McChicken Price, Calories & Meal Deal (2026)
The McChicken is McDonald’s lowest-priced chicken sandwich: a breaded chicken patty with shredded lettuce and mayonnaise on a toasted bun. It’s on the Under $3 menu at participating restaurants and anchors the $5 McChicken Meal Deal. Below are its price, full nutrition, ingredients, allergens and how it compares with McDonald’s other sandwiches.
How Much Is a McChicken?
A McChicken costs under $3 at restaurants on McDonald’s Under $3 menu. Where a restaurant doesn’t take part, it typically costs $3.10 to $3.59. The $5 McChicken Meal Deal adds 4-piece McNuggets, small fries and a small soft drink.
| Where you buy | McChicken price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant on the Under $3 menu | Under $3 | About two-thirds of US franchisees, per McDonald’s (August 2026) |
| Restaurant not on the Under $3 menu | $3.10–$3.59 | Typical prices reported online, October 2026 |
| Delivery apps | Higher | McValue prices exclude McDelivery; menu markups and fees apply |
Prices are set by each restaurant. Check your restaurant’s price in the McDonald’s app before you order.
McChicken Meal: $5 Meal Deal vs Regular Combo
The cheapest way to get a McChicken meal is the $5 McChicken Meal Deal, which includes 4 McNuggets on top of the sandwich, small fries and a drink. A regular McChicken combo uses medium fries and a medium drink instead and costs more, because the McChicken isn’t one of McDonald’s discounted Extra Value Meals.
| Meal | What’s included | Food calories | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| $5 McChicken Meal Deal | McChicken, 4-piece McNuggets, small fries, small soft drink | 790 | $5 |
| Regular McChicken combo | McChicken, medium fries, medium soft drink | 710 | Varies |
| Two McChickens + small fries | Ordered from the Under $3 menu | 1,010 | Under $9 |
The Meal Deal gives you 23 g of protein from the sandwich and nuggets combined (26 g with the fries), more food than the regular combo for less money. Order it in the app or at the counter; it isn’t available on delivery apps. Drinks add 0 to 270 calories depending on size and choice.
McChicken Calories and Nutrition Facts
A McChicken has 390 calories, 21 g of fat, 38 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of protein, according to McDonald’s USA nutrition data. Its 560 mg of sodium is about a quarter of the daily limit.
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 390 | |
| Total fat | 21 g | 27% |
| Saturated fat | 3.5 g | 18% |
| Trans fat | 0 g | |
| Cholesterol | 40 mg | 13% |
| Sodium | 560 mg | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 38 g | 14% |
| Fiber | 1 g | 4% |
| Total sugars | 4 g | |
| Added sugars | 4 g | 8% |
| Protein | 14 g | 28% |
Where the calories come from
Calories from each macronutrient (fat 9 cal/g, carbs and protein 4 cal/g); totals round to the official 390.
Nearly half of the McChicken’s calories come from fat, mostly from the fried patty and the mayonnaise. Asking for light mayo or no mayo is the simplest way to trim it.
% Daily Value is based on a 2,000-calorie diet and FDA reference amounts (sodium 2,300 mg). McDonald’s product description still mentions 400 calories, an older figure; its current nutrition panel lists 390..
McChicken Ingredients
The McChicken has four components: a breaded chicken patty, a regular bun, shredded lettuce and mayonnaise. The patty is boneless chicken in a wheat-flour coating, fried in a canola, corn and soybean oil blend.
| Component | Main ingredients (McDonald’s USA) |
|---|---|
| McChicken patty | Boneless chicken, bleached wheat flour, water, vegetable oil (canola, corn, soybean, hydrogenated soybean), wheat flour, modified corn starch, sea salt, spice, paprika, dextrose, leavening |
| Regular bun | Enriched flour (wheat flour, malted barley flour), water, sugar, yeast, soybean oil, salt, wheat gluten, vinegar |
| Shredded lettuce | Lettuce |
| Mayonnaise | Soybean oil, egg yolk, water, distilled vinegar, salt, sugar, spice, lemon juice concentrate |
Unlike the McCrispy, which uses a whole chicken breast fillet, the McChicken patty is a formed patty with a thinner, crunchier coating. That is why it is smaller and cheaper. It has no cheese and no pickles as standard.
McChicken Allergens
McDonald’s lists wheat and egg as the McChicken’s allergens: wheat in the patty coating and bun, egg in the mayonnaise. It contains no milk as served, so it’s one of the few McDonald’s sandwiches without dairy.
Gluten
The patty, the bun and the malted barley flour in the bun all contain gluten. The McChicken is not suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Egg-free option
Order it without mayonnaise to remove the egg. The patty and bun don’t list egg.
Soy
Soybean oil appears in the patty, bun and mayo, but highly refined soybean oil is not counted as a major allergen, so soy isn’t declared.
