Quick Answer
Sonic Drive-In's menu spans more than 2,000 possible drink combinations, so the calorie range is enormous. A medium Diet Cherry Limeade is 15 calories. A large Reese's Peanut Butter Master Blast comes in around 1,300 calories. The food menu spans the same way: a single Jr. Burger is 330 calories while a SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger pushes 1,140.
The biggest sources of hidden calories are the drinks (sweetened slushes and shakes), the cheese and bacon upgrades on burgers, and the side combos.
Three substitutions cut most Sonic meals in half: drink to diet or unsweet tea, large to medium on tots or fries, and one cheese instead of double.
Full nutrition by item
Figures below come from Sonic Drive-In's published nutrition guide.
| Item | Calories | Total Fat | Sat Fat | Carbs | Protein | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jr. Burger | 330 | 17 g | 5 g | 30 g | 14 g | 590 mg |
| Sonic Cheeseburger | 720 | 43 g | 14 g | 52 g | 34 g | 1,120 mg |
| SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger | 1,140 | 74 g | 27 g | 52 g | 61 g | 1,600 mg |
| All American Dog | 410 | 24 g | 9 g | 34 g | 14 g | 1,230 mg |
| Chili Cheese Coney | 500 | 28 g | 11 g | 40 g | 17 g | 1,400 mg |
| Tater Tots (medium) | 290 | 16 g | 2.5 g | 33 g | 3 g | 720 mg |
| Mozzarella Sticks (medium) | 510 | 25 g | 11 g | 50 g | 19 g | 1,480 mg |
| Onion Rings (medium) | 460 | 21 g | 3.5 g | 62 g | 6 g | 510 mg |
| Cherry Limeade (medium) | 250 | 0 g | 0 g | 67 g | 0 g | 40 mg |
| Diet Cherry Limeade (medium) | 15 | 0 g | 0 g | 4 g | 0 g | 40 mg |
| Strawberry Slush (medium) | 340 | 0 g | 0 g | 91 g | 0 g | 40 mg |
| Oreo Master Blast (medium) | 880 | 34 g | 20 g | 132 g | 16 g | 540 mg |
The Cherry Limeade reality check
Sonic's signature Cherry Limeade is essentially a flavored fountain drink. A medium runs 250 calories and 67 grams of sugar, which is more sugar than the World Health Organization recommends for a full day (50 g for an average adult).
The Diet Cherry Limeade tastes nearly identical and runs 15 calories with 3 grams of carbohydrate. Switching to diet is the single biggest calorie reduction available at Sonic for someone who orders Cherry Limeade more than once a week.
Slushes, Master Blasts, and shakes
This is where Sonic gets dangerous. A medium Strawberry Slush is 340 calories. A medium Oreo Master Blast is 880 calories. A large peanut butter shake clears 1,200 calories on its own.
For context, the average adult woman's full day calorie target is about 2,000 calories. A single large shake plus a burger and tots can put you past that target in one meal.
The burger upgrade cost
- Jr. Burger to Sonic Cheeseburger. Adds 390 calories and 26 g of fat.
- Sonic Cheeseburger to SuperSONIC Double. Adds 420 calories and 31 g of fat.
- Adding bacon to a Sonic Cheeseburger. Adds 80 calories and 7 g of fat.
- Adding jalapeños, onions, lettuce, tomato, pickles. Under 20 calories combined.
The cheapest calorie cut is to order any burger without mayonnaise (saves about 100 calories) and to limit the meal to one cheese slice.
Sides ranked by calorie efficiency
Per medium serving:
- Tater tots: 290 calories
- French fries: 320 calories
- Onion rings: 460 calories
- Mozzarella sticks: 510 calories
- Fruit cup or apple bites (where available): under 100 calories
If you must have a fried side, tots are the lowest. Mozzarella sticks are technically a separate menu item and not a substitute for a burger side, despite often being ordered as one.
Breakfast at Sonic
- SuperSONIC Breakfast Burrito: 580 calories, 34 g fat, 1,300 mg sodium
- Sausage, Egg & Cheese Toaster: 530 calories, 32 g fat
- French Toast Sticks (4 pc) with syrup: 480 calories, 24 g fat
- Sausage Breakfast Burrito: 430 calories
- Plain Cinnasnacks (5 pc): 350 calories
Breakfast at Sonic averages over 500 calories per entree, with sodium frequently above 1,000 mg. Pair with water or unsweet iced tea to avoid stacking a second 250 to 800 calorie drink onto an already heavy meal.
Lower calorie meal templates
- Jr. Burger + small tots + Diet Cherry Limeade. About 555 calories.
- Grilled chicken wrap + apple bites + water. About 450 calories.
- 2 corn dogs + Diet Coke. About 420 calories.
FAQs
What is the lowest calorie food at Sonic?
A Jr. Burger at 330 calories, followed by the Jr. Deluxe Burger and the regular corn dog at about 210 calories.
Is anything at Sonic actually healthy?
Healthy is relative. The lowest calorie, lowest sodium choices are the grilled chicken wrap (where available), apple bites, fruit, and Diet drinks. A small protein focused order plus a zero calorie drink can land under 500 calories.
How much sugar is in a Sonic shake?
Most medium shakes carry 90 to 130 grams of sugar, which is 2 to 3 times the WHO daily limit.
Can I customize drinks to reduce sugar?
Yes. Ask for any drink with sugar free flavored syrups and diet base soda. Cherry Vanilla Diet Coke, for example, can be made with sugar free cherry and vanilla, dropping the calorie count to near zero.
The takeaway
Sonic is a calorie minefield because the drink menu is bigger than the food menu. Stick with a single burger or wrap, pick the smaller side, and let your drink choice do the heavy lifting on calorie control. A diet drink alone can be the difference between a 500 calorie meal and a 1,200 calorie meal.
