Prices are approximate and vary by restaurant. Last updated September 2026.
Protein is having a moment. Whether you’re training for something, trying to stay full for longer on a budget, or just curious about what your usual order actually delivers, the protein content of fast food has become one of the most talked-about numbers on the menu. McDonald’s UK is no exception — and the good news is that some of the highest-protein items on the high street are sitting on its menu boards right now.
Before we get into the rankings, two important caveats. First, every nutrition figure in this guide is approximate. McDonald’s UK updates its recipes from time to time, and it publishes exact figures in its online nutrition calculator and in-restaurant allergen booklet — if a specific number matters to you (for training or a medical reason), check those first. Second, high protein doesn’t automatically mean healthy. Some of the biggest protein hitters on this list also come with a serious amount of calories, fat and salt, so the smartest picks balance protein against everything else.
The highest-protein items, ranked
Here is how the UK menu stacks up for protein, from heaviest hitter down. Protein and calorie figures are approximate:
| Item | Protein (approx.) | Price (approx.) | Calories (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese | ~48g | £5.50–£6.50 | ~730 |
| 20 Chicken McNuggets (Sharebox) | ~44g | £6.50–£8.50 | ~870 |
| McCrispy | ~28g | £5–£6 | ~480 |
| Double Sausage & Egg McMuffin | ~28g | £3.50–£4 | ~560 |
| 5 Chicken Selects | ~27g | £5.50–£6.50 | ~600 |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese | ~29g | £4.50–£5.50 | ~510 |
| Big Mac | ~25g | £4–£5.50 | ~500 |
| Double Cheeseburger | ~25g | £2.30–£2.80 | ~440 |
| Crispy Chicken Wrap (£2.49 in the app) | ~25g | £2.49 | ~430 |
| 9 Chicken McNuggets | ~20g | £4.50–£6 | ~390 |
| Bacon & Egg McMuffin | ~17g | ~£3.20 | ~320 |
| 3 Chicken Selects | ~16g | £4.50–£5.50 | ~360 |
| Filet-O-Fish | ~16g | £3.50–£4.50 | ~320 |
The headline is clear: beef does the heavy lifting at the top of this list. Two quarter-pound patties, cheese and a protein-rich bun make the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese the single highest-protein item on the regular UK menu at roughly 48g — that’s more than most people get from a sit-down restaurant main course.
The protein heavyweights, in detail
A few notes on the standouts:
- Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese — around £5.50–£6.50. The undisputed champion at roughly 48g of protein. Most of it comes from the two beef patties, with meaningful contributions from the cheese and the bun. The trade-off is real: around 730 calories and a hefty dose of saturated fat and salt.
- 20 Chicken McNuggets (Sharebox) — around £6.50–£8.50. Roughly 44g of protein across the whole box, making this the best choice if you’re eating with someone and splitting, or genuinely hungry enough to take on the box alone. Per-nugget, it’s also one of the better-value ways to buy protein on the menu.
- McCrispy — around £5–£6. The crispy chicken fillet burger delivers roughly 28g of protein. It’s one of the more satisfying single-item orders for anyone who prefers chicken to beef.
- Quarter Pounder with Cheese — around £4.50–£5.50. A single thick patty still lands roughly 29g of protein — more than a Big Mac — at a lower price than the double.
- Double Cheeseburger — around £2.30–£2.80. The dark horse of this list. Two patties and two slices of cheese deliver roughly 25g of protein for Saver Menu money, which makes it arguably the smartest order on the menu for protein hunters on a budget.
Best value: most protein per pound
If your goal is maximum protein for minimum spend, the maths favours the cheaper beef items:
- Double Cheeseburger — roughly 25g of protein for around £2.55, or close to 10g of protein per £1. Nothing else on the menu comes close at this price.
- Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese — roughly 48g for around £6, or about 8g per £1. The most protein in one item, and strong value for the money.
- Double Sausage & Egg McMuffin — roughly 28g for around £3.75, or about 7.5g per £1. The best breakfast pick for protein per pound.
- 20 Chicken McNuggets Sharebox — roughly 44g for around £7.50, or about 6g per £1. Better value than smaller nugget portions, which cost more per nugget.
- Bacon & Egg McMuffin — roughly 17g for around £3.20, or about 5.3g per £1. Respectable, especially before 11am.
Chicken Selects, for all their protein, are among the priciest ways to buy it — five Selects at around £6 deliver roughly 27g, or about 4.5g per £1. They’re a treat, not a strategy.
