9 Fast Food Chains That Serve Low-Quality Beef

Ever wonder what’s really in those fast food burgers?

I’ve been on a personal quest to find out which chains use the lowest quality beef in their products.

After countless drive-thru visits and some serious stomach distress (the things I do for research!), I’ve compiled this eye-opening list.

From fillers and additives to questionable sourcing practices, these nine fast food giants might make you think twice before ordering your next burger.

1. Taco Bell’s Unidentified Meat Blend

Taco Bell's Unidentified Meat Blend
© Mashed

Remember when Taco Bell was sued because their beef was only 35% actual meat? While they’ve improved since then, their beef still raises eyebrows. I ordered their Supreme Taco last month and couldn’t help but notice the strange texture.

The chain uses fillers like oats, seasonings, and thickeners to bulk up their beef mixture. These additives help keep costs down but significantly reduce the quality of what you’re eating.

Their beef also contains caramel color and cocoa powder – not for flavor, but to make the meat look more appealing! Next time you’re craving Mexican food, you might want to consider if that bargain is worth the questionable meat quality you’re getting.

2. Jack In The Box’s Beef Blunders

Jack In The Box's Beef Blunders
© Cheapism

Jack in the Box has remained a cautionary tale in fast food history ever since their 1993 E. coli outbreak, which sickened hundreds and resulted in the loss of four young lives. While the company has since updated its safety protocols, concerns about their beef quality still linger.

Their patties contain numerous preservatives and flavor enhancers that mask the taste of what should be simple beef. During my last visit, I noticed how unnaturally uniform their patties looked – almost like they were stamped from some mysterious meat-adjacent substance.

The chain has been criticized for using beef trimmings that other restaurants reject. These lower-grade cuts often come from parts of the cow with higher fat content and less actual muscle meat, resulting in a less nutritious burger that’s pumped full of additives.

3. White Castle’s Slider Secrets

White Castle's Slider Secrets
© The US Sun

Those famous tiny sliders at White Castle might be iconic, but they’re hiding some not-so-appetizing secrets. Last summer, I finally tried one after years of curiosity – what a disappointment! The paper-thin patties barely tasted like meat at all.

White Castle’s beef is heavily processed and mixed with rehydrated onions directly on the grill. This method creates those signature holes in their patties but also means you’re getting less actual beef per burger than almost any other chain.

The company doesn’t prioritize quality sourcing, instead focusing on their unique cooking method to create flavor. While their sliders might satisfy a midnight craving, they’re essentially serving up beef-flavored fillers rather than quality meat. Those iconic square shapes come at the cost of actual beef content.

4. Sonic Drive-In’s Beefy Disappointments

Sonic Drive-In's Beefy Disappointments
© Business Insider

Sonic’s nostalgic drive-in experience masks the reality of their subpar beef. I pulled in for a burger last month, excited by their retro vibe, but found myself chewing on what tasted like a salt lick with meat undertones.

Their beef contains significant amounts of sodium phosphates and other preservatives that give it that characteristic fast-food taste. The chain doesn’t emphasize quality sourcing in their marketing because, frankly, there’s not much to brag about.

Former employees have shared that the patties arrive frozen in massive bags and are often stored for extended periods. The beef-to-filler ratio leaves much to be desired, with many customers noting the burgers have a spongy texture that real, quality beef shouldn’t have. Those roller-skating servers deliver mediocre meat with a smile!

5. Dairy Queen’s Beefy Blunder Royale

Dairy Queen's Beefy Blunder Royale
© Cheapism

Dairy Queen might be famous for ice cream, but their burgers deserve infamous status. My family stopped for a quick lunch during our road trip last year, and I was shocked at how thin and flavorless their beef patties were.

DQ’s beef contains numerous fillers and binding agents that help maintain the shape of their thin patties but dilute any actual beef flavor. Their standard patties weigh in at a measly 1/10 pound – that’s less beef than most competitors use in their smallest burgers!

The chain focuses on their frozen treats and views burgers as secondary menu items, which shows in their quality. Many locations cook their patties in large batches and hold them in warming trays, further degrading the already questionable meat quality. Maybe stick to Blizzards next time!

6. Checkers & Rally’s Beef Bargain Basement

Checkers & Rally's Beef Bargain Basement
© Business Insider

Checkers and Rally’s pride themselves on fast, cheap food – and you definitely get what you pay for when it comes to their beef. I stopped at one during a cross-country drive and regretted it for the next 100 miles.

Their ultra-thin patties contain so many fillers that the beef flavor is practically an afterthought. The meat has an unnaturally smooth texture that real ground beef simply doesn’t have, suggesting heavy processing and the use of binding agents.

These twin chains compete on price point, not quality, which explains why their beef tastes more like a science experiment than something that once mooed. Former kitchen staff have reported that the patties arrive frozen in massive quantities and often sit in warming trays for hours, further diminishing whatever beef quality might have existed initially.

7. Carl’s Jr.’s Beefy Letdowns

Carl's Jr.'s Beefy Letdowns
© Brand Eating

Carl’s Jr. loves to advertise their burgers as premium and “charbroiled,” but my experience suggests otherwise. Their commercials featuring models sensually eating burgers must be compensation for the actual product – because it sure isn’t about the beef quality!

Despite their claims of serving “100% Angus beef,” the chain doesn’t specify what parts of the cow they’re using. Industry insiders suggest they rely heavily on fatty trimmings that higher-end restaurants would discard, resulting in greasy patties with inconsistent texture.

The charbroiling process they’re so proud of seems designed to mask the mediocre meat quality rather than enhance good beef. My last Carl’s Jr. burger left a slick of grease on the wrapper that would make an oil change look clean by comparison. Those famous stars in their logo certainly don’t reflect star-quality beef!

8. Burger King’s Royal Disappointment

Burger King's Royal Disappointment
© The Independent

The Home of the Whopper should really be called “The Home of the Whopper Disappointment.” I grew up loving their flame-grilled taste, but as an adult, I’ve realized their beef quality is anything but regal.

Burger King has faced numerous controversies regarding their beef, including findings of DNA from other sources in their European patties back in 2013. While they claim to use 100% beef in the US, they don’t specify what parts of the cow or the grade of that beef.

Their patties contain significant amounts of salt and additives to create that characteristic “flame-grilled” flavor – which mostly comes from artificial smoke flavoring rather than actual grilling. The thin, dry patties often have that telltale fast-food springiness that indicates heavy processing. This king’s crown sits atop some seriously questionable beef!

9. Hardee’s Hardly-Beef Burgers

Hardee's Hardly-Beef Burgers
© MEAT+POULTRY

Hardee’s marketing presents their burgers as thick, juicy, and premium—but my visit to their Tennessee location last year painted a different picture. The patties were dry, lacking flavor, and noticeably light on actual beef.

Even the rebranded “Thickburgers” didn’t live up to their name, as the beef quality remained underwhelming. Standard menu items feature thin patties with a high fat-to-meat ratio and various additives used to preserve texture and shape.

According to former employees, some locations pre-cook patties and keep them in warming trays for extended periods, which only worsens the overall quality. With a stronger focus on breakfast offerings, it’s clear that burgers aren’t their standout item. And while the brand’s iconic smiling star remains recognizable, it might be time to reconsider what’s really behind that grin.