Fast food prices may be creeping up, but $10 can still go surprisingly far if you know where to look. Whether you’re after quantity, flavor, or flexibility, many national chains offer complete meals under that magic number—sometimes with change to spare. We put five popular drive-thrus to the test to see what kind of meal you can build for ten bucks or less.
At Taco Bell, $10 goes a long way. Their Cravings Value Menu lets you mix and match items like the Spicy Potato Soft Taco, Cheesy Bean & Rice Burrito, and Beefy Melt Burrito for around $2 each. For just under $9, you can get a Cravings Box (typically includes a specialty item, taco, side, and drink) and still have room to add a Cinnamon Twist or upgrade your drink. With customizable options and rotating deals, it’s one of the best value menus out there.
McDonald’s continues to be a strong contender for budget meals. For $10, you can piece together a McDouble ($2.69), small fries ($2.49), a 6-piece McNuggets ($3.19), and a soft drink ($1). It’s a full meal with variety, and if you’re using the app, you’ll likely score a deal or BOGO offer to stretch that $10 even further.
At Wendy’s, the 4 for $4 and Biggie Bag ($5) combos are built for budget-conscious eaters. A Biggie Bag includes a sandwich (like the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger or Crispy Chicken BLT), 4-piece nuggets, fries, and a drink. You could grab two of these deals for $10 and either share or save one for later.
Burger King offers a rotating 2 for $5 or 2 for $6 deal where you can pair sandwiches like the Whopper Jr. or Chicken Jr. with fries or mozzarella sticks. Add a small drink or dessert and still stay within your $10 limit. The app also unlocks exclusive combo coupons that aren’t available in-store.
Over at Jack in the Box, value eats rule the late-night menu. You can grab two tacos for around $1.39, a Jr. Jumbo Jack burger for under $3, and small curly fries for $2. Pair that with a fountain drink or shake and you’ve got a snack-heavy but satisfying combo under $10.
And if you want to stretch your $10 even further, consider pairing these meals with a cashback app like Fluz. Buy a digital gift card for places like Wendy’s or McDonald’s, pay with it at checkout, and earn instant cashback. That means more dollars for dessert—or to stash away for your next drive-thru run.