I ordered the same meal from McDonald's and Wendy's and I preferred the bigger, more expensive burger

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I ordered the same meal from McDonald's and Wendy's and I preferred the bigger, more expensive burger
  • I ordered the same meal from McDonald's and Wendy's to determine which was better.
  • I tried both chains' double bacon cheeseburgers, chicken nuggets, fries, and barbecue dipping sauce.
  • The meal from Wendy's was drastically cheaper, but also smaller and less flavorful.
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Wendy's offers a Biggie Bag meal deal that comes with a bacon double stack burger, a medium drink, medium fries, and a four-piece chicken nugget.

Wendy's offers a Biggie Bag meal deal that comes with a bacon double stack burger, a medium drink, medium fries, and a four-piece chicken nugget.
The meal from Wendy's. Erin McDowell/Insider

My meal from Wendy's cost just $6.42, including tax. I thought this was an incredible deal for how much food I received.

After receiving feedback from readers on my previous meal comparison stories that I was missing out on Wendy's cheap and delicious combo meals, I decided to give one a try. I then ordered the same items from McDonald's to see how they would compare in value and taste.

I've tried Wendy's nuggets in the past and really enjoyed them.

I've tried Wendy's nuggets in the past and really enjoyed them.
Chicken nuggets and barbecue sauce from Wendy's. Erin McDowell/Insider

I expected the outcome for this taste test to be about the same as when I compared Wendy's nuggets to McDonald's previously — I ended up being correct.

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However, this time I decided to try them with the chain's barbecue sauce.

However, this time I decided to try them with the chain's barbecue sauce.
I dipped the chicken nugget in the barbecue sauce. Erin McDowell/Insider

The sauce came with the meal at no extra charge.

The chicken nuggets were crispy and crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

The chicken nuggets were crispy and crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
The chicken nugget from Wendy's. Erin McDowell/Insider

The nuggets were also a perfect vehicle for the chain's barbecue sauce, which was tangy and slightly spicy.

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Next up was the burger. I got a double stack bacon burger.

Next up was the burger. I got a double stack bacon burger.
The bacon double stack burger from Wendy's. Erin McDowell/Insider

Right off the bat, I noticed it was slightly smaller than the one from McDonald's. It uses two junior size patties, whereas the McDonald's one uses two regular beef patties.

The burger comes with two junior patties, Applewood smoked bacon, cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onions.

The burger comes with two junior patties, Applewood smoked bacon, cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onions.
The bacon double stack burger from Wendy's. Erin McDowell/Insider

I previously tried the chain's regular double-stack burger, so I was excited to see if adding bacon would make it even better.

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The bacon looked crispy and delicious.

The bacon looked crispy and delicious.
The bacon double stack burger from Wendy's. Erin McDowell/Insider

It came with two slices, which was enough to get bacon in every bite of the burger.

I thought the meat was juicy and perfectly smothered in cheese.

I thought the meat was juicy and perfectly smothered in cheese.
The bacon double stack burger from Wendy's. Erin McDowell/Insider

The bacon was crispy and added a smokey, salty flavor to the burger.

The pickles and onions were both crunchy and fresh-tasting but I would have liked more of them. In the end, the major flavor notes I got from the burger were from the meat, cheese, and bacon. I wasn't complaining, but it left just a little to be desired.

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The fries were fluffy, but they could have used a touch more salt.

The fries were fluffy, but they could have used a touch more salt.
Fries from Wendy's. Erin McDowell/Insider

They were just a bit bland for my liking.

I ordered the same menu items from McDonald's.

I ordered the same menu items from McDonald's.
The meal from McDonald's. Erin McDowell/Insider

I ordered a double quarter pounder with bacon meal, which included the burger, medium fries, and a medium drink for $10.59. I added a four-piece chicken nugget to complete the meal for $1.99.

For less than $13, I was pretty satisfied with how much food I received — however, it was nowhere near as good a deal as the meal from Wendy's.

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McDonald's chicken nuggets are a fan-favorite menu item for a reason.

