How Many Calories Are in a Chicken Biscuit From McDonald’s?

Chicken biscuits from McDonald’s are a popular breakfast item. But with society’s increased focus on healthy eating many customers wonder – how many calories are actually in a McDonald’s chicken biscuit? This article will break down the calorie counts for the different chicken biscuit options at McDonald’s to help you make an informed decision.

The Basics of McDonald’s Chicken Biscuits

McDonald’s offers three main chicken biscuit options on their breakfast menu:

• McChicken Biscuit: This has a baked biscuit with a crispy chicken patty on top of it.

• A southern style chicken biscuit has pickles, butter, and fried chicken on a biscuit.

• Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit – This biscuit sandwich contains an egg, bacon, and cheese.

All of the biscuits are made fresh in-house at McDonald’s. They use a standard buttermilk biscuit recipe for the base.

Calorie Count for McDonald’s McChicken Biscuit

The McChicken Biscuit is one of the most popular chicken biscuits at McDonald’s.

It contains:

• 420 calories
• 20g fat
• 46g carbs
• 14g protein

A lot of the calories come from the fried chicken patty. The biscuit base also has a lot of calories from fat and carbs.

To put the 420 calories into perspective that’s over 20% of the recommended 2000 daily calories for an average adult.

Nutrition Facts for Southern Style Chicken Biscuit

McDonald’s introduced the Southern Style Chicken Biscuit in 2015. It quickly became another customer favorite.

Here are the nutrition facts for a Southern Style Chicken Biscuit:

• Calories: 450
• Fat: 23g
• Carbs: 44g
• Protein: 20g

This biscuit has slightly higher calories and fat than the original McChicken Biscuit. The difference comes from the buttermilk fried chicken fillet, which contains more fat than the McChicken patty.

The buttered biscuit base also bumps up the fat and calorie numbers.

Calories in a Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit

Adding bacon and egg to make a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit increases the calories significantly.

Here is the nutrition data:

• Calories: 470
• Fat: 28g
• Carbs: 37g
• Protein: 20g

The extra ingredients of crispy bacon, egg, and American cheese add over 50 calories compared to the McChicken Biscuit.

As you can see, biscuit sandwiches at McDonald’s range from 420 to 470 calories. Sticking with the plain McChicken Biscuit will save you some calories versus the loaded options. But all of them pack a decent calorie punch.

Tips for Enjoying McDonald’s Chicken Biscuits More Healthfully

Chicken biscuits can definitely fit into a balanced diet. Here are some tips to lighten them up:

• Go for plain McChicken – Skip the bacon and cheese to save calories.

• Ask for egg whites – Saves 40 calories over a full egg.

• Easy on butter – Request light butter to trim some fat.

• Share – Split a biscuit with a friend or save half for later.

• Fruit side – Pair with apple slices or fruit cup for nutrients.

• Water – Drink water instead of sugary soda for zero calories.

While not the most diet-friendly menu item, chicken biscuits can be worked into your daily calories with some modifications. Be mindful of portions and accompaniments to keep your McDonald’s breakfast balanced.

The Bottom Line

So how many calories are in a McDonald’s chicken biscuit? The short answer:

• McChicken Biscuit: 420 calories
• Southern Style Chicken Biscuit: 450 calories
• Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit: 470 calories

Aim for the simplest McChicken Biscuit and customize it to your diet needs. While high in calories, it can be an occasional treat when ordered wisely. Moderation and customization is key to keeping chicken biscuits from derailing your healthy eating goals.