The beloved hen nugget is a fast-food favourite, identified for being fast, simple, and handy. Whether or not you are grabbing them as a fast snack or pairing them with fries for a full meal, nuggets are undeniably in style. However behind their widespread attraction lies a query price asking: how do they stack up nutritionally?
The reply usually is determined by how they’re ready. Most hen nuggets are breaded and deep-fried, which results in excessive ranges of artery-clogging saturated fats and sodium. Nonetheless, not all nuggets are created equal—some chains supply grilled choices which can be much less calorie-dense. These variations in preparation considerably affect their dietary worth, making it price analyzing how they differ from chain to chain.
Beneath, we have ranked hen nuggets from 10 fast-food eating places, from least to most nutritious, specializing in the smallest obtainable parts (sometimes 4 or 5 items) and excluding sauces and dips, which may add important energy, sugar, and sodium. Use this information to make a better alternative the subsequent time you are craving hen nuggets. For a taste-based rating, take a look at The Greatest Quick-Meals Hen Nuggets, Ranked By Style.
10 Quick-Meals Hen Nuggets—Ranked by Vitamin
Sonic Premium Hen Bites
Vitamin (Per small serving):Energy: 330Fat: 19 g (Saturated Fats: 3.5 g)Sodium: 1,100 mgCarbs: 24 g (Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 1 g)Protein: 16 g
Sonic provides its hen nuggets as “bites” in small, medium, and enormous parts, although the variety of items per serving is not specified. These chicken hen bites are calmly coated in seasoned breading and have the very best calorie depend of any fast-food nugget possibility. The sodium is 47% the each day really helpful most (means larger than another possibility), whereas the saturated fats is 17.5% the each day really helpful most.
White Fort Hen Rings
Vitamin (Per 6-piece serving):Energy: 320Fat: 20 g (Saturated Fats: 4.5 g)Sodium: 610 mgCarbs: 12 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 0 g)Protein: 18 g
The smallest portion of those bite-sized, battered, and fried chicken hen rings from White Fort is available in a 6-piece serving. They comprise 22.5% of the each day really helpful most for saturated fats and 26.5% for sodium. On the plus facet, they pack 18 grams of protein per serving—greater than another possibility on this record.
Arby’s Premium Hen Nuggets
Vitamin (Per 4-piece serving):Energy: 210Fat: 10 g (Saturated Fats: 3 g)Sodium: 600 mgCarbs: 12 g (Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g)Protein: 17 g
Arby’s all-white meat hen nugget is coated with seasoned breading and fried. With over 100 fewer energy than the earlier two choices, they’re already a barely better option. Nonetheless, they fall brief nutritionally with regards to saturated fats and sodium, containing 15% and 26% of the really helpful each day most, respectively.
Burger King Hen Nuggets
Vitamin (Per 4-piece serving):Energy: 190Fat: 12 g (Saturated Fats: 2.5 g)Sodium: 490 mgCarbs: 12 g (Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 0 g)Protein: 9 g
Though Burger King’s hen nuggets have the identical energy because the Jack within the Field nuggets, the saturated fats and sodium are barely larger coming in at 12.5% and 21.3% of the each day really helpful most, respectively.
Jack within the Field Hen Nuggets
Vitamin (Per 4-piece serving):Energy: 190Fat: 13 g (Saturated Fats: 2 g)Sodium: 480 mgCarbs: 10 g (Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 0 g)Protein: 8 g
These hen nuggets aren’t the worst alternative when on their very own, however pairing them with fries and a soda considerably will increase the saturated fats, sodium, and added sugar. To make the meal more healthy, think about pairing them with non-fried veggies, fruit, or a facet like milk or yogurt for a extra balanced possibility.
Wendy’s Crispy Hen Nuggets
Vitamin (Per 4-piece serving):Energy: 180Fat: 12 g (Saturated Fats: 2.5 g)Sodium: 380 mgCarbs: 9 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 0 g)Protein: 10 g
Wendy’s crispy battered and fried 100% chicken hen nuggets have an affordable quantity of energy and sodium per serving. It is the selection of the six dipping sauces that may sabotage an honest alternative—so dip calmly!
Carl’s Jr. Hen Stars
Vitamin (Per 4-piece serving):Energy: 180Fat: 10 g (Saturated Fats: 2 g)Sodium: 320 mgCarbs: 13 g (Fiber: 2 g, Sugar: 0 g)Protein: 9 g
These star-shaped hen nuggets have much less saturated fats and sodium than the calorie equal portion at Wendy’s. Because it’s served with a small drink and fries—go for water, unsweetened iced tea or espresso, and a small fries to maintain the general meal in verify.
McDonald’s Hen Nuggets
Vitamin (Per 4-piece serving):Energy: 170Fat: 10 g (Saturated Fats: 1.5 g)Sodium: 340 mgCarbs: 10 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 0 g)Protein: 9 g
McDonald’s touts that their all chicken hen nuggets are made with no synthetic colours, flavors or preservatives. The saturated fats could be very cheap offering 7.5% the each day really helpful most. Nonetheless, dipping sauces can shortly add additional energy, sugar, and sodium, so it is best to stay to not more than two packets per 4-piece serving.
KFC Fried Nuggets
Vitamin (Per 5-piece serving):Energy: 180Fat: 8 g (Saturated Fats: 0 g)Sodium: 700 mgCarbs: 5 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 0 g)Protein: 15 g
The 5-piece hen nugget menu merchandise at KFC is without doubt one of the lowest in energy in comparison with different fried choices. There may be zero saturated fats whereas the sodium is a contact larger at 29% the really helpful each day most. The protein can also be one of many larger quantities in comparison with different fried choices.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e
Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets
Vitamin (Per 5-piece serving):Energy: 80Fat: 2 g (Saturated Fats: 0 g)Sodium: 270 mgCarbs: 1 g (Fiber: 0 g, Sugar: 0 g)Protein: 16 g
The one place that provides grilled nuggets is Chick-fil-A, with the bottom quantity of energy by far! There isn’t any saturated fats and the sodium could be very cheap at 11.7% the really helpful each day most. The opposite excellent news is that Chick-fil-A additionally has different wholesome choices to pair your nuggets, together with a handful of salads. However like every nugget possibility, do not overdo the dipping sauce!
Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, MS, RD, CDN
Toby Amidor is an award profitable dietitian and Wall Road Journal best-selling cookbook creator who believes wholesome and healthful will also be appetizing and scrumptious. Learn extra about Toby
