McDonald's Catering - Convenient Solution for Corporate Lunches and Events

McDonald’s isn’t just for drive-thru and lunch breaks anymore. As one of the most recognizable fast-food brands in the world, McDonald’s has become a surprising but increasingly popular option for corporate catering—especially for breakfast meetings, team lunches, and budget-friendly events.

While it’s not a traditional catering company, McDonald’s flexibility and speed make it a practical choice for offices looking to feed a crowd fast. Here’s everything you need to know about how McDonald’s catering works and when it’s a smart fit for your next event.

McDonald’s Catering in 2026: Menu, Prices, Lunch & Office Ordering

Does McDonald’s Offer Catering? Yes—sort of.

McDonald’s doesn’t have a centralized catering division. Instead, individual franchise owners can decide whether to offer catering services. As a result, options vary by location with some franchisees actively market catering as part of their business strategy, while others focus solely on in-store and drive-thru sales. Some franchisees have even customized their catering menu to include bundle deals, beverage services, and packaging designed for office meetings, conferences, and events.

In many high-demand regions, select McDonald’s franchises offer bulk ordering, breakfast catering, and event-friendly packaging—especially through third-party platforms like UberEats and DoorDash.

Popular offerings include breakfast sandwiches, hash browns, McCafé coffee, and value-packed lunch bundles ideal for group meals.

McDonald’s Catering Menu Highlights

🍳 Breakfast Catering Bundles - Egg McMuffins & Sausage Biscuits + McGriddles & Hash Browns + McCafé Coffee Totes & Orange Juice

🍔 Lunch & All-Day Catering - Cheeseburgers, McChickens & Filet-O-Fish + 40-piece Chicken McNuggets + Large French Fries

🍪 Snacks & Sweets - Apple Slices, Yogurt Parfaits, Cookies & Baked Apple Pies

McDonald’s Catering Prices

McDonald’s catering-style orders remain one of the most affordable ways to feed a group at the office. Most corporate orders fall into predictable ranges based on meal type, order size, and delivery method.

McDonald's Breakfast Catering Prices

• $6–$9 per person
• Coffee and juice add-ons typically increase per-person cost by $1–$2.

Lunch & All-Day Catering

• $7–$10 per person.
• Lunch orders trend slightly higher due to protein-heavy items and larger portions

Snacks & Light Meals

• $3–$5 per person
• For office pick-me-ups and meeting snacks

McDonald’s Catering is Cheaper Than Traditional Caterers

In most cases, yes. McDonald’s catering-style orders are often 30–50% less expensive than traditional corporate catering options, making it a strong fit for the extremely budget-conscious team, but not a great fit for recurring office meals.

Take caution when making McDonald's orders for large groups using DoorDash or Uber Eats which typically have a markup of 20-60%.

For teams that need tighter delivery windows, broader dietary accommodations, or professionally packaged meals, a dedicated corporate catering platform may still be the better long-term solution.

McDonald’s Catering Lunch for Offices

McDonald’s lunch catering has become a common solution for schools, organizations, and offices that need a fast, familiar, and budget-friendly way to feed a group—without the planning overhead of traditional catering. Many franchises are well-equipped to handle large lunch orders for teams, trainings, and internal events, so it's always worth a call to your local operator.

Best McDonald’s Lunch Options for Group Orders

Office lunch orders typically focus on items that scale well in bulk and travel reliably:

Burgers & Sandwiches: Cheeseburgers, McChickens, and Filet-O-Fish are the most common choices for large teams.

Chicken McNuggets: 40-piece nugget packs give the best bang for your buck and easily convert to McNugget Platters

Large Fries & Sides: Order the largest fry size if serving buffet style for economies of scale. Order the smallest fry size to optimize for distribution and portion control.

Most McDonald’s lunch catering orders land in the $8-12 per person range, making it one of the most affordable lunch options for feeding 15–100+ people.

When McDonald’s Does Not Work Well for Office Lunch Catering

While convenient, McDonald’s lunch catering does come with tradeoffs:

1. Limited dietary accommodations compared to traditional caterers
2. Packaging is designed for takeout, not buffet-style service
3. Food quality (especially fries) can decline if delivery is delayed
4. Availability varies by franchise
5. Expensive markups from delivery providers
6. Still requires calling ahead for 30+ people to confirm restaurant timing and capacity

Best McDonald’s Lunch Order for 20 People

A solid mix of sandwiches and shareables works best at this size.

