Are McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets Keto?

Chicken nuggets must be among the best-selling items on the McDonald’s menu. At the same time, there has also been a rise in different diets, like the infamous keto diet. Are you also on a keto diet and wondering, are McDonald’s chicken nuggets keto? Then, do read on! 

McDonald’s chicken nuggets are not keto-friendly and cannot be enjoyed on this low-carb diet. These chicken nuggets are coated with breadcrumbs before they are fried, making them very high in carbohydrates and not fit for a keto diet. 

McDonald’s is one of those fast food chains that are very accommodating to customer needs. They have done various experiments on their menu options. 

So, wanting to accommodate these delicious nuggets in your diet while on keto is understandable. In this detailed post, you will learn everything about the carb content in these nuggets and more information! 

McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets Are Not Keto-Friendly

McDonald’s chicken nuggets are coated with breadcrumbs before they are fried. Hence they cannot be classified as a keto-friendly option. 

If you have ever enjoyed a delicious McDonald’s chicken nugget, you would know just how crispy these little treats are with every bite. The crispy exterior of these nuggets is because of the breadcrumbs that coat the chicken pieces. 

Once the nuggets are coated with breadcrumbs, they are fried in oil, giving them a crispy golden-brown exterior. The breadcrumbs are loaded with many carbohydrates, which are sadly not a part of a keto diet. Hence, the chicken nuggets cannot be qualified as the same.

McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets Ingredients

Here, let us take a look at the list of ingredients that make these delicious nuggets what they are: 

1. White Boneless Chicken, 
2. Water, 
3. Vegetable Oil (canola Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil), 
4. Enriched flour (bleached Wheat Flour, Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), 
5. Bleached Wheat Flour, 
6. Yellow Corn Flour, 
7. Vegetable Starch (modified Corn, Wheat, Rice, Pea, Corn), 
8. Salt,
9. Leavening (baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Calcium Lactate, Monocalcium Phosphate), 
10. Spices, 
11. Yeast Extract, 
12. Lemon Juice Solids, 
13. Dextrose, 
14. Natural Flavors.

The list of ingredients may seem complicated to many of you. But, quite a few of the ingredients added to the nuggets are to preserve their original taste since McDonald’s makes these nuggets in bulk. If you would instead enjoy these chicken nuggets at home without the worries of certain preservatives, try out McDonald’s chicken nuggets recipe at home! 

Are McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets Healthy? 

McDonald’s chicken nuggets are not the healthiest meals. However, they can still be enjoyed in moderation. 

Quite a few nutritionists believe that McDonald’s chicken nuggets are unhealthy. Although the chicken is fresh and of good quality, the chunks are loaded with breadcrumbs. 

These breadcrumbs add a lot of carbohydrates to the nuggets, increasing the calories. Moreover, the chicken nuggets are also fried, increasing the calorie content. You can still enjoy McDonald’s chicken nuggets, as long as it is in moderation. 

McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets Carbohydrates Value

A keto diet is mainly about reducing your carbohydrate intake while keeping your diet’s protein and fat content high.

So, in this section, let us look at the carbohydrate content of different size portions of McDonald’s chicken nuggets and their protein and fat content. This will give you an idea of how these nuggets are not keto-friendly. 

The protein and fat content in the chicken nuggets are high, which are both perfectly acceptable on a keto diet. However, the carbohydrate content is even higher, making these nuggets unsuitable for a keto diet. Interlink to nutritional

McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets Dipping Sauces Carbohydrate Content

For more reference about the carbohydrate content you could get out of eating a portion of chicken nuggets, let us also consider the dipping sauces. Here you will find the carbohydrate content of all the spices that McDonald’s offers on their menu:

Are McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets Gluten-Free? 

No, McDonald’s chicken nuggets are not gluten-free. 

McDonald’s chicken nuggets are coated with a mix of flour, also known as enriched flour. This flour contains bleached wheat flour as one of the main ingredients, which makes the chicken nuggets loaded with gluten.

Moreover, they are coated with breadcrumbs, which only increase the gluten content, making the chicken nuggets unsuitable for people with gluten intolerance. 

Does McDonald’s Have Vegan Nuggets? 

Yes, McDonald’s has vegan nuggets, also known as McPlant Nuggets. 

The McPlant nuggets are not a permanent feature on the McDonald’s menu. Instead, these nuggets were available a while back but may not be available at every McDonald’s outlet now. 

Check out more details about McPlant Nuggets to know when and where they will be available again! 

Is There Anything Keto-Friendly On McDonald’s Menu? 

Yes, a few other options on the McDonald’s menu are entirely suitable for people on a keto diet. Here are some of these options: 

1. Beef burgers without buns
2. McMuffins without buns
3. Fountain beverages
4. Breakfast Burrito 

These are indeed just a few keto-friendly options at McDonald’s. For more options and detailed information, refer to McDonald’s keto menu! 

Conclusion

McDonald’s chicken nuggets are not keto since they are coated with breadcrumbs and have a high carbohydrate content. Moreover, the dipping sauces add even more carbohydrates, so it is best to stay away from them if you follow a keto diet. 

Moreover, if you have specific dietary requirements, like if you are vegan, look at if McDonald’s breakfast oatmeal is vegan. Similarly, if you eat halal food, check out if some of their options are halal, like the classic McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich and even their chicken! 

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