I ate the cheapest cheeseburgers from McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King. Wendy's was best by a slice.

• Plain old cheeseburgers are some of the most affordable items at most fast-food chains.
• I taste-tested the cheapest cheeseburgers from McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's to see which chain's was best.
• Wendy's edged out McDonald's with its fresh-tasting beef and flavorful cheese, but McDonald's remains a solid second choice.
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Before there was the Big Mac, the Whopper, or the Dave's Single, there was the plain old cheeseburger.

Two buns, a small beef patty, a slice cheese, and a dash of pickle, onion, and ketchup: the original stars of the drive-thru, eminent citizens of the takeout bag, and longtime companions to fries and a soda.

Dollar menus may be dying, or even dead, but a plain cheeseburger remains one of the most affordable items at most fast-food restaurants.

Read more: I compared the legendary McChicken with 4 cheap sandwiches from other fast-food chains, and it proved the original is still the best

So if you're in the mood for this cheap, simple classic, which chain will best satisfy your craving? I tried the cheeseburgers from McDonald's, Wendy's, and Burger King so you don't have to.

Here's what I found: