McAlister's Deli Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, McAlister's Deli cooks with: soybean oil. Across the 109 menu items we analyzed, it averages 11.0g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
What oil does McAlister's Deli fry in? The full answer
Eating at McAlister's Deli soon? Build your order in the app and see its seed oil total before you pay.
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Safest Orders at McAlister's Deli
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
Cleanest full order: Veggie Spud + Coffee, 1.4g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Garden Salad | 1.0g |
| Veggie Spud | 1.4g |
| Cheese Spud | 1.5g |
| The New Yorker | 1.7g |
| Veggie Chili (Cup) | 1.7g |
Build your McAlister's Deli order
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Build my orderWhat to Avoid at McAlister's Deli
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad | 44.7g |
| Honey BBQ Pork Nachos | 42.6g |
| Caesar Salad | 42.4g |
| Spicy Turkey Melt (12-inch) | 37.4g |
| Cuban Sandwich (12-inch) | 33.6g |
Every McAlister's Deli item, ranked
All 109 items we have for McAlister's Deli, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| McAlister's Famous Sweet Tea | 0.0g |
| Peach Mango Tea | 0.0g |
| McAlister's Lemonade | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Sour Cream | 0.5g |
| Kids Spud | 0.8g |
| Garden Salad | 1.0g |
| Kids Auntie Anne's Mini Pretzel Dogs | 1.0g |
| Veggie Spud | 1.4g |
| Cheese Spud | 1.5g |
| The New Yorker | 1.7g |
| Veggie Chili (Cup) | 1.7g |
| Savannah Chopped Salad | 2.0g |
| Justa Spud | 2.0g |
| Veggie Chili (Bowl) | 2.3g |
| Country Potato Soup (Cup) | 2.4g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie | 2.7g |
| Southwest Chicken & Avocado Salad | 2.9g |
| Black Angus Roast Beef Spud | 3.0g |
| Kids Turkey Toastie | 3.0g |
| Peach Cobbler Cheesecake | 3.0g |
| Celebration Cookie | 3.0g |
| Butter Pecan Cheesecake | 3.0g |
| Apple Caramel Crisp Cookie | 3.0g |
| Kids Ham Toastie | 3.2g |
| Broccoli and Cheddar Soup (Cup) | 3.3g |
| Chicken Tortilla Soup (Cup) | 3.4g |
| Country Potato Soup (Bowl) | 3.5g |
| Broccoli and Cheddar Soup (Bowl) | 3.7g |
| Loaded Bacon Spud | 3.8g |
| Kids Mac & Cheese | 3.8g |
| French Dip (6-inch) | 3.9g |
| Buffalo Chicken Spud | 4.0g |
| Chipotle Chicken & Bacon Spud | 4.0g |
| Kickin Crab Chowder | 4.0g |
| Kids Cheese Toastie | 4.0g |
| Pecanberry Salad | 4.1g |
| Salted Caramel Cookie | 4.1g |
| Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake | 4.1g |
| Grilled Chicken Salad | 4.3g |
| Chef Salad | 4.3g |
| Spud Max | 4.5g |
| Four Cheese Melt | 4.6g |
| Chili (Cup) | 4.6g |
| White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookie | 4.9g |
| Chips | 5.0g |
| Garden Fresh Turkey | 5.0g |
| Kids PB&J Uncrustables | 5.1g |
| Brookie | 5.3g |
| Brownie | 5.5g |
| McAlister's Honey Mustard | 5.5g |
| Chili (Bowl) | 5.7g |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 6.0g |
| Buffalo Chicken Sandwich | 6.0g |
| Horseradish Roast Beef | 6.0g |
| Sweet and Smoky Chicken | 6.0g |
| Chicken Tortilla Soup (Bowl) | 6.4g |
| Mayo | 6.6g |
| Spicy BBQ Crunch Chicken Sandwich | 6.7g |
| Cobbie Salad | 8.0g |
| Chipotle Ranch | 8.4g |
| Sugar Cookie | 8.5g |
| BLT | 9.0g |
| The Italian (6-inch) | 9.0g |
| French Dip (12-inch) | 9.4g |
| Chicken Caesar Salad | 10.0g |
| Memphian (6-inch) | 10.9g |
| Southwest Chicken Salad | 11.0g |
| Ham & Cheese Melt | 11.7g |
| Buffalo Chicken Nachos | 12.0g |
| Smoky Pepper Jack Turkey | 12.9g |
| Spud Nachos | 13.0g |
| Buffalo Chicken Salad | 13.0g |
| Chicken Bacon Ranch Spud | 13.1g |
| Buttermilk Ranch | 13.2g |
| Reuben | 13.7g |
| Chicken Salad Sandwich | 14.0g |
| Herb Mayo | 14.4g |
| Honey BBQ Pork Spud | 16.6g |
| Honey BBQ Pork Melt | 16.8g |
| Rachel | 17.1g |
| Spicy Southwest Chicken | 17.5g |
| Cuban Sandwich | 17.6g |
| The Italian (12-inch) | 17.9g |
| McAlister's Club Wrap | 18.4g |
| Harvest Chicken Salad Sandwich | 18.6g |
| Spicy Turkey Melt | 18.7g |
| Smokehouse Spud | 19.1g |
| Grilled Chicken Club | 19.9g |
| McAlister's Club | 20.3g |
| Memphian (12-inch) | 21.2g |
| Turkey Ranch BLT | 21.5g |
| Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap | 21.9g |
| The Veggie | 22.2g |
| Colossal Carrot Cake | 22.4g |
| Grilled Chicken King Club | 24.2g |
| King Club | 24.6g |
| Black Angus Club | 24.9g |
| Jalapeno Turkey Crunch | 28.0g |
| Harvest Chicken Salad | 28.8g |
| BLT + Avocado | 29.6g |
| Nacho Basket | 29.6g |
| Ultimate Nachos | 29.9g |
| Black Angus King Club | 31.6g |
| Cuban Sandwich (12-inch) | 33.6g |
| Spicy Turkey Melt (12-inch) | 37.4g |
| Caesar Salad | 42.4g |
| Honey BBQ Pork Nachos | 42.6g |
| Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad | 44.7g |
Frequently asked
Does McAlister's Deli use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, McAlister's Deli cooks with: soybean oil. Across the 109 menu items we analyzed, it averages 11.0g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of D (Very High Risk).
What oil does McAlister's Deli cook with?
Our research indicates: Soybean oil — primary source in mayo, Thousand Island dressing, ranch dressing, and nacho cheese; confirmed in McAlister's allergen/ingredient disclosures. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does McAlister's Deli use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates McAlister's Deli cooks with soybean oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is McAlister's Deli seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates McAlister's Deli cooks with soybean oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at McAlister's Deli?
Garden Salad is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at McAlister's Deli, at an estimated 1.0g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at McAlister's Deli?
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at McAlister's Deli, at an estimated 44.7g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.
Compare other chains
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See where McAlister's Deli lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.