The #1 Unhealthiest Order at 30 Major Fast-Food Chains

Fast food is quick, easy, affordable, and delicious, and you can find a fast-food chain just about anywhere. But despite the pros of fast food, there is one major downside to eating it: the lack of nutritional value. Even though most fast food would be considered "unhealthy," some fast-food meals are far worse than others.

So what makes fast food so unhealthy? It varies per item, but it's usually because fast food is ultra-processed and almost always full of excess calories, unhealthy fat, and sodium. However, you can still make healthier choices at your favorite chains if you're aware of some of the lighter choices, like grilled chicken sandwiches, salads, or burgers with fewer unhealthy toppings.

How to Spot the Unhealthiest Fast-Food Meals

When it comes to finding healthier fast-food items and avoiding the unhealthiest ones, here are a few factors to pay attention to:

• Sodium: Even healthy fast-food items can be higher in sodium than what you'd make at home. When sodium is consumed in excess, it can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, which is why the FDA recommends consuming no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day.

• Saturated and trans fat: Look out for these two types of fat in your fast-food meals because consuming too much of these fasts can contribute to heart disease and diabetes. The American Heart Association recommends limiting your daily saturated fat intake to 13 grams daily, while the World Health Organization suggests no more than 2.2 grams of trans fat. Fast food—especially red meat burgers—can quickly exceed these numbers, so check the nutrition label for both types of fat.

• Added sugar: Ordering milkshakes, desserts, donuts, and coffee drinks from fast-food chains can often send your added sugar levels soaring, and many sugary fast-food items far exceed the recommended daily limit of 25 grams for women and 36 grams for men. Regularly consuming too much added sugar can lead to inflammation, heart disease, diabetes, and neurological diseases.

To help you feel more prepared the next time you pull into the drive-thru, we've listed the #1 unhealthiest meal at every major fast-food chain so you can know what not to order. Read on, then check out these Healthy Fast-Food Meals to order instead.

Burger King's Triple Whopper with Cheese

Burger King is famous for their signature Whopper burger, a 1/4-pound beef patty on a bun with your standard burger toppings. This is fairly calorie-heavy at around 670 calories, but nothing compares to another popular BK option: the Burger King Triple Whopper with Cheese.

"This is one of the unhealthiest items at Burger King due to its high calorie content, as well as its total fat and saturated fat, both of which can contribute to cardiovascular health issues when consumed in excess," says Mary Sabat, MS, RDN, LD. "The presence of 2.5 grams of trans fat further adds to the health concerns, as trans fat has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease," she adds.

 The Best & Worst Menu Items at Burger King

McDonald's Big Breakfast with Hotcakes

According to Sabat, "The Big Breakfast with Hotcakes takes the cake when it comes to the unhealthiest item on McDonald's Menu." She reasons that "it is extremely high in calories, and the high-fat content—especially saturated fat and trans fat—can increase the risk of heart disease."

Additionally, the sodium count of this meal is a whopping 2,070 milligrams. When you look at the daily recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams set by the FDA, you can see that this meal puts you far too close before you've even reached lunchtime.

 The Entire McDonald's Menu, Ranked by Nutrition

Taco Bell's Breakfast Crunchwrap with Sausage

Another breakfast item to make our list of unhealthy fast food is the Taco Bell Breakfast Crunchwrap with Sausage. "The flour tortilla is made with bleached enriched wheat flour, which lacks the nutrients found in whole grains, and also contains shortening, which is high in unhealthy trans fats," says Sabat. She adds, "The hash browns are deep-fried in vegetable oil, adding unnecessary calories and unhealthy fats; the cheddar cheese contributes extra saturated fat and sodium to the dish; and the sausage crumbles contain processed pork with added salt and natural flavors, which can be high in sodium and potentially unhealthy additives."

"Overall, the combination of refined carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, sodium, and additives makes this fast-food breakfast item an unhealthy choice if consumed regularly," says Sabat.

 8 Unhealthiest Taco Bell Orders

Wendy's Big Bacon Classic Triple

Whenever a burger has the word "triple" in the name, you can almost always guarantee that it will be far too high in calories, fat, and sodium. At 1,220 calories, 86 grams of fat, and 1,850 milligrams of sodium, the Big Bacon Classic Triple from Wendy's is the perfect example.

