McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets: nutrition and allergens
McDonald’s lists the Chicken McNuggets in 5 sizes, from 170 calories (4 piece) to 1,650 calories (40 piece). The 4 piece has 10 g fat, 10 g carbohydrate, 9 g protein and 340 mg sodium.
McDonald’s nutrition information for this item is dated January 2022. It is the latest the chain publishes, so newer or changed recipes may differ.
Nutrition facts
| Per serving | 4 piece | 6 piece | 10 piece | 20 piece | 40 piece |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 170 | 250 | 410 | 830 | 1,650 |
| Total fat (g) | 10 13% | 15 19% | 24 31% | 49 63% | 98 126% |
| Saturated fat (g) | 1.5 8% | 2.5 13% | 4 20% | 8 40% | 16 80% |
| Trans fat (g) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 |
| Cholesterol (mg) | 25 8% | 40 13% | 65 22% | 125 42% | 255 85% |
| Sodium (mg) | 340 15% | 500 22% | 850 37% | 1,700 74% | 3,400 148% |
| Potassium (mg) | 150 3% | 220 5% | 360 8% | 730 16% | 1,450 31% |
| Total carbohydrate (g) | 10 4% | 15 5% | 26 9% | 51 19% | 102 37% |
| Dietary fiber (g) | 0 0% | — | 1 4% | 2 7% | 4 14% |
| Total sugars (g) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Added sugars (g) | 0 0% | 0 0% | 0 0% | 0 0% | 0 0% |
| Protein (g) | 9 18% | 14 28% | 23 46% | 46 92% | 92 184% |
| Vitamin D | 0 mcg | 0 mcg | 0 mcg | 0 mcg | 0 mcg |
| Calcium | 6 mg | 10 mg | 15 mg | 35 mg | 70 mg |
| Iron | 0.5 mg | 0.5 mg | 1 mg | 2 mg | 4 mg |
Percentages are the share of the FDA Daily Value for adults and children 4 and over, worked out from McDonald’s published amounts (how % Daily Value works). A dash means McDonald’s does not publish that value for this size.
Using the FDA’s rule of thumb that 5% of the Daily Value or less per serving is low and 20% or more is high, the 4 piece size is low in carbohydrate, potassium, dietary fiber and added sugars. Add it up with other items in the McDonald’s nutrition calculator.
Allergens
According to McDonald’s, the Chicken McNuggets contains wheat.
| Milk | Not listed |
|---|---|
| Egg | Not listed |
| Fish | Not listed |
| Crustacean shellfish | Not listed |
| Tree nuts | Not listed |
| Peanuts | Not listed |
| Wheat | Contains |
| Soy | Not listed |
| Sesame | Not listed |
McDonald’s provides supplier ingredient information for the nine major US food allergens (egg, milk, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and sesame), but warns that its kitchens share cooking and preparation areas, equipment and utensils, so any item may come into contact with other foods, including allergens. It does not claim any US menu item as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal or kosher.
Ingredients
Chicken McNuggets: White boneless chicken, water, vegetable oil (canola oil, corn oil, soybean oil, hydrogenated soybean oil), enriched flour (bleached wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), bleached wheat flour, yellow corn flour, vegetable starch (modified corn, wheat, rice, pea, corn), salt, leavening (baking soda, sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, calcium lactate, monocalcium phosphate), spices, yeast extract, lemon juice solids, dextrose, natural flavors.
Other items in McNuggets & McCrispy Strips at McDonald’s
By calories (4 piece), the Chicken McNuggets ranks 1 of 3 in McDonald’s McNuggets & McCrispy Strips section, from lowest to highest.
| Item | Calories |
|---|---|
| Chicken McNuggets4 piece | 170 |
| Spicy Chicken McNuggets6 piece | 290 |
| McCrispy Strips3 piece | 400 |
Nutrition for all 3 items in McNuggets & McCrispy Strips at McDonald’s
Browse the McDonald’s menu by goal: high-protein items · low-calorie items
Chicken nuggets at other chains
McDonald’s is one of 8 chains on this site that sell chicken nuggets. Of the 19 at other chains, 4 have fewer calories and 15 have the same or more than the Chicken McNuggets (4 piece), comparing each at its first listed size; portions differ, so check the serving on each item’s page.
| Item | Calories |
|---|---|
| KFC Kentucky Fried Nuggets | 35 |
| Chick-fil-A 5 Ct Grilled Nuggets Kid's Meal | 80 |
| Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets8 ct | 130 |
| Chick-fil-A 5 Ct Nuggets Kid's Meal | 160 |
| Wendy's 4 PC. Chicken Nuggets | 170 |
| Wendy's Kids' 4PC Nuggets | 170 |
| Wendy's 4 PC. Spicy Chicken Nuggets | 190 |
| Wendy's Kids' 4 PC. Spicy Nuggets | 190 |
Compare all chicken nuggets side by side (20 items at 8 chains)
Sources
- 1 McDonald’s, McDonald’s USA Nutrition Calculator and product pages Covers nutrition, allergens, ingredients and menu · Updated continuously; the site notes values are “correct as of January 2022, unless stated otherwise” · Checked 8 Oct 2026
- 2 McDonald’s, McDonald’s USA full menu category pages Covers menu · Checked 8 Oct 2026
Spotted a value that differs from the chain’s current information? Report it