit sweets, processed carbs, sugary drinks, and instead eat whole, minimally processed foods.
Sample Low Carb Meal Plan
Here is a sample one day low carb meal plan:
Breakfast:
- Scrambled eggs with bacon or sausage
- Bulletproof coffee
Lunch:
- Bunless quarter pounder with extra lettuce, tomato, onion and mustard
Dinner:
- Grilled chicken thighs
- Steamed broccoli with cheese sauce
- Side salad with ranch dressing
Snacks:
- Turkey roll-ups with cheese
- Hard boiled eggs
- Strawberries with whipped cream
This sample menu comes in under 30g net carbs for the full day. Modify with your own low carb favorites!
Should You Try a Low Carb Diet?
Lower carb or ketogenic diets can be beneficial for:
- Weight loss – especially belly fat
- Appetite regulation and craving control
- Blood sugar management and reducing diabetes risk
- Increasing energy and mental focus
- Reducing risk for chronic disease
- Some therapeutic benefits for epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and more
Potential downsides to watch out for:
- Difficult dietary restriction to maintain long term
- May negatively impact athletic performance
- Risk of nutrient deficiencies if diet is not well-balanced
- Keto flu adjustment period when starting out
- Bad breath is a common side effect
As with any diet, speak with your healthcare provider first before making major changes to your eating habits. Monitor your health markers and how you feel. Make sure to eat enough protein and nutrients while limiting empty calorie foods.
The Bottom Line
Ordering a quarter pounder without the bun is a flexible fast food option for low carb and keto dieters. While the patty and cheese contain minimal carbs, watch out for sauces and condiments that can add sugar. Ask for lettuce wraps instead of buns, extra veggies, and no sugary sauces.
With smart substitutions and carb counting, you can enjoy an occasional fast food burger as part of an overall low or no carb eating pattern. Just pay close attention to ingredients and total carbs for the full day. Prioritize lean proteins, healthy fats and veggies for sustainable weight loss and health.
