McDonald’s is one of the most popular fast-food chains in the country for a reason. It’s known for its delicious and iconic (and surprisingly good for weight loss!) items such as hamburgers and Egg McMuffins, to name just two, not to mention the convenience and the affordability. However, not everything on the McDonald’s menu comes highly recommended – and it’s those items we want to explore a little further.
We’ve gone through reviews from customers and former employees on forums such as Reddit, and taken advice from YouTubers, health experts, and nutritionists for the most comprehensive list of some of the worst rated items so that you can stay away from them and just stick to the good stuff.
Some of the items on the list come with a jaw-droppingly high amount of sodium and sugar (and therefore come with a long list of warnings from nutritionists!) while other items are simply deemed overrated by loyal McDonald’s customers. And then there are the items that former employees themselves warn us to stay away from, which tells us all we need to know!
Check out 17 of the worst rated McDonald’s menu items according to customers, former employees, nutritionists, and more below…
1. Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese
Dr. Erik Natkin thinks the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese is one of the worst items on the McDonald's menu for quite a few reasons.
"This item contains approximately 740 calories, 42 grams of fat (19 grams of which are saturated fat), and 1,360 milligrams of sodium," he notes, and that's probably because these high levels of unhealthy fats and sodium can lead to clogged arteries and increase the risk of heart disease. Regular consumption of such a heavy, fatty meal can lead to elevated cholesterol levels and hypertension, which are major risk factors for cardiovascular problems.
2. Big Mac
The Big Mac is perhaps the most iconic item on the McDonald's menu, but we're sorry to say that it's also one of the most unhealthy. We hate being the bearers of bad news, but the Big Mac contains 590 calories, 11g of saturated fat, and a whopping 1,050mg of sodium.
"The Big Mac itself is a calorie-dense option with two beef patties, special sauce, cheese, and high levels of unhealthy saturated fats and sodium," says Lisa Richards, creator of The Candida Diet. And that's just the burger alone! If you get a meal with a soda and fries as well, you're setting yourself up for an even bigger negative effect on your health; especially when it comes to your heart.
"This combination of high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sodium items promotes an unbalanced diet that is not conducive to maintaining a healthy weight or supporting cardiovascular well-being," Richards adds.
3. Big Breakfast With Hotcakes
The Big Breakfast with Hotcakes is another particularly unhealthy choice. Dr. Natkin explains that this meal "packs around 1,340 calories, 63 grams of fat (25 grams saturated fat) and 2,070 milligrams of sodium."
The combination of high calories, excessive fats, and salt can elevate bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and raise blood pressure, which are detrimental to heart health. The large quantity of calories in one single meal can also contribute to weight gain, which further increases the risk of heart disease.
4. Sausage, Egg, & Cheese McGriddle
Ordering a McGriddle may not be the best idea for your body. The Sausage Egg & Cheese McGriddle, for example, contains 550 calories, 33g fat, and 1290mg sodium. Yikes!
Eating this McDonald's item already puts you at over half the recommended daily intake of sodium for adults (2,300mg.) And as health experts warn us time and time again, consuming too much salt can result in serious health risks, including heart attacks, high blood pressure, and so much more.
We have more bad news, as ground sausage is one type of meat that experts recommend avoiding for quite a few different reasons. "Ground sausage is often considered an artery-clogging meat due to its high content of saturated fat and cholesterol," Richards explains, adding: "Sausage is often processed with additives, preservatives, and high levels of sodium, which can exacerbate these health concerns by contributing to hypertension and water retention."
5. The Big Tasty
The Big Tasty, according to the McDonald's website, is "a big and tasty Halal beef patty smothered in our one-of-a-kind Big Tasty Sauce with 3 slices of Emmental cheese, dressed with 2 slices of tomato, a handful of crispy shredded lettuce and slivered onions." Sounds delicious, doesn't it?!
Though this doesn't sound too bad, @ItsCharlieVlogs describes it as "one of the most overrated burgers in existence," and says he would rather have a "Big Mac" (perhaps he hadn't heard about the downsides of a Big Mac when he made this comment!) or "a double cheeseburger."
6. Mozzarella Dippers
Described by the official website as "sticks of Mozzarella cheese coated in breadcrumbs and served with Salsa dip," this seems like a tough snack to mess up.
However, @ItsCharlieVlogs seems to have some issues, saying, "if you're getting these, you're an absolute wrongen," which is British for a disreputable person.
Others agreed with him, writing, "If you're going to McDonald's and ordering mozzarella sticks you have a real problem." Someone else felt the same way, saying, "There are just so many better places to get mozzarella sticks. MickeyD's doesn't do them justice."
7. The Chicken Legend
@ItsCharlieVlogs calls the Chicken Legend "another absolutely overrated burger," and says "the bread is always dry and the sauce and the contents just don't work together." It's described by McDonald's as a crispy chicken filet with hot & spicy mayo on a toasted roll, rather than a bun, which sounds pretty good to us.
While some people actually disagreed with him and defended the Chicken Legend, most people seemed to feel the same way as him. "Just order a McCrispy. So much better," one person wrote. "Yeah I actually agree. Chicken Legends just aren't good. Period," stated another, as a final customer said: "I'd skip the Chicken Legend. I've ordered it a few times and it's never been good." Well, there you go!
