You're standing in the drive-thru. It's 7:15 AM. You're starving. The Sausage Burrito is staring at you from the glowing menu board, promising a mix of fluffy eggs, pork sausage, and that melted cheese blend that honestly hits different when you're caffeinated. But if you’re tracking macros or managing blood sugar, that one nagging question stops you: how many carbs are in a McDonald's breakfast burrito, really?
It's one of those things where the size is deceiving. The burrito is small. It fits in the palm of your hand. Because of that, people tend to assume it’s a low-carb "hack" compared to a stack of hotcakes or a large biscuit. While it’s certainly lighter than a McGriddle, the carb count isn't zero, and the distribution of those nutrients might surprise you if you’re used to homemade keto versions.
According to the official McDonald’s nutritional data, a single Sausage Burrito contains 25 grams of total carbohydrates.
Now, is that a lot? It depends on your goals. For someone on a standard 2,000-calorie diet, 25g is a drop in the bucket. For someone on a strict ketogenic protocol trying to stay under 20g or 30g of net carbs for the entire day, one single burrito basically wipes out your entire budget before the sun is fully up. It’s all about perspective.
Breaking down the 25-gram mystery
Most people assume the eggs or the sausage carry the weight here. They don't. Eggs and sausage are primarily protein and fat. The "culprit"—if we're calling it that—is the flour tortilla.
McDonald’s uses a soft, white flour tortilla that is specifically designed to be pliable and hold up under heat lamps. These tortillas are dense. Even though they look thin, they are packed with enriched flour. Out of those 25 grams of carbs, you’re only getting about 1 gram of dietary fiber. That means your net carbs sit at 24 grams.
There is also about 2 grams of total sugars in there. You might wonder why a savory burrito has sugar. It’s usually found in the tortilla processing and the "vegetable mix" which includes tomatoes, green chilies, and onions, along with some seasonings and preservatives used to keep the filling shelf-stable and flavorful.
Let's look at the context.
One burrito is roughly 310 calories.
It has 13 grams of protein.
It has 17 grams of fat.
If you’re comparing this to a plain Egg McMuffin (which has about 30g of carbs), the burrito is actually a slightly lower-carb option. But if you eat two? You're looking at 50 grams of carbs. That's the equivalent of eating three and a half slices of white bread. It adds up fast.
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Can you make it lower carb?
The short answer is yes, but it’s messy.
I’ve seen people try to "deconstruct" the burrito. You can ask for no tortilla, but because the Sausage Burrito filling is pre-mixed (the eggs, sausage, and veggies are scrambled together in a central facility before arriving at the restaurant), you can't easily ask for "no sausage" or "no peppers." The filling is a set deal.
If you ditch the tortilla and just eat the filling, you're essentially stripping away about 20-22 grams of the carbs. You’d be left with a small pile of egg and meat that probably clocks in at 3 or 4 grams of carbs from the veggies and seasonings. However, McDonald's employees aren't always thrilled to put loose burrito filling in a bowl, and honestly, the portion size looks pretty depressing without the wrap.
A better strategy for low-carb enthusiasts is often to pivot to the Sausage McMuffin with Egg and just throw away the English muffin. That gives you a clean patty and a real cracked egg without the "pre-mix" fillers found in the burrito filling.
The glycemic impact of that white flour
We need to talk about how your body actually handles these 25 grams. Since there is almost no fiber (that 1 gram is negligible), these are "fast" carbs.
The white flour in the tortilla is highly refined. When you eat it, your enzymes break it down into glucose almost immediately. If you're sedentary—say, sitting in a car or at a desk right after breakfast—that glucose spike might lead to a crash by 10:30 AM.
Interestingly, the fat content in the sausage and cheese actually helps slow down that digestion a bit. It’s better than eating a donut, which is pure sugar and carb. The fat and protein in the burrito act as a "buffer," preventing the kind of massive insulin spike you'd get from a blueberry muffin.
But still, 25 grams of refined flour is 25 grams of refined flour. If you’re diabetic, you already know this requires a bolus. If you’re just health-conscious, it’s worth noting that these aren’t "complex" carbs like oatmeal or whole-grain toast.
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Ingredients you should know about
When you look at the back-end data for the Sausage Burrito, the ingredient list is longer than you’d expect for "egg and meat."
- The Tortilla: Enriched flour, water, shortening, and a list of leavening agents and preservatives like calcium propionate.
- The Egg Mix: Whole eggs, skim milk, soybean oil, and "modified food starch." That starch is a hidden source of carbs that helps the eggs stay fluffy when reheated.
- The Sausage: Pork, water, salt, spices, and sugar. Again, sugar. It’s used for browning and flavor balance.
Is it "real" food? Sure. But it’s highly engineered real food. The "modified food starch" in the eggs is a common trick in the fast-food industry. It prevents the eggs from "weeping" or getting watery while they sit in the warming tray. It also adds a tiny bit to that carb count we're discussing.
Comparing the burrito to other breakfast stars
Sometimes seeing the numbers side-by-side helps.
- Sausage Burrito: 25g carbs.
- Egg McMuffin: 30g carbs.
- Sausage Biscuit: 36g carbs.
- Hash Brown: 18g carbs.
- Large Hotcakes (with syrup/butter): 100g+ carbs.
The burrito is actually the "winner" if you're trying to minimize carbs while still keeping the bread/wrap element. It’s significantly lower than the biscuit options because the tortilla is much thinner and less dense than a buttermilk biscuit.
However, the trap is the "2 for $4" or "2 for $3" deals that many locations run. Because the burritos are small, almost everyone buys two. Suddenly, your "light" breakfast is 50 grams of carbs and 620 calories. That is more carbs than a Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese.
Real-world advice for the morning rush
If you're going to eat the McDonald's breakfast burrito, don't do it in a vacuum.
If you're worried about the 25 grams of carbs, skip the hash brown. Adding a hash brown brings your total to 43 grams of carbs. That’s a heavy load for the first meal of the day. Instead, pair the burrito with a black coffee or a sugar-free latte.
Also, consider the sodium. There is about 800mg of sodium in one burrito. High salt intake can make you retain water, which some people mistake for weight gain or "carb bloat." Drink a full glass of water with your meal to help your kidneys process that salt load.
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Honestly, the McDonald's breakfast burrito isn't the "diet-killer" people make it out to be, provided you stick to one. It’s a moderate-carb, high-fat, moderate-protein snack.
Actionable steps for your next visit
If you want to keep your carb intake in check while still enjoying your McDonald's run, follow these steps:
Stick to a single burrito. Resist the urge to grab the second one just because it's a "deal." The first one satisfies the craving; the second one just adds 25g of empty carbs.
Ditch the condiment packets. One packet of Ketchup adds 2 or 3 grams of sugar/carbs. Use the Picante Sauce instead—it’s much lower in sugar and adds better flavor anyway.
Eat the filling first. If you really want to be "good," tear off the excess "flaps" of the tortilla where the dough is doubled or tripled up. Most of the carbs are in those thick folded ends. By just eating the middle or discarding the ends, you can probably shave 5-8 grams of carbs off the total without losing any of the actual breakfast filling.
Check the app for customization. While you can't change the burrito mix, you can often find deals for "no-bread" versions of other items that might fit your carb goals better if 25g is too high for your current plan.
Ultimately, the Sausage Burrito is a tool in your arsenal. It’s portable, cheap, and relatively consistent. Just don't let the small size fool you into thinking it's a carb-free miracle. It’s a 25-gram commitment. Plan the rest of your day accordingly.