McDonald’s Classic Hamburger Nutrition & Ingredients
This simple yet highly popular single patty hamburger is made with 100% beef. One McDonald’s hamburger has 250 calories, 9 grams fat, 30 grams carbohydrates, and 12 grams protein.
Read this complete guide for a detailed overview of the nutritional information, calories, ingredients, and allergens in the hamburger.
Hamburger Nutrition Facts
Nutritional information is presented in this guide based on a single serving measured as one hamburger. Percentage of daily value (% DV) is a measure of how much one nutrient in McDonald’s hamburger contributes to a 2,000 calorie daily diet.
Calories in Hamburger
There are 250 calories in a single hamburger. Carbohydrates contribute the highest percentage (48%) of the total calories. Dietary fat makes up another 32% of the total calories and the remaining 20% is from protein.
- Fat: 80 calories
- Carbs: 120 calories
- Protein: 50 calories
- Total: 250 calories per serving
The breakout of calories by nutrient is a rounded estimate based on the nutrition facts label provided by McDonald’s. Calories may vary by location, as a result of how it’s prepared, or due to topping choices.
Total Fat
Each serving of the hamburger has 9 grams of total fat, including 3.5 grams of saturated fat.
Saturated fat makes up about 32 calories (13% of the total 250 calories per serving).
McDonald’s hamburgers are made with zero trans fat.
Sodium
One hamburger contains 510 milligrams of sodium.
According to the U.S. FDA, consumers can use the % daily value to determine whether the food item contains a low, moderate, or high level of specific nutrients. As general guidance, the FDA suggests a daily value of 20% or greater per serving is considered high.
With that in mind, the 22% daily value of sodium in this hamburger is high.
Dietary Cholesterol
There are 30 milligrams of dietary cholesterol in one hamburger. That amount of cholesterol is about 9% of the daily value (based on a 2,000 calorie diet).
Nutrition Summary
Serving Size 1 Hamburger
CALORIES
250TOTAL FAT
9g(11%DV)
CARBOHYDRATES
30g(11%DV)
PROTEIN
12g(24%DV)
| Saturated Fat | 3.5g (17%DV) |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 30mg (9%DV) |
| Sodium | 510mg (22%DV) |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g (5%DV) |
| Total Sugars | 5g |
| Added Sugars | 5g (9%DV) |
%DV (Percent Daily Values) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Calorie needs vary and your daily value may be higher or lower. Provided for informational purposes only. Consult with your physician for dietary or healthcare advice.
Ingredients and Allergens
What’s on a McDonald’s Hamburger?
McDonald’s classic hamburger is made with a 100% pure beef patty seasoned with salt and pepper. The beef burger includes a tangy pickle, chopped onions, ketchup, and mustard.
If you would like a slice of melty American cheese, check out the McDonald’s cheeseburger.
Ingredients in McDonald’s Hamburger
Here is the complete list of ingredients in McDonald’s Hamburger. We present the list of ingredients for the hamburger bun, beef patty, ketchup, mustard, and pickles.
Beef Patty Ingredients
The burger patty is made with 100% Pure USDA Beef prepared with Salt and Black Pepper.
Hamburger Bun Ingredients
Enriched Flour, Water, Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Salt, Wheat Gluten, Potato Flour, Dough Conditioners, and Vinegar.
Ketchup Ingredients
Tomato Concentrate From Red Ripe Tomatoes, Distilled Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, and Natural Flavors.
Mustard Ingredients
Distilled Vinegar, Water, Mustard Seed, Salt, Turmeric, Paprika, and Spice Extractive.
Pickles Ingredients
McDonald’s pickles contain an artificial preservative (potassium sorbate).
Here is the full list of ingredients in the pickles.
Cucumbers, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Alum, Potassium Sorbate (preservative), Natural Flavors, Polysorbate 80, and Extractives of Turmeric (color).
What is Potassium Sorbate?
Potassium Sorbate – used in the pickles served on a McDonald’s hamburger – is an inorganic, chemical additive used to preserve foods and drinks as well as other products in the marketplace. It’s an odorless salt that is manufactured from sorbic acid and potassium hydroxide.
The purpose of using potassium sorbate is to inhibit the growth of molds, yeast, and fungi to increase the shelf life of processed foods.
This additive is used in the production of juices, cheese, pickles, ice cream, wine, and yogurt, as well as many other food items. You will also find potassium sorbate in pet food.
Allergens
The hamburger is made with ingredients that contain soy and wheat. The bun may also contain sesame.
Ingredients, allergens, and nutrition facts are based on available information as of the date this article was published and/or updated. Restaurants and food manufacturers may change their recipes without notice. Check directly with the food provider for the most accurate and up-to-date information. NutritionandIngredients.com does not provide health or wellness advice or dietary recommendations. Our aim is to research commercially processed food and publish articles for informational purposes only. Unless otherwise stated, % Daily Value is based on 2,000 calories per day, but calorie needs vary by individual. Always consult your physician for any healthcare or dietary advice.
Nutrition facts and ingredients source: McDonald’s
