Restaurant guide · McDonald’s
What to Order at McDonald’s on a GLP-1: High-Protein, Small-Portion Picks
What should I order at McDonald’s on a GLP-1?
At McDonald’s on a GLP-1, order:
- 6-piece Chicken McNuggets: 14 g protein, 250 calories
- Egg McMuffin: 17 g protein, 310 calories
- McDouble: 22 g protein, 390 calories
Skip on a low-appetite day: Medium fries. Tip: Order from the sandwich list, not the meals.
McDonald’s is everywhere, and its smallest items are good small meals. The plain Hamburger, the Egg McMuffin and a 6-piece McNuggets all sit around 250 to 310 calories. Here are six orders, from the item pages on mcdonalds.com.
How much protein is in each McDonald’s order?
| Order | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 4-piece Chicken McNuggets4 pieces | 9 g | 170 |
| Hamburger1 burger | 12 g | 250 |
| 6-piece Chicken McNuggets6 pieces | 14 g | 250 |
| Egg McMuffin1 sandwich | 17 g | 310 |
| Sausage Burrito1 burrito | 13 g | 310 |
| McDouble1 burger | 22 g | 390 |
Most protein for the calories: McDouble, 22 g protein in 390 calories.
How do I order each one?
4-piece Chicken McNuggets
9 g protein170 calories4 pieces
The smallest protein order on the menu.
Source: McDonald’s item pages (Nutrition Summary), Item page, Nutrition Summary.
Hamburger
12 g protein250 calories1 burger
The plain hamburger is the smallest burger.
Source: McDonald’s item pages (Nutrition Summary), Item page, Nutrition Summary.
6-piece Chicken McNuggets
14 g protein250 calories6 pieces
Order the nuggets on their own, not as a meal.
Source: McDonald’s item pages (Nutrition Summary), Item page, Nutrition Summary.
Egg McMuffin
17 g protein310 calories1 sandwich
A breakfast sandwich with a whole egg.
Source: McDonald’s item pages (Nutrition Summary), Item page, Nutrition Summary.
Sausage Burrito
13 g protein310 calories1 burrito
Small, and easy to eat half and wrap half.
Source: McDonald’s item pages (Nutrition Summary), Item page, Nutrition Summary.
McDouble
22 g protein390 calories1 burger
The most protein here. Eat half, save half.
Source: McDonald’s item pages (Nutrition Summary), Item page, Nutrition Summary.
What should I skip at McDonald’s on a low-appetite day?
- Medium fries. 320 calories with 5 g protein. A meal adds them by default, so order the sandwich on its own. Source: McDonald’s item pages (Nutrition Summary).
- Hash browns. 140 calories with 2 g protein. On a small-appetite morning, the Egg McMuffin alone is the better use of the room. Source: McDonald’s item pages (Nutrition Summary).
How do I keep a McDonald’s order small?
Order from the sandwich list, not the meals
A meal adds fries and a drink to whatever you pick. Order the sandwich or nuggets by themselves. If you want a drink, water or a diet soda keeps the room for the protein.
More questions about ordering at McDonald’s
What has the most protein at McDonald’s for the fewest calories?
Of the items here, the McDouble has the most protein: 22 g in 390 calories. For a smaller order, the Egg McMuffin has 17 g in 310.
Where does McDonald’s list protein?
Each item page on mcdonalds.com has a Nutrition Summary with calories and protein. The figures on this page were read from those pages.
Where do these figures come from?
Every figure on this page was read from McDonald’s own published nutrition information, for the portion named. Changing the order (a different sauce, bread or side) changes the numbers. These are food facts, not a target, and not advice about how much to eat.
- McDonald’s item pages (Nutrition Summary) (Product pages; no version date shown). Checked October 19, 2026.