Top 20 Discontinued McDonald's Foods We Miss the Most
#20: Triple-Double Burger
The triple-double burger, also known as the Superhero burger, was released in 1995 in conjunction with the film “Batman Forever.” And while most of us hope to never have to see that terrible movie again, the superhero burger is something we wish we could sink our teeth into today. We’re talking three beef patties, two slices of cheese and all the classic fixings. With all that meat, this superhero was doing its part to save everyday citizens from the evils of empty stomachs. Released as part of McDonald’s “Taste of the Month” campaign that year, when the month ended so did the triple-double burger.
#19: Shakin’ Flavor Fries
2014 was a big year for shaking. But while Taylor Swift was telling us all the “Shake It Off,” McDonald’s was asking us to shake it on - our fries that is. It was in 2014 that the fast food chain introduced Shakin’ Flavor Fries, which were packets of seasoning to pour into a bag of fries and then shake it up. This flavorful and interactive menu item was introduced as a limited time offering and wasn’t meant to stick around forever. But that doesn’t mean we can’t still pine for some Garlic Parmesan, Spicy Buffalo or Zesty Ranch shaking in our lives.
#18: Onion Nuggets
If McNuggets and onion rings had a baby, that offspring would be onion nuggets. Although the truth is that when McDonald’s introduced their onion nuggets to the world, the Chicken McNugget hadn’t been invented yet. We’re going back to the 1970s for this one folks. And while the exact origin stories do vary slightly, what we know for sure was that McDonald’s executive chef Rene Arend created the fried onion nuggets and the company tested them out in a few markets in the second half of the decade. Why they didn’t fly might forever be a mystery. But what we do know is that Arend took the onion nugget idea and substituted in chicken - thus creating one of the greatest fast food items ever.
#17: Deep Fried Apple Pie
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It might sound crazy to our 21st century, health-conscious ears, but prior to 1992, McDonald’s apple pies were fried, not baked. While one doesn’t generally think of the words “McDonald’s” and “healthy” in the same sentence, the company has made attempts to play to society’s growing desire for healthier eating over the years. Baking their apple pies was one such move. And it’s a move our taste buds would love to see reversed. Although, as some of you may know, a small number of American locations still do offer the fried apple pie - as well as many International McDonald’s restaurants from Mexico to Hong Kong.
#16: Beef Tallow Fries
McDonald’s french fries are generally considered to be the best in the fast food game. So, why would we want any change made to them you ask? Well, because they used to be even better! Yup, for about 50 years McDonald’s would fry their french fries in 93% beef fat tallow. It was done as a cost-saving venture, but ended up creating iconically delicious french fries. But then came the war on high-fat foods. In 1990, this led McDonald’s to switch out the beef fat tallow for vegetable oil. Even those of us who only know the new version of the fries are desperate to taste the tallow versions that are considered legendarily tasty.
#15: McJordan
If you were lucky enough to be in Chicago in 1991 and 92 you had the opportunity of a lifetime. Sure, you could’ve seen Michael Jordan playing basketball for the Bulls on his home court. But even more awesome would've been the chance to try the McJordan burger at one of many McDonald’s locations in the city. The burger - which Jordan signed off on - consisted of a quarter-pound of beef, barbeque sauce, bacon, cheese, onions, pickles, and mustard. North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee also got the McJordan for a limited time in ‘92. It was brought back for a short while in 1993, but unlike Jordan himself, who returned to basketball after his ‘93 retirement, his burger was never to be seen again.
#14: Mighty Wings
When it comes to McDonald’s and chicken everyone knows McNuggets and the McChicken burger. But how many of you remember Mighty Wings? What made these things so “mighty?” Well, we assume it’s the fact that they were actual bone-in chicken wings. And while this mighty menu item was only meant to be a limited time offer, that limited time actually lasted from 1990 to the early 2000s, and then came back for a more limited time in 2013 and ‘14. People generally liked the mighty wings taste, but the mighty price point left customers a little less enthused during their return in the 2010s. Depending on the number you ordered they could price out to up around $1 per wing.
#13: Hula Burger
Given how divisive the idea of pineapple on pizza is, we understand that this choice is sure to have its haters. However, we also know there are those out there who would definitely be game for trying out this 1962 Ray Kroc invention. In an effort to come up with a vegetarian, lent-friendly dish, Kroc brought together cheese and a pineapple slice on a bun. We’ll admit, it does sound weird. But we’ll also admit that were it to show up on our local Mickey D’s menu - we would be one of the first in line to try this six decades old throw-back option.
#12: Fish McBites
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As McNuggets are a small version of a chicken finger, back in 2013, Fish McBites were small versions of fish sticks. Or even better, think of them as pop-in-your-mouth bites of the popular Filet-O-Fish sandwich. Which, if you like the Filet-O-Fish sandwich, probably sounds really good right? And you know what else sounds good? That “Fishy Fishy Groove” jingle that was released as part of the marketing campaign for the new menu item. Is it wrong that we want them to bring that jingle back just as much as the actual Fish McBites?
#11: Big N' Tasty
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Come on, who wouldn’t miss a food item that was big and tasty? McDonald’s created said Big N' Tasty to compete with another big and yummy burger - the Whopper over at their rival Burger King. The Big N' Tasty went nationwide in the year 2000 and for a decade you could enjoy it as part of the chain’s famed “dollar menu.” However, by the end of the decade the cost of production had gotten too big. And while the burger was still tasty, McDonald’s could no longer afford to have it on their dollar menu. And so, in 2010 we bid a big goodbye to the Big N' Tasty.