What is also shocking about this burger is the 4.5 grams of trans fat. According to the World Health Organization, it's best to consume as little trans fat as possible, with a recommended limit of 2.2 grams per day at most. This burger would more than double this limit for you.

Chick-fil-A's Hash Brown Scramble Burrito with Sausage

Chick-fil-A is a good choice for healthier fast-food options. They offer grilled chicken nuggets and sandwiches, plus delicious sides like a fruit cup, kale salad, or yogurt parfait. But like any fast-food joint, Chick-fil-A still has its fair share of unhealthy choices.

Take the Hash Brown Scramble Burrito with Sausage, for example. Sabat suggests skipping this breakfast item when you can, as "it contains a high calorie count of 720, which can contribute to weight gain and related health issues when consumed regularly. Second, the burrito is high in fat, with 47 grams of total fat and 16 grams of saturated fat, and excessive intake of saturated fat can raise cholesterol levels and increase the risk of heart disease," she says.

In fact, the American Heart Association recommends keeping your saturated fat at no more than 13 grams per day, so consuming this wrap would push you past your daily limit in just one meal.

 12 Healthy Chick-fil-A Orders, According to Dietitians

Panera Bacon Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl

The Bacon Mac and Cheese Bread Bowl is Panera's unhealthiest menu item. It has more than the recommended daily maximum of sodium, and the 164 grams of carbohydrates from refined carb sources with only 4 grams of fiber mean your blood sugar will easily spike while eating. Not to mention, this meal has more saturated fat than is recommended for an entire day. If you're really craving mac and cheese, order it as a side with one of Panera's healthier items and skip the bread bowl altogether.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

 10 Unhealthiest Panera Menu Items

Shake Shack Shack Stack

When you combine the Shroom Burger with a regular Angus Beef Cheeseburger, you get the Shack Stack—the unhealthiest menu item at Shake Shack. It's high in calories, sodium, and saturated fat, and it contains 1.5 grams of trans fat, which can lead to things like heart disease and diabetes when consumed in excess. For an option that is a little bit lighter, stick to the regular Shroom Burger or Cheeseburger.

 10 Best & Worst Menu Items at Shake Shack

Pizza Hut Meat Lover's Pizza

When you first glance at the nutrition information for Pizza Hut's Meat Lover's Pizza, you'll probably think things don't look all too bad—until you realize it's just for one slice. If you can eat one slice with a side salad, that would be ideal. But realistically, we all know how hard it is to limit ourselves to just one slice of pizza, and these numbers can quickly add up with two or three slices. Try one of Pizza Hut's lighter options, like their Veggie Lover's Pizza.

 The Best & Worst Menu Items at Pizza Hut

Subway The Monster

A lesser-known option at Subway is a cheesesteak-style sandwich called The Monster. Based on the name, it probably won't surprise you that this sub is loaded with fat, saturated fat, and sodium.

"This giant sub is stuffed with steak, bacon, two servings of cheese, peppers, and onions, and is slathered in ranch," says Melissa Rifkin, MS, RD, CDN. "This Monster is dripping in processed meats, saturated fats, and oils," and if you order the footlong size, "the sodium content is 156% of your daily needs, while the saturated fat would meet 150% of your daily needs."

 9 Healthiest Subway Sandwiches To Order

Dunkin' Chocolate Butternut Donut

We know the donuts from Dunkin' are undeniably delicious, but starting your day with these sweet treats can spike your blood sugar and leave you feeling hungry shortly after. The Chocolate Butternut Donut is one of the worst options, with more than a day's worth of added sugar and almost an entire day's worth of saturated fat.

The Best & Worst Foods on Dunkin's Menu

Jimmy Johns JJ Gargantuan

"Healthy" and "gargantuan" are words that usually don't go together when it comes to fast-food meals, so it's no surprise that the JJ Gargantuan Sub is the worst choice on the Jimmy John's menu. This sub will give you more calories than most people aim to have in an entire day, and it also triples the daily amounts of sodium and saturated fat. For a much more nutritious choice, try any of Jimmy Johns' subs as an "Unwich," their version of a lettuce wrap.

 17 Best & Worst Jimmy John's Subs

Five Guys Bacon Cheeseburger

The Bacon Cheeseburger from Five Guys is high in sodium, calories, and total fat, making it the worst item on their menu. If you're craving bacon on your burger, try their Little Bacon Burger instead, which cuts the calories, fat, and sodium almost in half.