• 20 cheeseburgers or McChickens
• 2 × 40-piece Chicken McNuggets
• 6–8 large fries

McDonald's catering cost for 20 people: ~$140–$180
Best for: Team lunches, onboarding days, informal meetings

Best McDonald’s Lunch Order for 50 People

At this scale, variety matters more than customization.

• 50 sandwiches (mix of cheeseburgers, McChickens, Filet-O-Fish)
• 4–5 × 40-piece Chicken McNuggets
• 15–18 large fries

McDonald's catering cost for 50 people: ~$350–$450
Best for: Training sessions, department-wide lunches, internal events

Best McDonald’s Lunch Order for 100 People

Large orders work best when you simplify the menu and prioritize speed.

• 100 sandwiches (limit to 2–3 core items)
• 8–10 × 40-piece Chicken McNuggets
• 30+ large fries

McDonald's catering cost for 100 people: ~$700–$950
Best for: Company meetings, all-hands lunches, large internal gatherings

When McDonald's is a Good Option for Corporate Lunch Catering

While McDonald's might not be the first brand that comes to mind for formal catering, it can be an excellent option in several scenarios:

1. Affordable and Efficient: McDonald's catering provides a cost-effective way to serve a large group without sacrificing speed. Feeding a group for under $10 per person is no small feat. Businesses looking to feed employees or clients on a budget will find McDonald's to be a convenient choice.
2. Breakfast and Morning Meetings: Many corporate events take place early in the day, and McDonald's breakfast catering—offering Egg McMuffins, McGriddles, coffee totes, and hash browns—has been a strong fit for morning meetings and employee appreciation events.
3. Casual Team Lunches: If your company is looking for a quick, easy lunch solution, McDonald's offers a variety of burgers, nuggets, salads, and fries in large quantities with minimal wait. It’s an easy win for casual team lunches or informal client meetings.
4. Large-Scale Events: For organizations hosting training sessions, company retreats, or casual networking events, McDonald's can provide bulk meals that require minimal setup and cleanup.
5. Limited Catering Alternatives: In areas where traditional catering options are either too expensive or unavailable, McDonald's provides a fast, reliable alternative with well-known menu items.

How to Order McDonald's Catering

McDonald's catering orders can typically be placed through the following methods:

• McDelivery via DoorDash: Some McDonald's locations partner with delivery services to provide scheduled catering options. Prices may vary based on delivery fees and location.
• Direct Franchise Orders: Some participating locations allow direct orders for large catering requests. Calling ahead is recommended to confirm menu availability and pickup times.
• In-Restaurant Pickup: Orders can be placed in advance for pickup at a specific time, ensuring that food is fresh and ready when needed.

The History of McDonald's and Catering

McDonald's, one of the most recognizable fast-food brands in the world, has long been associated with quick service and convenience. While the chain is primarily known for its burgers, fries, and breakfast menu, it has also ventured into catering services over the years.

McDonald’s catering options have evolved based on regional demand and franchisee initiatives. Unlike traditional catering businesses, McDonald's does not have a centralized catering division but allows individual franchises to offer catering services based on their capabilities. Many McDonald’s locations, particularly in high-demand areas, have introduced breakfast catering, bulk orders, and packaged meal solutions for large groups and corporate clients.

Breakfast catering has been a particularly popular offering, with items like Egg McMuffins, hash browns, and McCafé coffee bundles available for bulk purchase.

Does CaterCow offer McDonald's Catering?

Presently, CaterCow does not offer McDonald's catering instead it partners with other awesome burger choices.

McDonald’s can be a smart solution for fast, budget-friendly office lunches—but it’s not designed to solve every workplace catering need. As teams grow or events become more complex, many offices look for a more reliable and flexible option.

That’s where CaterCow comes in.

CaterCow is built specifically for office catering and works best when you need:

• Reliable, scheduled deliveries (including recurring weekly lunches)
• Clear per-person pricing with no delivery app markups
• Dietary accommodations (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal, etc.)
• Restaurant-quality variety beyond a single brand
• Professional dropoff suitable for the office

Instead of assembling large fast-food orders, teams can choose curated menus from vetted local restaurants—designed for groups and delivered on time.