Top 10 Unhealthiest Fast Food Chains In America

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the least nutritious restaurants in the United States. Keep in mind we're only judging the health benefits here, not how tasty the food is. Number 10, Burger King. If you're looking for a quick pick-me-up in the morning, you're better off looking somewhere else. Don't worry, there is some good news. Reportedly, most of the King's traditional menu items, yes, even including the Whopper, aren't too bad for you. Their breakfast, though? That's a different story. As it turns out, Burger King's early morning offerings can easily eat up over half of your recommended caloric intake for the whole day. And don't even get us started on all of those carbs. Burger King's hash browns may look good, but they're not quite what you'd call a well-balanced breakfast, that's for sure. Number 9, Kentucky Fried Chicken. In order to stay finger-lickin' good, KFC loads their entrees with tons of saturated fat, including a mind-boggling amount of sodium. That's all without even mentioning their sides. The biscuit that's been buttered to infinity and beyond? How about a serving of over-seasoned french fries? Might as well wash it all down with a sugary soft drink, too. Heck, you can even order a chocolate chip cake for dessert. For what it's worth, KFC at least offers healthier grilled alternatives to their chicken. Or they did, until they discontinued it in favor of more fried goodness. At this point, it's clear that nutrition is not KFC's priority. Number 8, Dairy Queen. It really shouldn't come as a surprise that a chain primarily selling soft serve isn't the industry's shining beacon of health and wellness, although blizzards and their thousands of calories aren't the only ones to blame. Dairy Queen's hot food isn't too easy on the waistline, either. We're talking about lots and lots of fat content. Then again, what else would you expect from a platter of burgers, tenders, and fries? Oh, and heaven forbid you get their ice cream for dessert. Let's just say that, based on the health info alone, a meal like that is supposed to last you days, not hours. Number 7, Chick-fil-A. Given their name, it's only fitting that Chick-fil-A's meat products are relatively nutritious, especially if you order them grilled. The real issue, then, is all the junk served around it. To put it into perspective, a single side of waffle fries is about as many calories as an entire chicken sandwich. The mac and cheese is even worse. And yet, both of those pale in comparison to the true culprit, their signature Chick-fil-A sauce. It's a metric ton of fat and sodium, packaged into one rectangular calorie sink. All that for a single packet. And let's be real, who has the willpower to stop at just one? Number 6, Quiznos. They're just sandwiches. How bad could they really be? Turns out, the answer is really, really bad. As they say, numbers don't lie, and several items on Quiznos' menu have significantly more calories than any reasonable sandwich should. Seems like even their tamest dishes have some sort of special sauce or creamy garnish on top, usually chock-full of nasty fats. The lack of nutritional value is particularly glaring when you compare them to the healthier offerings at competing subchains. Unable to lower their costs or calories, it's not too shocking that Quiznos filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2014. Number 5, Arby's. Arby's, they have the meats. And also, the trans fat. And the cholesterol. And the salt. Honestly, it might just be faster to list what health risks they don't have. Spoiler, there's not many. Alongside a distinct lack of fruits and vegetables, Arby's fried foods are packed with a seemingly never-ending amount of grease and oil. For example, an order of mozzarella sticks takes up your daily allotment of salt right then and there. And that's just a side. Combine that with a roast beef sandwich and an apple turnover, and you're looking at a whole lot of extra calories. Number 4, Whataburger. This is a classic case of good news, bad news. The good news is that in 2023, Whataburger's classic cheeseburger ranked as one of the healthiest fast food burgers in America. The bad news? Throw on some condiments, order a side of fries, and that data changes dramatically. Almost every single one of Whataburger's sides has a sky-high amount of saturated fat and sodium. There's nothing quite like coming together over a fresh-cooked meal. Face-to-face, burger-to-burger, solving the world's problems over fries. Don't think ordering a salad saves you, either. Since Whataburger's Cobb salad comes with spicy chicken, it's about as nutritious as a classic order of tenders. Whether it's added sauces, sneaky fats, or large portions, Whataburger always finds a way to load up its dishes. When you could have ordered your burger with extra onions, grilled jalapenos, and three slices of cheese, but you didn't, and your buddy did. Number 3, Carl's Jr. Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but at this fast food restaurant, it's also the most detrimental. Frankly, it's not even close. The new Monster Breakfast Sandwich at Carl's Jr., breakfast as big as our burgers. The standard unaltered breakfast burger from Carl's Jr. has an absolutely astronomical amount of fat. Some of it is saturated fat, some of it is trans fat, but none of it is good for you. The made-from-scratch smoked sausage egg and cheese biscuit, baked fresh every morning, new at Carl's Jr. Unfortunately, that's just the tip of the bun when it comes to Carl's Jr. That's right, somehow it's equally unhealthy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. From the jalapeno burger to the breakfast burrito, nothing at Carl's Jr. is safe from the dreaded threat of fat content. The Big Country Breakfast Burrito, bacon, ham, and country gravy, new at Carl's Jr. Number 2, Wendy's. When it comes to Wendy's, the danger you see isn't as harmful as the danger you don't. There's still the usual suspects like the Baconator or the Frosty, and while they're not healthy by any stretch of the word, that's simply par for the course on this menu. Even the most innocent-seeming items have their caveats, like the apple pecan salad including a whopping 19 grams of sugar. And yet everything else is so greasy that that salad is still one of the healthier options. It doesn't help that Wendy's also has very enticing prices. Their cheap deals like the $5 biggie bag ensure that your wallet stays thicker, but so do you. Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified about our latest videos. You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them. If you're on your phone, make sure you go into settings and switch on your notifications. Number 1, Sonic Drive-In. Burgers, tots, dogs, shake, take your pick. They're all risky in their own special ways. Sonic Cheeseburgers are made with 100% beef and melty American cheese, and we deliver them right to your car, which is great if you think 58 degrees is cold. Sonic Cheeseburger. Mmm, Sonic. As if to prove it, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything on Sonic's whole menu that isn't soaked in saturated fat. That's no hyperbole. Over the years, several health investigations reported that Sonic Burgers just straight-up have more fat than their fast food competitors. Sonic's $2.99 Carhub Classic, a juicy quarter-pound double cheeseburger or a flavorful signature slinger with golden brown crispy tots, a deal so nice you should order it twice. If that's any indication, we don't even want to know how their greasy sides and massive milkshakes stack up. $1.99 small classic shakes all day at Sonic. The writing's on the wall either way. If you're on a diet, Sonic is the very last place you want to go. Has this list turned you off any of your fast food faves? Let us know in the comments below. Arby's, we have the meats. Did you enjoy this video? Check out these other clips from WatchMojo, and be sure to subscribe and ring the bell to be notified about our latest videos.