Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I tried the cheapest cheeseburgers at McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Burger King and the least expensive was my favorite
June 8, 20240
The burger came with a single beef patty, pickles, chopped onions, ketchup, mustard, and a slice of American cheese.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I thought the bun was a touch limp and the cheese could have been more melted.
I liked the taste of the pickles and the condiments.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The junior cheeseburger from Wendy’s cost $3.74, excluding tax.
The burger had basically the same ingredients as the McDonald’s cheeseburger but with a square patty.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The cheese was more melted on this burger than on the one from McDonald’s.
I found the burger to be flavorful and well-balanced.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The cheeseburger from Burger King cost $2.59, excluding tax.
The burger came with American cheese, pickles, ketchup, and mustard on a sesame-seed bun.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I was anxious to see if this would lessen the burger’s overall flavor, but it didn’t.
The cheese was thick and perfectly melted onto the burger patty, something I didn’t experience with the burgers from McDonald’s and Wendy’s.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
The sesame-seed bun also added a lot of flavor — something I didn’t get from the classic toasted buns at the other two chains.
However, the standout star of this burger was the patty itself.
The flame-grilled burger had a strong, smoky flavor that didn’t overpower the other ingredients and was complemented perfectly by the ketchup and mustard.
Not only was this burger the most flavorful, but it was also the best value — at $2.59, it was the cheapest burger I tried.