The Cheapest Fast-Food Items That Actually Fill You Up

Fast-food restaurants used to be a place where you could spend very little money and get a great deal of food in return. These chains get more expensive by the day now, but there are still dishes on most fast-food menus that pack a punch. If you’re going to get something that actually fills you up for less than $10, what should it be? Here are 12 affordable and filling fast-food items. 

Prices may vary by location. 

$4.99 

There are bigger and thicker burgers to get at McDonald’s, but this is about that beautiful intersection of cheap and filling. The decades-famous Big Mac has not only two patties, but three buns. Trust me, that middle bun goes a long way when it comes to filling your stomach, so if you’re going to nab a burger for under $5 at McDonald’s, make it this one. 

$1.59 

Rice and beans are doing the lord’s work here, and for only a buck and a half? That’s just charity, you know? Grab two or three of these guys and you’ll be absolutely fine. 

$6.19 

KFC really pioneered this idea in a lot of ways. In the past, the chain even had menu items called “Fill-ups.” That said, the colonel’s biggest and best hit in the fill-up department still lives on. The Famous Bowl (for $6!) has mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, nuggets, and cheese. Really, really hard to beat.  

$3.99 

You don’t need a whole Cinnabon, of course, because that’s probably the equivalent of three meals. But a mini? For a measly $4? How cheeky. 

$6.99 

The bun is major for helping you to fill your belly at Pop’s, but why stop there? Drop a little bit of bacon and cheese on there, and you’re still only spending seven big ones. 

$7.49 

A digital exclusive, you’ll have to place an online order for this one. It’s worth the app download though, because you can snag three of BK’s snack wraps (with options like spicy and honey mustard) for under $8.  

$2.19 

These are pricier than Taco Bell’s, but that’s because they are heftier. With cheese, a ton of superior beans, and your choice of red or green salsa, the choice is clear: Get one of each for less than $5. 

$8.50 

The ability to get a big bowl, split with rice and chow mein, and topped with the best orange chicken on the planet Earth for under nine bucks is a mega-steal. I love you, Panda. 

$3.09

Most of Long John Silver's sides cost the exact same amount, but none will fill you up the way a cup of rice will. Rice is amazing when it comes to filling you up for cheap, so make sure to tack that on to your order at Long John’s if you’re feeling hungry. 

$6.75 

Hear me when I say: This thing is big. It’s pricier than the other Starby breakfast sandwiches

https://blog.cheapism.com/starbucks-breakfast-sandwiches-ranked/

, but that’s fair, because it’s a missile. At only $6.75, this is still a steal for a huge tortilla stuffed with bacon, sausage, eggs, and potatoes. You’ll be full when this thing is through.

$7.75 

J-Mike’s Italiano is one of the best you can get, particularly because it’s piled high with a whopping five meats (ham, prosciuttini, cappacuolo, salami, and pepperoni) and cheese. Top a mini sandwich, which runs under $8, with as many toppings as you like, and you’ve got a hefty lunch for cheap. 

$9.99 

The great thing about Five Guys’ "little" burgers is that they’re not little. They’re just regular burgers, except with a single patty instead of two. You can get away with a whole burger with bacon and cheese for a tenner at Five Guys, all because they think the standard burger size is a double.