McDonald's chicken nuggets are a fan-favorite menu item for a reason.
The chicken nuggets from McDonald's. Erin McDowell/Insider

I've always liked them and thought $1.99 was a reasonable price for four nuggets.

I tried the nuggets with the chain's barbecue sauce, just like I did with the nuggets from Wendy's.

I tried the nuggets with the chain's barbecue sauce, just like I did with the nuggets from Wendy's.
I dipped the chicken nugget in the barbecue sauce. Erin McDowell/Insider

The smokey sauce perfectly clung to the nuggets. It was a little thicker than the sauce from Wendy's.

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The nuggets from McDonald's were crispy but didn't have the crunch of the chicken nuggets from Wendy's.

The nuggets from McDonald's were crispy but didn't have the crunch of the chicken nuggets from Wendy's.
The chicken nugget from McDonald's. Erin McDowell/Insider

Still, they were juicy and undeniably cheap.

I ordered the double quarter pounder with bacon.

I ordered the double quarter pounder with bacon.
The double quarter pounder with bacon from McDonald's. Erin McDowell/Insider

Though this burger is generally the same menu item as the bacon double stack burger from Wendy's, it does differ slightly.

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Right off the bat, I noticed the burger patties in the McDonald's version were larger.

Right off the bat, I noticed the burger patties in the McDonald's version were larger.
The double quarter pounder with bacon from McDonald's. Erin McDowell/Insider

McDonald's uses two full-size patties in its double quarter pounder, while Wendy's uses two junior patties.

The toppings were spread slightly unevenly on the McDonald's burger.

The toppings were spread slightly unevenly on the McDonald's burger.
The double quarter pounder with bacon from McDonald's. Erin McDowell/Insider

One side of the burger received a heavy dose of toppings, while the other half was noticeably barer.

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However, biting into the side with the most toppings was almost a mind-blowing experience.

However, biting into the side with the most toppings was almost a mind-blowing experience.
The double quarter pounder with bacon from McDonald's. Erin McDowell/Insider

The meat was super juicy and flavorful, only enhanced by the generous serving of crunchy, briny pickles, thickly sliced onions, bacon, ketchup, and mustard. The cheese was tangy and perfectly melted.

The bigger burger patties paid off in the end.

The fries were crispy and well-salted, unlike the ones from Wendy's.

The fries were crispy and well-salted, unlike the ones from Wendy's.
Fries from McDonald's. ��Erin McDowell/Insider

In the end, I preferred the McDonald's fries just slightly. However, this it totally up to personal preference.

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Both burgers had their own merits, but I preferred the taste of the one from McDonald's.

Both burgers had their own merits, but I preferred the taste of the one from McDonald's.
The double quarter pounder with bacon from McDonald's and the bacon double stack burger from Wendy's. Erin McDowell/Insider

However, while I preferred the burger patties and toppings of the larger burger, the meal was also double the price.

The barbecue sauces from each chain were quite different from each other.

The barbecue sauces from each chain were quite different from each other.
Barbecue sauce from McDonald's and Wendy's. Erin McDowell/Insider

The McDonald's one was more smokey in flavor and a little thicker, while the Wendy's one had more of a kick. I enjoyed both equally.

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I had to give the win to the fries from McDonald's.

I had to give the win to the fries from McDonald's.
McDonald's fries and Wendy's fries. Erin McDowell/Insider

They were more seasoned and crispier than the Wendy's fries.

However, the nuggets from Wendy's were an obvious win in my book.

However, the nuggets from Wendy's were an obvious win in my book.
Wendy's chicken nuggets and McDonald's chicken nuggets. Erin McDowell/Insider

Not only did they come with the meal deal at no extra charge, but they were also crunchier and juicier than the McDonald's nuggets.

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The burger from McDonald's blew me away, despite the meal being drastically more expensive. However, the meal from Wendy's was a far better value.

The burger from McDonald's blew me away, despite the meal being drastically more expensive. However, the meal from Wendy's was a far better value.
I preferred the meal from Wendy's. Erin McDowell/Insider

I'd definitely order it again over the meal from McDonald's, despite preferring the flavor of the McDonald's items ever so slightly.