McDonald's isn't the first place people think of for plant-based eating, but the options have grown a lot — especially outside the US. We went through McDonald's real menu data to map out what vegans and vegetarians can actually order, from the McPlant burger to sides, breakfast and desserts.
If you've been searching for McDonald's vegan picks or solid McDonald's vegetarian options, the honest answer is that plant based McDonald's eating depends heavily on which country you're in — but there's more on the menu than most people realise, and we've laid out exactly what's available below with real calorie data where we hold it.
Important: McDonald's menus vary by country, and so does preparation (for example, whether fries are cooked in shared oil). Always check with your local restaurant if you have strict dietary needs — menus and recipes change.
How we sourced this guide
This guide is built from McDonald's real menu data and official US nutrition figures stored in our database, not assumptions. Where we list calories, carbs or sugar, those are brand-published numbers matched to the exact item. Because plant-based availability and preparation differ so much between countries, we've flagged where an item is country-specific and pointed you to the live McDonald's menu so you can confirm what's offered in your market.
Plant-based mains (vegan & vegetarian burgers)
McDonald's has rolled out dedicated meat-free mains in many markets:
- McPlant — the plant-based burger (co-developed with Beyond Meat), available across the UK, much of Europe and other markets. The patty is plant-based; whether it's certified vegan depends on the cheese/sauce in your country.
- McVeggie / Spicy McVeggie — a vegetarian patty burger, widely available in markets like the UK, India and parts of Europe.
- McVegan — a fully vegan burger offered in several markets including Sweden and Finland.
- McPlant Nuggets / Veggie Nuggets — plant-based nuggets available across many European menus.
- Veggie wraps and veggie deluxe — meat-free wraps appear on several country menus.
You can see exactly which of these are listed for your country on the live McDonald's menu pages — switch country to see local availability.
Vegetarian sides & breakfast (with real calories)
These items are vegetarian-friendly in most markets, and we hold official US nutrition data for them:
| Item | Calories | Carbs |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Slices | 15 kcal | 4 g |
| Hash Browns | 140 kcal | 18 g |
| Fruit & Maple Oatmeal | 320 kcal | 64 g |
| World Famous Fries (regular portion) | varies by size | — |
The Egg McMuffin (English muffin, egg and cheese, hold the meat) is a common vegetarian breakfast hack in markets where it can be made without the sausage or bacon.
Vegan & vegetarian drinks and desserts
Plenty of sweet and refreshing options are plant-based or vegetarian. We have official US nutrition for these:
| Item | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|
| Mango Pineapple Refresher | 180 kcal | 39 g |
| Strawberry Banana Smoothie | 190 kcal | 39 g |
| Mango Pineapple Smoothie | 200 kcal | 42 g |
| Blackberry Passion Fruit Refresher | 270 kcal | 59 g |
| Baked Apple Pie | 230 kcal | 14 g |
Note: smoothies and McFlurry-style desserts typically contain dairy, so they're vegetarian but not vegan. The Apple Pie is vegan in some markets (UK) but not all — check locally. Black coffee and many soft drinks are vegan everywhere.
What to watch out for
- Fries: vegan in the UK and much of Europe (cooked separately), but in the US they contain a beef-derived flavouring — so US fries are not vegan or strictly vegetarian.
- Cheese & sauces: the McPlant patty is plant-based, but the default cheese and some sauces are dairy-based. Ask for it without cheese for a vegan order where available.
- Shared equipment: meat-free items may be prepared near meat. Cross-contamination matters if you're strict.
The bottom line
If you're vegetarian, McDonald's is easy: McVeggie burgers, sides, oatmeal, fruit, smoothies and desserts give you plenty. If you're vegan, your best bets are the McPlant (no cheese), veggie/McPlant nuggets, fries in vegan-fry markets, apple slices and black coffee — with availability depending heavily on your country.
For more plant-friendly and lower-carb eating out, see our fast food keto & low-carb options and healthiest fast food options guides, or compare menus across chains on our compare tool.
Frequently asked questions
What can vegans eat at McDonald's? Your best bets are the McPlant (ordered without cheese), the veggie/McPlant nuggets, fries in vegan-fry markets like the UK, Apple Slices (15 kcal) and black coffee. Availability depends heavily on your country.
Is the McDonald's McPlant vegan? The McPlant patty is plant-based (co-developed with Beyond Meat), but whether the full burger is certified vegan depends on the cheese and sauce used in your country. Ask for it without cheese for a vegan order where available.
Are McDonald's fries vegan? It depends on the country. Fries are vegan in the UK and much of Europe (cooked separately), but US fries contain a beef-derived flavouring, so they are not vegan or strictly vegetarian.
What are the vegetarian options at McDonald's? Vegetarians have plenty of choice: McVeggie burgers, Hash Browns (140 kcal), Fruit & Maple Oatmeal (320 kcal), Apple Slices (15 kcal), smoothies, the Baked Apple Pie (230 kcal) and an Egg McMuffin made without the meat.
All calorie figures are official US nutrition data from our database. Menus, recipes and preparation vary by country, so always check locally if you have strict dietary needs.
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