Keto Restaurant Guide
Keto at McDonald's
McDonald's is one of the easier fast-food stops for keto, as long as you treat the bun as optional. The meat, cheese, and egg building blocks are nearly zero carb. Almost all of the damage comes from the bun, the fries, the breading, and the sweetened sauces.
The simplest move is to order any burger and ask for it without the bun, in a bowl or wrapped in lettuce. Breakfast is even friendlier: sausage, bacon, eggs, and cheese are all fair game once you drop the biscuit, muffin, and hash brown.
Built by Barron Hansen · Last updated June 2026
Best keto options
Ask for it in a bowl or lettuce-wrapped. Skip the ketchup, which is sweetened.
Two patties and cheese. Hold the bun and ketchup; mustard and pickles are fine.
Pure seasoned pork. Order two patties on their own or with eggs.
Get the eggs from a McMuffin or breakfast platter without the muffin or potatoes.
Plain mixed greens. Use ranch (about 2g) and skip any croutons or sweet dressings.
Add a couple of strips to any burger or breakfast order for fat and flavor at almost no carb cost.
| Item | Net carbs | Why / how |
|---|---|---|
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese, no bun | ~2g | Ask for it in a bowl or lettuce-wrapped. Skip the ketchup, which is sweetened. |
| Double cheeseburger, no bun | ~3g | Two patties and cheese. Hold the bun and ketchup; mustard and pickles are fine. |
| Sausage patties (breakfast) | ~1g | Pure seasoned pork. Order two patties on their own or with eggs. |
| Scrambled eggs / round egg | ~1g | Get the eggs from a McMuffin or breakfast platter without the muffin or potatoes. |
| Side Salad with ranch | ~4g | Plain mixed greens. Use ranch (about 2g) and skip any croutons or sweet dressings. |
| Bacon (add-on) | ~1g | Add a couple of strips to any burger or breakfast order for fat and flavor at almost no carb cost. |
Order with care
The single biggest carb load in any burger. Order bunless instead.
No keto-friendly way to modify these. Swap for a side salad.
The breading carries the carbs. Grilled, unbreaded chicken is the better choice when available.
Battered, fried potato. Replace it with extra eggs or sausage.
Dessert drinks run very high in sugar. Stick to water, black coffee, or diet soda.
| Item | Net carbs | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Regular hamburger bun | ~26g | The single biggest carb load in any burger. Order bunless instead. |
| Medium French fries | ~43g | No keto-friendly way to modify these. Swap for a side salad. |
| Chicken McNuggets (10 pc) | ~14g | The breading carries the carbs. Grilled, unbreaded chicken is the better choice when available. |
| Hash brown | ~13g | Battered, fried potato. Replace it with extra eggs or sausage. |
| McFlurry / milkshake | ~80g | Dessert drinks run very high in sugar. Stick to water, black coffee, or diet soda. |
How to order keto at McDonald's
- Order any burger "no bun" and ask for it in a bowl or wrapped in lettuce.
- Hold the ketchup and special sauce; both are sweetened. Mustard, mayo, pickles, onions, and cheese are fine.
- For breakfast, ask for the eggs, sausage, bacon, and cheese without the biscuit, muffin, or hash brown.
- Drink water, unsweetened iced tea, black coffee, or diet soda instead of regular soda or juice.
- Use the app or kiosk to fully customize an order without back-and-forth at the counter.
Nutrition and menus vary by location and change over time. The figures here are approximate, rounded from published nutrition data, and meant as a starting point. Always check current nutrition information with McDonald's before you order, especially for sauces, dressings, and seasonal items.