The McChicken sandwich is one of McDonald’s classic menu items. It debuted in 1980 but didn’t do well so it was quickly replaced by the Chicken McNuggets. It was reintroduced in 1988 but was removed again after a few years, only to be relaunched once more. This time, it seems like this sandwich is here to stay, which is great because many people, myself included, consider it a go-to order.
How Much is a McChicken?
The McChicken is actually included in McDonald’s dollar menu but like most items in that menu, it costs way more than a dollar. Fun fact – they had to rename the dollar menu to $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu since a lot of people complained there’s no dollar item there except for drinks.
Anyway, the price of the McChicken here in San Antonio is $1.99 to $2.50. In other cities like NYC and Boston, the price could go as high as $4.00.
McChicken Ingredients
- Chicken Patty: Chicken Breast Meat, Water, Vegetable Oils (sunflower, grapeseed), Starch, WHEAT Flour, WHEAT Semolina, Maize Flour, WHEAT Gluten, Natural Flavorings, Salt, MUSTARD Flour, Potassium Chloride, Raising Agents (Diphosphates, Sodium Carbonates), Sugar.
- Sesame Bun: WHEAT Flour, Water, Sugar, SESAME Seeds, Cream Yeast, Rapeseed Oil, Salt, Dextrose, Thickener (Guar Gum), Emulsifier, Pea Protein, Potato Starch, Natural Flavoring, WHEAT Starch, WHEAT Maltodextrin, Maize Maltodextrin, Maize Starch.
- Shredded Lettuce
- Mayonnaise
- Sandwich sauce
McChicken Sandwich Nutrition Information
The McChicken Sandwich without mayo has 358 calories. Here are the rest of its nutrition info:
- 358 calories
- 14g protein
- 37g total carbohydrates (13 % DV )
- 17g total fat (22 % DV )
- Cholesterol 40mg (13 % DV)
- Dietary Fiber 2g (6 % DV)
- Calcium 115mg (12 % DV)
- Iron 2mg (28 % DV)
- Potassium 227mg (5 % DV)
- Sodium 817mg (36 % DV)
This sandwich is a light and generally healthy dish on its own, and one of the recommended menu items at McDonald’s if you’re watching your calorie intake. However, if you order this sandwich with large fries and milkshake then the calories add up.
According to The Sun, a McChicken with large fries, dessert and milkshake contains at least 1,290 calories, which is more than 50% of your daily calorie requirement. You might want to dial it down a bit and get the sandwich with medium fries and milkshake (1,081 calories total), or better yet, swap the milkshake with a bottle of water instead.
McDonald’s New Line of Crispy Chicken Sandwiches
McDonald’s introduced its Crispy Chicken Sandwich line in 2021, and by 2023, they offered these core crispy sandwiches.
- The Crispy Chicken Sandwich is a southern-style fried chicken patty, topped with crinkle-cut pickles, and served on a toasted, buttered potato roll (470 calories).
- The Spicy Crispy Chicken Sandwich includes a Spicy Pepper Sauce added to the southern-style fried chicken patty, served on a toasted potato roll (530 calories).
- The Deluxe Crispy Chicken (also available in a spicy version) comes with shredded lettuce, Roma tomatoes, and mayo (530 calories).
Recently, without much publicity, McDonald’s made a significant update to its core fried chicken sandwiches by renaming them from “Crispy” to “McCrispy.”
What’s the Difference Between the McCrispy and McChicken Sandwiches?
Personally, I prefer the McCrispy to the McChicken as it is crispy and more juicy too compared to the latter. The McCrispy is kind of like their high end chicken sandwich and costs about $1 to $2 more than the McChicken. You can also choose from Regular, Spicy, Deluxe and Deluxe Spicy McCrispy.
Is the McChicken available for breakfast at McDonald’s?
The McChicken Biscuit is available as early as 6AM at McDonald’s along with the Chicken McGriddles so you can enjoy a protein-packed breakfast meal. Availability may vary though, depending on location.
Is the McChicken Worth the Price?
Back when the McChicken was still a dollar each, I’d order it all the time at McDonald’s. These days though the price has become a little prohibitive. I mean for just $2 more I can already get a Big Mac. I still think it’s a good option especially if you’re watching your calorie intake or simply prefer a healthier meal at Mickey D’s.
McChicken Menu Customer Reviews
Here are some feedback from McDonald’s fans about the McChicken:
Cor V.
Why are we at this McDonald’s? It is our annual review of the McRibs sandwich. It is always fun to see how it stacks up with previous years. Yes, we know this McDonald’s location well, and we’re a bit surprised by the changes made inside. Forget the fountain drink area as it is completely closed off. I kind of miss this drink section. But, the insides of the restaurant is nice and clean. We see people struggling with the kiosk, and we stand in line. One person behind the counter. Our turn and the McRibs are ordered, as well as a couple of McChicken sandwiches. McD’s also offer happy deal hours. Our number is called, and we got helped taking the trays to our table. Oh wow, the McRibs tasted much better now with the onions and pickles and a good slather of the BBQ sauce. We definitely enjoyed our combo meals and the McD’s French Fries. This is what we came to McDonald’s for. Another good McRib experience.
Connor D.
Exceptional service from staff during my 4/4, 10:30am visit. Specifically the nice lady behind the counter who was very accommodating. Other staff members were very friendly and food was great. Ample parking. Would recommend this location.
ASpicyMeatball101
The McChicken is a superior chicken sandwich
This chicken sandwich is always left out of the chicken sandwich wars. The McChicken is one of my favorite chicken sandwiches. I always add pickles to it and it that make the perfect chicken sandwich for me.