Calories in McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese
An original Quarter Pounder® with Cheese from McDonald’s is a single patty cheeseburger served with pickles, onions, mustard, and ketchup. It’s seasoned with salt and pepper and served on a sesame seed bun.
One cheeseburger has 520 calories, 26 grams of fat, 42 grams of carbohydrates, and 30 grams of protein.
Read this guide for a detailed overview of the nutritional information, calories, ingredients, and allergens in McDonald’s popular QPC.
Quarter Pounder Nutritional Information
Nutritional information in this guide is based on a single serving measured as one cheeseburger.
Serving Size 1 Quarter Pounder with Cheese
Calories
520% Daily Value
saturated fat
62%high
sodium
50%High
added sugars
16%Med
Reference to percentage daily value (% DV) is a measure of how much one nutrient in the burger contributes to a daily diet of 2,000 calories.
Calories
There are 520 calories in a single Quarter Pounder®.
Here is a summary of the amount of calories in one serving derived from fat, carbs, and protein:
Dietary fats contribute approximately 44% of the total calories. Carbohydrates deliver another 33% of the total calories and the remaining 23% is from protein.
The summary of calories by macronutrient above is a rounded estimate based on the nutrition facts provided by McDonald’s fast food restaurant. Calories may vary as a result of how the cheeseburger is prepared.
For a lower calorie option, remove the bun. A Quarter Pounder without the bun has 340 calories (180 fewer calories than the standard QP cheeseburger).
Total Fat
Each serving has 26 grams of total fat, including 12 grams of saturated fat.
With a 62% daily value, it’s a significant amount of saturated fat for a single menu item.
According to the U.S. FDA, a 20% DV or greater per serving is considered high.
To that end, the amount of total fat and saturated fat in one Quarter Pounder exceeds that threshold with a 33% DV and 62% DV, respectively.
SUMMARY OF DIETARY FAT PER SERVING
Saturated fat contributes approximately 105 calories, about 20% of the 520 total calories per serving.
Sodium
The double patty cheeseburger contains 1,140 milligrams of sodium. That’s half the recommended limit of sodium for an entire day (based on 2,000 calories).
Dietary Cholesterol
There are 95 milligrams of dietary cholesterol per serving. That amount of cholesterol equates to a 32% daily value.
Nutrition Summary
Serving Size 1 Quarter Pounder
CALORIES
520TOTAL FAT
26g(33%DV)
CARBOHYDRATES
42g(15%DV)
PROTEIN
30g| Saturated Fat | 12g (62%DV) |
| Trans Fat | 1.5g |
| Cholesterol | 95mg (32%DV) |
| Sodium | 1140mg (50%DV) |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g (9%DV) |
| Total Sugars | 10g |
| Added Sugars | 8g (16%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 in Quarter Pounder
What’s on McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese?
McDonald’s famous cheeseburger is made with a single beef patty lightly seasoned with salt and pepper. Before cooking the patty, it weighs 4 ounces (one quarter of a pound).
A standard serving includes two slices of American cheese, onions, and tangy pickles. It’s topped with mustard and ketchup.
Quarter Pounder burgers are served on a sesame seed bun.
According to McDonald’s, the cheeseburger is made without artificial flavors or added colors. However, the pickle slices contain potassium sorbate, a preservative.
Ingredients
Here is the list of ingredients in a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese.
Beef Patty
Ingredients:100% Pure USDA inspected Beef prepared with Salt and Black Pepper.
Bun
Ingredients:Enriched Flour, Water, Sugar, Yeast, Soybean Oil, Sesame Seeds, Salt, Wheat Gluten, Dextrose, Guar Gum, Vinegar, Vegetable Proteins (pea, potato, rice), Sunflower and/or Canola Oil, Maltodextrin, Natural Flavors, Dough Conditioners, and Modified Food Starch.
Pasteurized Process American Cheese
Ingredients:Milk, Cream, Water, Sodium Citrate, Salt, Cheese Cultures, Citric Acid, Enzymes, Soy Lecithin, and Color Added.
Pickles
McDonald’s pickles contain an artificial preservative. Order the burger without pickles to avoid consuming potassium sorbate.
Here is the full list of ingredients in McDonald’s pickles.
Ingredients:Cucumbers, Water, Distilled Vinegar, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Alum, Potassium Sorbate, Natural Flavors, Polysorbate 80, and Extractives of Turmeric (for color).
Mustard
Ingredients:Distilled Vinegar, Water, Mustard Seed, Salt, Turmeric, Paprika, and Spice Extractive.
Ketchup
Ingredients:Tomato Concentrate (red ripe tomatoes), Distilled Vinegar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, and Natural Flavors.
What is Polysorbate 80?
Polysorbate 80, which is one of the ingredients used in the sliced pickles, is a synthetic water-soluble surfactant* used to prevents fats from separating.
The additive is often used in canned vegetables, frozen desserts, and baking mixes. It’s also used in the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industries.
*Note: A surfactant is a chemical compound that decreases tension between two liquids that are not electrically charged.
Allergens
The hamburger is made with ingredients that contain egg, sesame, soy, and wheat.
Summary FAQs
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