McDonald’s hamburgers are made primarily from 100% beef patties , with salt and pepper added during cooking; McDonald’s says there are no fillers, preservatives, or additives in the patties themselves.

What’s in the patty

The beef comes from trimmings of cuts such as chuck, round, and sirloin, which are ground and formed into patties.

McDonald’s also says its U.S. burger patties are made with USDA-inspected beef and that the only ingredient is real beef.

What people often miss

A common misconception is that the burgers contain a bunch of chemicals in the meat; McDonald’s says that’s not true for the patty.

Some menu items can include ingredients with preservatives or artificial colors, but McDonald’s notes that the pickles are the main exception on classic burgers in the U.S.

How they’re prepared

The patties are ground, shaped, and then cooked on-site at restaurants, while some other burger components like buns, cheese, and toppings are separate ingredients.

So the simplest answer is: the hamburger patty is just beef, but the full burger includes the bun, condiments, cheese, pickles, and other toppings depending on the sandwich.

Quick Scoop

In plain English, McDonald’s hamburgers are not made from mystery meat; the patty is beef, and the rest depends on which burger you order.

TL;DR: McDonald’s hamburger patties are made from 100% beef trimmings, seasoned with salt and pepper, and do not contain fillers or preservatives according to the company.