McDonald’s Bacon Habanero Ranch Quarter Pounder
Review of McDonald’s Bacon Habanero Ranch Quarter Pounder – USA
What they say:
A quarter pound of 100% beef topped by smooth white cheddar, thick-cut Applewood smoked bacon, tomato and leaf lettuce, and a spicy-cool habanero ranch sauce, all on a toasted, bakery-style bun.
Price: $6.65 plus tax as part of a meal.
Calories: 610 kcal.
Welcome to our latest guest review straight from the USA!!
Burger Away Day is a major player on the London burger scene and is a true hardcore burger lover.
I was slightly surprised (but excited!) when she agreed to do a McDonald’s review, so it is with great honour that we welcome her to our website as she gives us what I hope will be the first of many reviews – the McDonald’s USA Bacon Habanero Ranch Quarter Pounder.
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| QP promotional packaging… |
Greetings from way out west!
I’m not talking about Bristol either, I’m in West Texas taking in some of the sights, so I asked my Twitter friend Burger Lad® if he’d like me to review one of the U.S. burgers that he tweets so much about.
He very kindly accepted the offer with his usual enthusiasm (110%) which was very kind, because I don’t usually write burger reviews. Hopefully he will post this?!
Between stargazing in the mountains, and rafting the Rio Grande, I found some time to head to McDonald’s in Alpine, to order the Quarter Pounder Bacon Habanero Ranch.
It’s not just the title that’s a mouthful.
It weighs in at 8.03oz (patty, usual 4oz before cooking), and consists of a bakery style bun, 100% USDA beef patty, tomato slice, thick cut Applewood smoked bacon, white cheddar slice, Habanero Ranch sauce & leaf lettuce. 610 calories, 37g protein (good), 31g fat (less good).
After collecting my order, I headed to a picnic area I spotted coming into town, and sat in the shade with my lunch.
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| A McDonald’s meal with a view… |
Just on looks alone, I was pleasantly surprised.
The bun looked good, although I do enjoy a sesame seeded top, and there was plenty of sauce.
The first bite whacked me around the chops with its peppery hit. A good start as sometimes promises of chili can be distinctly lacking in some chain burgers.
However, where was the fruity flavour of habanero?
I checked the ingredients in the sauce (this is what the nutrition guide is clearly for), and cayenne is the main pepper, but way down the list is habanero, just sadly not as obvious).
Let’s say it’s a cayenne sauce with a splash of habanero.
The patty is sadly dry. My top burger tip is to order a Quarter Pounder and tweak the ingredients so it’s cooked fresh, but for the interests of this review I stuck with the burger as it was intended. Curses!
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| Bacon Habanero Ranch Quarter Pounder… |
The bun is good. It’s soft and does a good job of holding everything together, despite lashings of sauce.
The bacon has gotten a little lost due to the strength of the sauce, but an underlying smokey flavour satisfies.
I usually ditch a tomato slice when it comes inside a burger, but actually you need something to wash away the sauce, and give the patty an extra helping hand. On this occasion, you need it.
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| A peppery patty… |
I wouldn’t normally comment on fries but the UK has upped its game on the quality, so these aren’t as good.
Well done McDonald’s UK. You win! Still, I had eight sachets of ketchup, so technically I win.
All in all, more memorable than I was expecting, but a QP Bacon Pepper Ranch is more accurate. If you’re heading this way, it makes a change from the regular menu.
I now have to saddle up, as I’m heading through oil field country to Dallas. Good day y’all *tips hat*
Burger Away Day (@Cilly247 on Instagram)