Shared fryers and prep areas mean cross-contact is possible. Confirm with your restaurant if you have a serious allergy.
McChicken vs McCrispy, McDouble and Filet-O-Fish
The McChicken has the lowest sodium of these six sandwiches and costs the least, but it also has the least protein. The Spicy McCrispy and McDouble give you more protein for each dollar.
| Sandwich | Calories | Protein | Sodium | Typical price | Protein per $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McChicken | 390 | 14 g | 560 mg | $3.10–$3.59 | 4.2 g |
| McDouble | 390 | 22 g | 920 mg | $4.59 | 4.8 g |
| Cheeseburger | 300 | 15 g | 720 mg | $3.89 | 3.9 g |
| Filet-O-Fish | 380 | 16 g | 580 mg | $4.79–$4.99 | 3.3 g |
| McCrispy | 470 | 26 g | 1,140 mg | $4.99–$5.99 | 4.7 g |
| Spicy McCrispy | 530 | 27 g | 1,320 mg | $4.69–$4.99 | 5.6 g |
Pick the McChicken when price matters most or you want a lighter chicken sandwich: it has 80 fewer calories and half the sodium of a McCrispy. Pick the McCrispy for a thicker, juicier fillet and nearly twice the protein. At an Under $3 restaurant, the McChicken’s protein per dollar rises to about 4.7 g, close to the McDouble.
Popular Ways to Order a McChicken
You can customize a McChicken in the McDonald’s app or at the kiosk. These are the most common changes and what each one does.
| Change | Effect |
|---|---|
| No mayonnaise | Removes the egg allergen and cuts most of the sauce fat |
| Add a slice of American cheese | Adds milk and a small extra charge |
| Add tomato or pickles | Small charge at many restaurants; changes the texture |
| Swap mayo for Big Mac sauce or hot sauce | Available at some restaurants; ask at the counter |
| Order two from the Under $3 menu | Often cheaper than one McCrispy at participating restaurants |
For breakfast, the McChicken isn’t served; most restaurants start the lunch menu at 10:30 or 11 a.m. If you want chicken in the morning, check our breakfast menu guide. For a full McNuggets comparison, see the McNuggets price guide.
McChicken History and the Hot ‘n Spicy McChicken
The McChicken first appeared in 1980 and has been dropped and brought back twice. The Hot ‘n Spicy McChicken, with a spicier breaded patty, is no longer on the national US menu but still turns up at some regional restaurants.
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1980 | The McChicken debuts in the US, but sales disappoint and it is replaced by Chicken McNuggets. |
| 1988 | It returns to the menu after McNuggets prove the demand for chicken. |
| 1996 | McDonald’s drops it for the Crispy Chicken Deluxe. |
| Late 1997 | It comes back after customer petitions, at first as a smaller Cajun-style sandwich. |
| 2006 | Hot ‘n Spicy McChicken runs nationally from January to June. |
| 2013–2015 | Hot ‘n Spicy returns on the Dollar Menu, then leaves the national menu in June 2015. |
| 2024–2026 | The McChicken anchors the $5 Meal Deal (2024), McValue (2025) and the Under $3 menu (April 2026). |
Outside the US the sandwich changes: Canada, the UK and Australia use a sesame-seed bun and McChicken sauce, and India sells a much spicier McSpicy.
McChicken FAQ
Is the McChicken real chicken?
Yes. McDonald's lists boneless chicken as the first ingredient of the McChicken patty, coated in a wheat-flour breading and fried.
Why is the McChicken so cheap?
It uses a smaller, formed chicken patty, a plain bun and only lettuce and mayo, which keeps its cost low. McDonald's also uses it as a value item, now on the Under $3 menu.
Is the McChicken spicy?
No. The regular McChicken is mild. The Hot 'n Spicy McChicken is spicier but is sold only at some regional restaurants.
How many McChickens can I buy for $10?
At an Under $3 restaurant, three McChickens usually come to under $9 before tax. Elsewhere, two to three, depending on the local price.
Is the McChicken healthier than the McCrispy?
It has fewer calories (390 vs 470) and less than half the sodium (560 mg vs 1,140 mg), but also about half the protein (14 g vs 26 g).
How We Checked This Page
- Nutrition, ingredients and allergens: McDonald’s USA product data for the McChicken and each sandwich compared
- Meal Deal and Under $3 menu: McDonald’s US Deals page and April 2026 McValue announcement
- History: published McChicken histories, including Wikipedia’s sourced timeline
- Prices: typical US prices reported online in October 2026; your restaurant sets its own price
Menu Facts USA is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by McDonald’s Corporation. McChicken, McCrispy, McDouble, Filet-O-Fish and related names are trademarks of McDonald’s. If you have a food allergy, confirm ingredients with your restaurant before ordering.