McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac at US restaurants: What’s on it, calories

Move over McDonald’s classic Big Mac and make room for a new sibling — at least for a while.  

On Thursday, McDonald’s officially released its highly anticipated chicken version of the Big Mac.

In place of the two all-beef patties, McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac features two tempura-battered chicken patties. If you’re unfamiliar with a tempura batter, it’s a light or thinner batter typically made with flour, eggs and water. (Tempura is a dish featuring battered vegetables or seafood that is fried.)

Along with the chicken patties, McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac has the same ingredients minus onions — special sauce, lettuce, cheese and pickles on a sesame seed bun — of the chain’s classic Big Mac.

McDonald’s says its new Chicken Big Mac will be available for a limited time only and while supplies last. Prices for its Chicken Big Mac will vary by location.

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While the Chicken Big Mac is new to U.S. McDonald’s restaurants, it was secretly introduced at a restaurant called “McDonnell’s” last week in Los Angeles where a version of the sandwich was served, according to a news release.

According to USA TODAY, the sandwich was tested in Miami in 2022 and has been available for a limited time in the U.K.

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Now that the sandwich is officially at its restaurants nationwide, McDonald’s poses the question “Is the Chicken Big Mac a Big Mac?”

To find out, they’ve teamed up with internet star Kai Cenat (known as a Big Mac Super Fan), with more than 10 million Instagram followers, who will try the Chicken Big Mac with friends on his livestream on McDonald’s social channels throughout October.There’s no huge calorie difference between the Chicken Big Mac compared to the traditional Big Mac. Here’s the nutritional information on both sandwiches, posted on the McDonald’s website.

Chicken Big Mac

Calories: 530

Fat: 20 grams

Saturated fat: 4.2 grams

Protein: 25 grams

Carbohydrates: 61 grams

Big Mac

Calories: 590

Fat: 34 grams

Saturated fat: 11 grams

Protein: 25 grams

Carbohydrates: 46 grams

Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.