8. Creme Egg McFlurry
McDonald's describes the sweet treat as "soft dairy ice cream, swirled with Cadbury milk chocolate pieces and a Cadbury Creme Egg fondant sauce," which raises some eyebrows over here.
@ItsCharlieVlogs has many thoughts about it, and said: "I don't even know what to say about this. You might as well just scoop spoonfuls of white sugar into your mouth, that's how sickly this is. It's rancid."
And most of the customers in his comments agreed with him, writing things like, "Idk who thought it was a good idea to even make that," and "the nastiest McFlurry ever made." Someone else said: "He's speaking the truth here. The Cadbury McFlurry is too sweet even for just one bite." Another user chimed in: "I agree with the creme egg McFlurry. Gave me the biggest headache and worst stomach ache."
9. Crispy Chicken Sandwich
McDonald's describes the Crispy Chicken Sandwich as "a southern-style fried chicken sandwich that's crispy, juicy, and tender perfection." According to those that actually make them, though, it's not as delicious as it sounds.
"I'm sorry, but they get hard, dry, and tough," one former employee shared on Reddit. "They are not good." Perhaps you'd be better off at Chick-fil-A?
10. Biscuits & Gravy
A classic southern-style dish, it's hard to mess this one up; but according to a former employee, McDonald's found a way to do so.
"First of all, the gravy comes in a can and they have to add hella water and then they let it sit there all morning and sometimes afternoon on the warmer til it's empty or someone realizes it's still there," one former employee shared, adding: "Also, 8/10 times the biscuits are hard af."
11. Caramel Frappé
You may think that a frappé is a great way to have a treat while getting your caffeine fix. However, the high sugar and calorie content of McDonald's Caramel Frappe makes it a poor choice for your health. We need a moment to process this information, but just one of these beverages (medium) packs in 62g of sugar and 490 calories. Omg!
All that sugar can lead to a range of health issues, especially when it is drunk first thing in the morning, experts warn. "The sugar used is usually in the form of fructose, which the body cannot easily recognize, further slowing down metabolism," says Rachel Scott, medical practitioner and Co-Founder of National TASC. "This sugar then is directly converted into fats and not immediately used as a sugar source." All in all, it's best to take your coffee black.
12. Sausage Burrito
Described as a soft tortilla featuring "fluffy scrambled egg, pork sausage, melty cheese, green chiles, and onion," the sausage burrito actually sounds like a great on-the-go breakfast option. But McDonald's employees beg to differ.
"Consists of some questionable, pre-packaged scrambled 'egg' and pepper mix, half a slice of American cheese and the world's worst tortilla," one former employee said online, adding: "They are all made start of day and sit around until one gets ordered and thrown in the microwave." Yuck!
13. McRib
We're not actually that surprised about the McRib at McDonald's, as there are always mixed reviews about it. Customers don't seem to love it, and neither do the people who have worked at McDonald's, which tells us all we need to know.
"The sauce gets everywhere and turns into concrete after 10 minutes," one person said. "I just don't know why you would come to a McDonald's and expect ribs to taste good," wrote another, adding: "Just go get some barbecue it won't be that much more expensive."
14. Filet-O-Fish
Probably the most universally hated item at McDonald's, the Filet-O-Fish is not a fan favorite or an employee favorite.
"I can't explain how bad these smell," one person wrote on Reddit. "No matter what stage of life they're in—cooked, frozen, warm and sitting on the counter—so disgusting." We're not surprised to hear this!
15. Shamrock Shake
Shamrock Shakes are served at McDonald's each Saint Patrick's Day; however, one should exercise caution when it comes to the calorie and nutritional intake of this delicious frothy beverage.
It's not so much the taste of the shake that customers and nutritionists have a problem with, it's what it can do to your health! Each 16-ounce shake contains 550 calories, and has 13 grams of fat and a staggering 82 grams of sugar. Such a calorie and sugar overload cannot be ignored, as consuming this dessert on a regular basis can lead to adverse health effects!
"Milkshakes contain a high amount of sugar, unhealthy fats, and very high number of calories. They are typically made with whole milk, ice cream, and tons of other unhealthy additives," dietitian Jesse Feder says, adding: "You can have close to half [day's] worth of calories in just one milkshake. They will more than likely lead to weight gain and other negative health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease if consumed regularly."
16. Coffee
Another item that's hard to make taste bad per se, but McDonald's coffee is way past that line.
"You can get better coffee at any local gas station for the price you pay," one former employee shared. "It's watered down with tap water and loaded with milk and sugar. Doesn't even taste like coffee." Starbucks it is!
17. Grimace Shake
And finally, we have the Grimace Shake. A purple milkshake is already a questionable beverage to order, so when we heard former employees' reviews, we weren't surprised to hear that it did not come highly recommended.
One person said that they brought one home for their friends and family to enjoy, only to have their boyfriend "puke 10 minutes after drinking 1/3 of it." Omg! "That thing is nasty," agreed another former employee online. We'll stick to Pumpkin Spiced Lattes!