#10: Angus Third Pounders
What do you order when a Quarter Pounder with Cheese just isn’t enough? Enter the Angus Third Pounder. This big time burger was introduced in 2009, and was enjoyed for a too-short four years, during which time the sandwich proved relatively popular with customers. One caveat to the Angus Third Pounder was that it ran for about $4.49, which made McDonald’s a little nervous that their customers wouldn’t continue to order it over the chain’s more affordable sandwiches. This led to the item’s dismissal from the menu in 2013, although some international franchises may still carry this bacon and beef bonanza.
#9: McWraps
The year 2013 also saw the introduction of a new, leaner, and more portable style of menu item. Not only were McWraps supposed to attract millennial eaters; they were also a way for Mickey D’s to sell a product in a market dominated by Subway. The smaller-sized wraps advertised preservative-free ingredients and a lower caloric count compared to main menu fare, but this didn’t quite draw in the customers the way McDonald’s had hoped. Although franchises in places like Croatia still offer the McWrap, McDonald’s employees largely saw it as too time-consuming for how small it was, so it got the boot.
#8: Hot Dogs
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We know what you’re thinking: “McDonald’s is known for burgers and fries, but... hot dogs?” The idea does sound weird, and maybe that’s why the company’s brief flirtation with frankfurters didn’t go so well. Former McDonald’s CEO Ray Kroc voiced how against the idea he was, but this didn’t stop Mickey D’s from trying the concept out during the mid-90s. The McHotDog enjoyed a brief run of success at the turn of the millennium and into the 2000s in areas like Toronto and Pennsylvania before being discontinued.
#7: McSalad Shakers
Have you ever wanted to dump your salad ingredients into a plastic container and shake it up, just for the hell of it? Well, then you probably grew up in the ‘90s, and remember this classic menu item. It was the McSalad Shaker, and it came in a trio of styles: Garden, Chef, and Grilled Chicken Caesar. Customers could pour the dressing in through the top, and then shake, shake, shake to mix it in with the leafy greens and other additions. Then voila! Instant salad! Unfortunately, the idea of a McDonald’s salad, even in shaker form, didn’t sell too well at that time, and the product was eventually discontinued.
#6: McDonaldland Cookies
If dining at Mickey D’s in the ‘90s was all about shaking your salad, then a meal at McDonald’s during the 70s and 80s might have been defined by this confectionary treat. McDonaldland Cookies were the franchise’s dessert du jour of the time, a boxed up container of delicious, crispy cookies in the shapes of all the McDonald’s mascots. Ronald, The Hamburgler, and Mayor McCheese were all present, and for a while were given out in an iconic handled box. These days, McDonaldland Cookies are a mostly discontinued rarity, and are only sold in select stores, like those in Australia.
#5: Szechuan Sauce
It’s nothing new for fast food companies to release a promotional tie-in on their menu for a popular film. It’s also not new for foodies to look up retro and nostalgic eats on the Internet. It’s another thing entirely for someone to bid over fourteen THOUSAND dollars on a twenty-year-old packet of Szechuan dipping sauce inspired by Disney’s “Mulan.” That’s exactly what happened in April 2017 after the season three premiere of Adult Swim’s “Rick and Morty.” The show inspired a resurgence of love for the discontinued sauce. This in turn led McDonald’s to re-release the beloved product for limited times. So maybe it will be available again soon.
#4: McDLT
“The beef stays hot, the cool stays crisp.” This was part of the catchy little ditty used to promote the McDLT, a weird but beloved McDonald’s’ fast food experiment. Maybe it was the accompanying commercial with Jason Alexander that sold us, or the novel concept of fresh, crisp vegetables, as opposed to a soggy burger mess. But how could they solve such a problem? Well, McD’s had a special box, with one side for the warm ingredients, and the cold, crunchy components safely separated in another. Some fans loved the McDLT, while others simply shrugged it off in favor of other fare. For our money, we still miss snapping that Styrofoam container together and assembling our sandwich. Right, Jason?
#3: Arch Deluxe
These days, there’s nothing new about a fast food chain advertising fresh ingredients for an elevated style of burger. The Arch Deluxe was a novel concept for 1996, however, and reflected McDonald’s desire to appeal to an adult demographic. The quarter pound burger was served up with veggies, peppered bacon, and secret sauce, and was actually way above the average bar set by other fast food chains of the time. Still, the Arch Deluxe’s comparatively high price tag hurt the burger’s sales, and it was soon discontinued, despite a massive promotional push. Versions of the Arch Deluxe still exist in countries like France, but under the moniker of “Royal Deluxe.”
#2: The Supersize Combo
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If a little is good, then a lot must be better... right? Well, yes, or at least that must be the reasoning behind McDonald’s’ Super Size Combo. This was when an average meal combo from the restaurant’s value menu could be “supersized” to include a bigger fry and drink for only a small extra amount. This tactic of “upselling” not only gave the customer an increased sense of value-for-money; it undoubtedly helped McDonald’s bottom line as well. The practice of Super Sizing was eventually phased out in 2004, however, as the franchise decided to focus on more health-conscious menu items for its consumers.
#1: McPizza
The idea of McPizza may seem as foreign now to diners as the idea of the McHotDog or McSalad Shaker, but the truth is that McDonald’s’ take on fresh pizza actually sold quite well when it was first introduced in the 1980s. The main problem with McPizza was the 10 or 11 minutes it took to get one made, which is an eternity in the high volume world of fast food. The pizza pie’s portions were then changed from full sized to personal sized, and eventually phased out entirely. But don’t lose hope! One McDonald’s in Orlando still carries McPizza for the diehard fans! Which of the items on our list would you be lovin’ it if they brought it back?