High protein, lower calories
Chasing protein doesn’t have to mean blowing your whole day’s calories in one sitting. These are the leanest high-protein picks:
- Crispy Chicken Wrap (£2.49 in the app). The old ‘Wraps of the Day’ deal was replaced in July 2026 with ‘Get Any Wrap in the App’: any wrap for £2.49, any day, 11am–11pm, ordered through the app. Crispy (not grilled — grilled wraps were scrapped in April 2026) chicken wraps land roughly 25g of protein.
- 9 Chicken McNuggets — around £4.50–£6. Roughly 20g of protein for around 390 calories. Skip the sugary dips and you’ve got a genuinely efficient protein hit.
- 3 Chicken Selects — around £4.50–£5.50. Roughly 16g of protein for around 360 calories. Smaller portion, smaller damage, still meaningful protein.
- Bacon & Egg McMuffin — around £3.20. Roughly 17g of protein for around 320 calories. One of the best protein-to-calorie ratios on the entire menu, breakfast or otherwise.
- Filet-O-Fish — around £3.50–£4.50. Roughly 16g of protein for around 320 calories. A quiet overachiever that rarely gets mentioned in protein conversations.
Breakfast protein picks
Breakfast ends at 11:00am sharp, so the morning menu deserves its own section:
- Double Sausage & Egg McMuffin — around £3.50–£4. Roughly 28g of protein. The highest-protein breakfast item by a comfortable margin.
- Bacon & Egg McMuffin — similar territory to the sausage version, usually within a few pence at around £3.20. Roughly 17g of protein for around 320 calories — arguably the best breakfast order on the menu full stop.
- Breakfast Wrap — around £4.49. Egg, sausage, bacon, potato and cheese in a tortilla delivers a solid protein hit alongside a serious calorie count. Good for big appetites; less good for anyone counting.
- Porridge — around £1. One of the cheapest warm breakfasts anywhere, and while its protein is modest compared to the McMuffins, it’s a reasonable choice if you want something lighter.
Easy ways to add more protein to your order
A few practical tricks for squeezing more protein out of any visit:
- Double up the patty. Going from a single to a double cheeseburger adds roughly 10g of protein for usually less than £1 extra.
- Customise on the kiosk. Most self-service kiosks let you add an extra patty or remove the bun. Dropping the bun cuts the carbs without touching the protein; adding a patty does the opposite.
- Pick grilled over crispy. Where the option exists (wraps especially), grilled chicken delivers similar protein for meaningfully fewer calories.
- Don’t forget the app. MyMcDonald’s Rewards points accumulate on every order, and the app regularly features offers that can turn a high-protein order into a cheaper one.
- Pair smart. A Double Cheeseburger plus a side salad costs little more than the burger alone and adds barely any calories — the salad won’t add protein, but it makes the meal feel like more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the most protein at McDonald’s UK?
The Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese, at roughly 48g of protein. The 20-piece Chicken McNuggets Sharebox is the runner-up at roughly 44g.
How much protein is in a Big Mac?
Roughly 25g — respectable, but less than a Double Cheeseburger costs-adjusted, and less than a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in absolute terms.
Is McDonald’s good for bulking?
It can be, in the narrow sense that hitting a protein target is easy here. But bulking well means managing total calories, fat and salt too — and the highest-protein items are also among the highest in all three. The leaner picks in this guide are the better bet.
Do McDonald’s UK nutrition figures change?
Yes — recipes are updated periodically, and figures can shift. The online nutrition calculator and in-restaurant allergen booklet carry the current numbers. Treat this guide’s figures as approximate.
Does McDonald’s label protein on its menus?
In-restaurant menu boards in the UK show calorie counts. Full nutrition breakdowns, including protein, are published in McDonald’s UK nutrition information online and in the allergen booklet available in restaurants.
What’s the cheapest high-protein order?
A Double Cheeseburger at around £2.30–£2.80, delivering roughly 25g of protein — close to 10g per £1, the best protein-per-pound ratio on the menu.
Final thoughts
You don’t need to leave the Golden Arches to hit a protein target. The Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese sits at the top of the pile, the humble Double Cheeseburger is the value king, and the breakfast menu quietly contains some of the leanest protein on offer. Just remember that the figures here are approximate, the heaviest hitters come with heavy calories attached, and McDonald’s own nutrition calculator is the final word when the exact numbers matter.