 The Healthiest Menu Items at Five Guys—and What To Skip

Panda Express Chow Mein and Orange Chicken

Panda Express offers some healthy options, but that doesn't mean the restaurant lacks super unhealthy items. Their Orange Chicken Chow Mein is one you can skip, with 1,000 calories and over 1,600 milligrams of sodium in just one meal.

 The 8 Unhealthiest Menu Items at Panda Express

Zaxby's Wings & Things Meal

Five wings, three chicken tenders, fries, and Texas toast—all in one meal! Not only does the Zaxby's Wings & Things Meal have far more calories than what most people would want to aim for in a meal, but this menu item has almost twice as much sodium as the daily recommended maximum! Split this one with one or two friends, or skip it altogether because these numbers aren't worth the risk.

 The Best & Worst Menu Items at Zaxby's

Domino's Cali Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza

Just one slice of the Domino's Cali Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza has 410 calories, 890 milligrams of sodium, and 8 grams of saturated fat, meaning that even if you only had two slices of this pizza, you'd still be going over the recommended limits for one meal. Arguably, none of the menu items at Domino's would be considered "healthy," but you could go for something lighter like their Pacific Veggie or Spinach & Feta to save calories, fat, and sodium per slice.

 The 9 Healthiest Domino's Menu Items—and 9 To Avoid

KFC Famous Bowl

When you visit KFC, it may be tempting to go for one of their comforting bowls, but dietitians warn that the Famous Bowl may not be worth it.

"The Famous Bowl at KFC comes with creamy mashed potatoes topped with gravy, sweet corn, a 3-cheese blend, and battered nuggets, and it is the worst food to choose at KFC," says Rifkin. "Its calorie load is around 50% of what most people need daily, the sodium content exceeds the daily recommended limit of 2,498 milligrams, and the saturated fat will meet almost half your daily needs."

Arby's Half Pound Beef 'N Cheddar

The picture of Arby's Half Pound Beef and Cheddar says it all. This sandwich is piled to the brim with cheese and beef, bringing its saturated fat to 21 grams. "It comes in at a steep 740 calories, about 50% of most calories needed daily, and a whopping 49 grams of fat. which maxes out most people's needs," says Rifkin. "Not to mention the 2 grams of trans fats and the sodium content that exceeds daily limits."

11 Best & Worst Sandwiches at Arby's

Popeye's 5-Piece Tenders

At first, you might assume it's better to order tenders at Popeye's, but the 5-piece Classic Tenders still contain 14 grams of saturated fat, 2 grams of trans fat, and a whopping 3,000 milligrams of sodium.

"This order will easily take you to 50% of your daily calorie needs, and the sodium content is so steep that it meets 122% of the average daily limits," says Rifkin. "But who just gets the chicken? The biscuit, cajun fries, and fountain drink are all common sides that people get with this combo, which will harmfully exceed the limits of just about everything from calories to fat, as well as protein and carbohydrates," she adds.

 The 10 Best & Worst Menu Items at Popeyes

Del Taco Epic Cali Bacon Carne Asada Steak Burrito

The Epic Cali Bacon Carne Asada Steak Burrito from Del Taco looks and probably tastes delicious, but this menu item far exceeds the recommended daily sodium intake. It's above 1,000 calories, which is more than an ideal meal for most people.

 The Best & Worst Menu Items at Del Taco

Whataburger Triple Meat Burger

There's no reason to order a triple burger when you could have a single or double instead. The Whataburger Triple Meat Burger has over 1,000 calories, more than your daily recommendation of saturated fat, and almost as much as your daily sodium max. To compare, a Single Whataburger has only 590 calories, 8 grams of saturated fat, and 1,220 milligrams of sodium.

 The Healthiest Whataburger Orders—and What To Skip

Jersey Mike's Giant Club Supreme Cold Sub

Any sandwich that comes in a "giant" size will most likely be too much for one sitting, and that's absolutely true for the Giant Club Supreme Cold Sub from Jersey Mike's. With over 2,000 calories and over 3,500 milligrams of sodium, this sandwich will send you over the edge in most nutritional categories. If you want the Club Supreme sandwich, order it in a mini, a regular size, or as a wrap.

