How Many Calories Are in One Chicken McNugget?

Chicken McNuggets are a popular menu item at McDonald’s. These bite-sized pieces of breaded and fried chicken are served with a variety of dipping sauces and make for a convenient tasty snack or meal. But with all fast food it’s important to pay attention to nutrition facts like calories. So how many calories are actually in a single Chicken McNugget? Let’s find out.

Calorie Count in McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets

According to McDonald’s nutrition information, the number of calories in a Chicken McNugget can vary depending on the size you order. Here are the calorie counts:

• 4 piece Chicken McNuggets – 45 calories per nugget
• 6 piece Chicken McNuggets – 45 calories per nugget
• 10 piece Chicken McNuggets – 44 calories per nugget
• 20 piece Chicken McNuggets – 44 calories per nugget
• 40 piece Chicken McNuggets – 44 calories per nugget

As you can see, the calorie count decreases slightly as the number of nuggets increases. A single McNugget contains about 44-45 calories on average.

This calorie count is specifically for the Chicken McNuggets without any sauce. McDonald’s dipping sauces can add an additional 20-140 calories per container depending on the sauce. Barbecue sauce adds about 50 calories per container, while the sweet ‘n sour sauce has only 20 calories.

Chicken McNugget Ingredients

To understand the calories in Chicken McNuggets, it helps to look at what they are made of. According to McDonald’s, the ingredients are:

• Boneless chicken – This is the main ingredient. The chicken is chopped, battered and breaded.

• Batter – Water, enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, food starch-modified, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium aluminum phosphate, monocalcium phosphate, calcium lactate), spices, wheat starch, whey, corn starch.

• Breading – Enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), yellow corn flour, wheat starch, salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, calcium sulfate), soybean oil, extractives of paprika, spices, dextrose, lecithin. Contains: WHEAT.

The coating adds extra calories. Frying the nuggets also boosts the calorie amount.

Nutritional Value of Chicken McNuggets

A 4 piece serving of Chicken McNuggets contains:

• 180 calories
• 100 calories from fat
• 11g total fat
• 10g protein

In addition to calories and protein, Chicken McNuggets provide some other nutrients but in small amounts. A 4 piece serving contains 2% of the Daily Value for iron and vitamin B6.

Chicken McNuggets are not a significant source of fiber, vitamins A or C, calcium or other nutrients. They are considered more of a high calorie, high fat food.

Calories Compared to Other McDonald’s Menu Items

How do Chicken McNuggets compare calorie-wise to other items on the McDonald’s menu? Here are some examples for one serving:

• Hamburger – 250 calories
• Cheeseburger – 300 calories
• Big Mac – 540 calories
• Large French Fries – 510 calories
• Chicken McNuggets (4 piece) – 180 calories

A serving of 4 McNuggets has significantly fewer calories than many other McDonald’s menu items. However, the nuggets have more calories from fat compared to items like burgers and fries.

Tips for Enjoying Chicken McNuggets While Watching Calories

Chicken McNuggets can be part of an overall balanced diet when enjoyed in moderation. Here are some tips for keeping calories in check when ordering nuggets:

• Stick to the smaller 4 or 6 piece serving sizes. This limits the total calories.

• Opt for healthier dipping sauce choices like barbecue, sweet chili or sweet ‘n sour sauce instead of creamy, higher calorie sauces.

• Complete your meal with lower calorie side items like apple slices or a salad instead of fries.

• Watch your portion of fries if ordering. Stick to a small or medium size.

• Split your nuggets or fries with a friend to control portions.

• Opt for diet soda, water or milk as a lower calorie drink option.

With smart choices, you can enjoy the crispy, chicken taste of McNuggets as part of a balanced meal, while still minding your calorie intake.

The Bottom Line

So how many calories in a Chicken McNugget? On average, a single Chicken McNugget from McDonald’s contains about 44-45 calories. This number can vary slightly depending on the total number of nuggets ordered. While McNuggets are higher in fat and calories than some menu items, they can be worked into an overall healthy diet in moderation when paired with smarter sides and dipping sauce choices. Paying attention to portion sizes and ingredients is key for any fast food meal.

Two chicken nuggets typically contain between 90 and 170 calories, depending on the brand and preparation method.