Calories Cut: How Many are in a McDonald’s Egg McMuffin Without Ham?

The Egg McMuffin is a classic fast food breakfast sandwich that’s been on McDonald’s menu for over 50 years. Featuring a freshly cracked egg, melted cheese and Canadian bacon on a toasted English muffin, it provides a satisfying mix of protein, carbs and fat to start your day. But if you order it without the ham, does that reduce the calorie count?

In this article, we’ll break down the nutrition info and calories for a regular Egg McMuffin versus one made without ham. We’ll also give tips for customizing and ordering, look at price differences, and provide some healthier low-calorie options. Read on to learn if skipping the ham slashes any calories from this popular breakfast sandwich.

Overview of a Classic Egg McMuffin

First let’s look at what’s in a regular McDonald’s Egg McMuffin

• Toasted English muffin
• One fresh cracked egg
• Melted slice of American cheese
• 1 round Canadian bacon slice

Here are the basic nutrition facts for a standard McMuffin with ham:

• Total Calories: 300
• Total Fat: 12 g
• Carbs: 29 g
• Protein: 17 g

With a combo of protein, carbs and fat, it makes for a satisfying and balanced breakfast. The carb-heavy English muffin, egg protein, and savory Canadian bacon provide a good nutritional mix to start your day

Nutrition Difference Without Ham

So what changes when you order an Egg McMuffin without the Canadian bacon? Here’s how the nutrition info compares:

• Regular Egg McMuffin (with ham):
  • 300 calories
  • 12 g fat
  • 29 g carbs
  • 17 g protein
• Egg McMuffin Without Ham:
  • 250 calories
  • 10 g fat
  • 29 g carbs
  • 13 g protein

As you can see, removing the single slice of ham cuts the calories by about 50, bringing it down to 250 calories total. It also slightly reduces the fat by 2 grams and protein by 4 grams.

But notably, the carbohydrate count stays the same. The English muffin itself contains 23 grams of carbs, so the ham doesn’t significantly affect the overall carbs.

Why Order Without Ham?

People may request an Egg McMuffin without ham for a few different reasons:

• Dietary restrictions – Don’t eat pork for religious reasons or follow kosher or halal diets.

• Health reasons – Reduce cholesterol, salt or fat intake by skipping the processed ham.

• Personal preferences – Simply don’t like the taste of ham or pork products.

• Vegetarian or vegan – Exclude all meat from their diet.

Regardless of the reason, it’s easy to customize a fresh-made sandwich on-the-fly.

Does It Change the Taste Much?

Will an Egg McMuffin taste strange or less satisfying without that slice of savory, salty ham?

For most, the sandwich still tastes quite good, though the smoky Canadian bacon does provide a nice contrasting flavor. Without it, the egg and cheese flavors become the star of the show.

Some actually prefer an Egg McMuffin ham-free, finding the egg and dairy flavors more prominent. The toasted English muffin also supplies plenty of flavor on its own.

Overall, while the ham adds welcomed saltiness, the sandwich remains tasty and filling even if you hold it.

How To Order at McDonald’s Without Ham

The easiest way to get an Egg McMuffin without ham is to customize when ordering:

• At the counter: Request an “Egg McMuffin with no ham or Canadian bacon.”

• On the app: Customize and select “No Canadian bacon” before adding to your order.

• At the drive-thru: Clearly state you want an “Egg McMuffin without ham or Canadian bacon.”

Stress “no ham” when ordering rather than just “no meat,” or they may hold the egg too!

Some other tips for smooth ordering:

• State upfront you want it made without ham.

• Check your sandwich before driving away to ensure no ham.

• For breakfast hours only, as Egg McMuffins aren’t served all day.

With clear ordering, you can get a freshly made Egg McMuffin without ham cooked to order!

Does Removing Ham Reduce the Price?

Does customizing your sandwich by removing the ham save you any money?

Unfortunately, there is no discount for ordering an Egg McMuffin without the ham. The standard pricing still applies, even if you customize or omit ingredients.

Some typical prices for an Egg McMuffin:

• A la carte: $3.79
• Meal with hashbrowns and coffee: $5.98

You’ll pay the same set price whether you get the ham or not. McDonald’s doesn’t change pricing for custom orders.

While subtracting the ham does cut about 50 calories, it sadly doesn’t cut down on the cost.

Adding Different Meats

If you want more protein but don’t eat pork, you can swap the ham for other meat options:

• Sausage patty – Savory breakfast sausage.

• Bacon – Smoky, crispy pork bacon.

• Folded egg whites – Boost protein without extra fat.

• Chicken breast – Grilled white meat (lunch/dinner only)

Simply request the meat you want instead of ham when ordering a customized McMuffin. You’ll increase protein while avoiding pork.

Healthy Low-Calorie Options

If you want to lighten up your sandwich, here are some healthy low-cal alternatives:

• Egg White Delight McMuffin – Only 250 calories with 17g protein. Made with only egg whites, cheese and English muffin.

• No muffin – Just the egg, cheese and ham in a container or lettuce wrap. Great for low-carb/keto diets.

• Vegetarian – Ask for just egg and cheese, no meat. Less protein but keeps it meat-free.

You can also add veggies like spinach, tomato or avocado spread for extra nutrition and fiber.

And opt for milk or juice instead of sugary soda, or plain coffee instead of caloric frappes or lattes.

Key Takeaways on Egg McMuffin Without Ham Calories

To summarize the key points:

• Removing ham from an Egg McMuffin reduces calories by about 50 calories, from 300 down to 250 calories.

• It also slightly lowers the fat and protein, but doesn’t change carbs.

• Customize when ordering to guarantee your sandwich is made without ham.

• No discount applies for removing ingredients – price stays the same.

• Add different meats like bacon or sausage if you want more protein.

• Try healthier options like egg white or vegetable McMuffins for fewer calories.

Now that you know the calorie count and how to order, you can start your day feeling satisfied with a customized Egg McMuffin without the ham if you choose!