 12 Best & Worst Jersey Mike's Subs

In-N-Out's Double Double

In-N-Out is a popular favorite among those living on the West Coast or for the East Coasters paying them a visit. Their menu is on the smaller end compared to other popular fast-food chains, but it still contains a couple of not-so-ideal items in terms of nutrition.

According to Feder, "The unhealthiest meal at In-N-Out Burger is the Double Double, which is a double cheeseburger that contains 670 calories, 41 grams of fat, 18 grams of saturated fat, and almost 1,500 milligrams of sodium," he says. "This meal can contribute to unhealthy weight gain, clogged arteries, and increases in blood pressure if consumed on a regular basis."

 The Best & Worst Menu Items at In-N-Out Burger

Sonic's SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger

Another unhealthy fast-food item you'll want to skip is the SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger. This cheeseburger exceeds the daily recommendation for saturated fat and is just shy of the daily sodium max of 2,300 milligrams. A high intake of sodium and saturated fat can lead to health issues like heart disease and stroke.

 The 20 Best & Worst Menu Items at Sonic

Jack In The Box Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburger

It's almost always guaranteed that whenever you combine bacon, cheese, and two burger patties, your calorie, sodium, and saturated fat counts will skyrocket. That's the case with the Bacon Ultimate Cheeseburgerfrom Jack in the Box, which has almost 1,000 calories and nearly double the recommended daily limit of saturated fat.

Carl's Jr. Double Guacamole Bacon Burger

Carl's Jr. has a ton of delicious options, so there's really not much reason to go for a burger that's over 1,300 calories and has an entire day's worth of sodium. The Double Guacamole Bacon Burger is way bigger than what anyone would need in a meal, and the two patties, two strips of bacon, and multiple slices of cheese quickly rack up the calories, saturated fat, and trans fat. If you're craving a burger from Carl's Jr., try something lighter like their regular Big Cheeseburger, which has only 540 calories.

El Pollo Loco Chicken Avocado Stuffed Quesadilla

A combination of chicken and avocado sounds fairly nutritious, but not when it comes to the Chicken Avocado Stuffed Quesadilla from El Pollo Loco. By far their unhealthiest menu item, this meal has 1.5 grams of trans fat, 25 grams of saturated fat, 1,000 calories, and almost 2,000 milligrams of sodium. For a much healthier chicken option, go for their 2-piece Leg and Thigh combo, which comes with chicken, beans, and rice.

 The Best & Worst Menu Items at El Pollo Loco

White Castle Double Cheese Slider

The Double Cheese Slider from White Castle is exactly what it sounds like—double the cheese, double the meat, and double the bun.

"Though some may believe it is high in protein with its double beef patties, it is most definitely high in fat and sodium, which can contribute to high blood pressure and risk of heart disease," says Lisa Young, PhD, RDN.

Checkers Smoky BBQ Bacon Buford

An easy rule of thumb when avoiding unhealthier burgers or fast-food sandwiches is to avoid those with two or three burger patties, such as the Smoky BBQ Bacon Buford from Checkers.

It has 25 grams of saturated fat, almost double what the American Heart Association says you should limit yourself to in one day, and it contains a day's worth of sodium.

"This is a super calorie-dense food due to its combination of ingredients like bacon, cheese, BBQ sauce, and beef patties," says Young. "Its high levels of saturated fat can contribute to elevated cholesterol levels, and its high sodium content may contribute to increased blood pressure."

Bojangles Cajun Filet Club Sandwich

Bojangles is a southern-style fast-food restaurant known for its flaky southern biscuits, but there are some menu items better avoided. One example of this, according to Young, is the Cajun Filet Club Sandwich.

"Higher in calories and fat compared to the other club sandwiches available, the Cajun Filet Club is also high in sodium, reaching the daily recommended sodium intake per serving, which is bad for those who are sodium-conscious," says Young.

Dairy Queen Brownie Dough Blizzard

Many of the sweet treats at Dairy Queen will give you more calories, fat, and saturated fat than an entire meal.

"The Brownie Dough Blizzard in a large size at Dairy Queen will not only exceed some people's calorie intake for the day at 1,400 calories, but this sweet treat will cost you almost a week's worth of sugar in just one sitting at 150 grams," says Rifkin. "The fat content and saturated fat are all extremely high, so consider the mini if you want this sweet treat."

This story has been updated to include new information, fact-checking, and copyedits.