Every Fast-Food Value Meal, Ranked from Worst Deal to Best

Value meals get their name because they actually provide some additional value instead of just buying the items à la carte.

You can usually save money eating out by choosing the meal deal. That usually includes a sandwich, a side, and a drink.

So are some deals better than others? Check out this list to see if your favorite deal made the cut and which one was a dud based on data collected by Finance Buzz.

Editor’s note: Prices in the FinanceBuzz study are based on the average cost of an item. They are subject to change and may vary by location.

1. Popeyes Big Box: 18% savings

Courtesy of Popeyes

The Popeyes Big Box gives you plenty of side options to go with your two pieces of chicken and a biscuit. Unlike some value meals with one side, Popeyes lets you pick two sides including mashed potatoes, red beans and rice, coleslaw, and mac and cheese in addition to the traditional French fries.

You can pick up a box for $6.99 compared to buying each individual item for $8.50 total.

Make Money: 8 things to do if you're barely scraping by financially

2. Arby’s Shake Up Your Burger Meal: 30% savings

Courtesy of Arby's

An Arby’s burger is good, but it’s not the star of this value meal. In addition to the burger, you can choose between regular fries or Arby’s unique curly fries, and a shake to go with it. The store has typical shake options, but you might want a special Arby’s Jamocha shake.

The Arby’s Shake Up Your Burger Meal costs $9.99, which is cheaper than paying $14.37 to get each item on its own.

Enjoying our content? Click the Follow button above to see more from us.

3. Taste of KFC 2-Piece Deal: 39% savings

Courtesy of KFC

You don’t need a large amount of food to make a meal deal. Take the Taste of KFC 2-Piece Deal, for example, which features a drumstick and thigh of dark meat as well as a bowl of mashed potatoes and a biscuit.

The meal costs $4.99. You would pay $8.20 if you bought each item on its own.

4. Burger King $5 Your Way Meal: 42% savings

Courtesy of KFC

The Burger King $5 Your Way Meal gives you the choice of one of three different Burger King sandwiches plus four-piece chicken nuggets, fries, and a drink.

As the name says, the deal costs $5 compared to $8.66 if you bought the items individually.

5. Pizza Hut My Hut Box: 43% savings

Courtesy of Pizza Hut

Of course Pizza Hut has pizza in a value meal with My Hut Box. The value meal offers a choice of a two-topping Personal Pan Pizza or a Melts item from the Pizza Hut menu, fries or a four-piece order of boneless wings.

Grab a Pizza Hut box for $6.99 to help you save cash. When purchased separately, the meal will cost $12.29.

Food Deals: 15 restaurant apps that give you food absolutely free

6. McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal: 50% savings

Courtesy of McDonald's

Like some other meals surveyed by FinanceBuzz, the price is in the name of the deal. The McDonald’s $5 Meal Deal includes a McDouble sandwich or McChicken sandwich, four-piece chicken nuggets, fries, and a drink.

Pick up a meal deal for $5, just as the name says, instead of $9.96 for each item on its own.

7. Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag: 53% savings<

Courtesy of Wendy's

Wendy’s is also offering a Wendy’s $5 Biggie Bag with a choice of either a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger or Crispy Chicken Sandwich plus a four-piece Chicken Nuggets, Jr. Hot & Crispy Fries, and a small drink.

It’s a bargain when it would cost $10.75 to buy each item separately.

8. Taco Bell Luxe Cravings Box: 55% savings

Courtesy of Taco Bell

The Taco Bell Luxe Cravings Box is stacked with plenty of options, including a Chalupa Supreme, Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, Double Stacked Taco, chips with nacho cheese sauce, and a medium drink.

The box costs $7, but that’s a steal compared with the à la carte cost: a whopping $15.65.

Bottom line

Value meals are a good way to save money when you go to a fast-food place. You can also save money by taking advantage of coupons, a loyalty program, or your favorite store’s mobile app.

If you really want to save money, though, you may be able to recreate some of these value meals in your kitchen. Following ways to save money on groceries instead of eating out will always leave more money in your wallet.

Money tips that can work for everyone

No matter what your bank account balance is, there's always an opportunity to optimize and improve your finances. Here's a quick checklist of things you can look at today.

Focus on paying off your debt . Debt can hold you back from making progress with your overall financial well-being. Aside from cutting expenses, there are tools that can help you pay off debt faster like balance transfer credit cards and debt counseling.

Earning extra income can give you breathing room. If finances are tight, earning some extra money to supplement your income can make a huge difference. A new job is one option to consider, but if you're not ready to make a big change or already retired, a part-time side job could be a better choice.

Cut your expenses. It sounds painful and so not fun, but it doesn't have to be. Take a look at your biggest expenses because that's where you'll probably find the biggest savings. For example, auto insurance rates have been soaring so shopping around for a new insurance company can be the fastest way to cut your bill. Also, look for ways to cut your grocery bill (despite rising inflation).