All the McDonald's Items Taken Off the Menu — from Favorites to Failures

Remember when the Golden Arches served Fish McBites and the McSpaghetti?

Ba-da-ba-ba-ba I’m (no longer) lovin’ it.

McDonald’s has grown into the largest fast-food chain in the world since its humble beginning in 1948. Now, the restaurant’s Golden Arches are instantly recognizable.

Throughout the years, the company has seen a bevy of menu items come and go, with only a select few products lucky enough to have permanent residency at the fast-food chain.

However, many menu items have not been able to stand the test of time, much like the Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry, which had a limited return in early 2023. Only time will tell if the same will happen to the chain's syrupy-sweet Grandma McFlurry introduced after Mother's Day 2024.

Here are the beloved items that no longer grace McDonald’s kitchens, as well as a couple of flops.

Related: Yes, a McDonald's Location Charged $18 for a Big Mac — But the Chain Says That Was the 'Exception'

McRib

One of McDonald’s most iconic limited-time menu items is undoubtedly the McRib. Going from on the menu to off the menu again and again since its initial release in 1981, it’s hard to say whether we’ll see the barbecue pork sandwich adorned with thinly sliced onions and dill pickles ever again. In November 2022, the McRib went on a “farewell tour” at participating locations, teasing the product’s swan song on the McDonald’s menu. “Enjoy our famous pork sandwich as if it’s your last,” the chain’s website read at the time. Of course, the McRib has returned to the menu after previous “farewell tours,” but only time will tell when or if it ever makes a return.

Arch Deluxe

In 1996, McDonald’s attempted to make a sandwich specifically marketed toward adults to combat its child-centered image. In response, the company created the Arch Deluxe, which featured a quarter-pound patty on a seeded potato bun with a round piece of bacon, lettuce, tomato, onions, cheese, ketchup and dijonnaise (a blend of mayonnaise and Dijon mustard). In 2000, the product was discontinued because it never achieved popularity.

Chicken Selects

In 2004, McDonald’s released its Chicken Selects. Unlike its nuggets, the Selects were made with whole pieces of chicken breast that were battered and fried. They left the menu for a stint from 2013 to 2017, and when they returned, they were rebranded as Buttermilk Crispy Tenders. They stayed on the menu until 2020, when McDonald’s decided to pare back its menu in response to the coronavirus.

Related: McDonald’s Clarifies Their Secret ‘Dinner Box’ with Discounted Menu Items After Mom’s Hack Goes Viral

Szechuan Sauce

In 1998, McDonald’s offered a Szechuan dipping sauce and a set of toys in collaboration with the release of Disney’s Mulan, which received a live-action remake in July 2020. In April 2017, Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty referenced this specific dipping sauce throughout the season 3 premiere. The sauce returned for one day on Oct. 1, 2017. However, it was met with long lines and limited availability, leading to another one-day run in February 2018. Then, for a limited time in March 2022, the Szechuan sauce made a comeback at the Golden Arches.

Fish McBites

In February 2013, McDonald’s released a product that expanded on the chain’s Filet-O-Fish and offered an alternative take on its popular Chicken McBites of the time. Its newest oceanic innovation consisted of fried fish balls and a side of tartar sauce for dipping. The Fish McBites officially left the menu in April 2013 due to their lack of popularity.

Spicy Chicken McNuggets

McDonald’s chicken nuggets might be one of its most popular menu items. With their four distinct shapes — bell, ball, boot and bow tie (sometimes referred to as bone) — the morsels of chicken are instantly recognizable. In August 2020, the chain announced it was releasing a new nugget product for the first time since 1983: the Spicy Chicken McNuggets. Starting that September, they were only around for a limited time but returned to the menu briefly in 2022.

McSpaghetti

In 1970, McDonald’s introduced McSpaghetti, a simple pasta dish with marinara, meatballs and cheese. The menu item was discontinued in 1980 but surged in online popularity in 2021 when a Twitter user shared his experience getting the dish, according to The U.S. Sun. While McSpaghetti isn’t available in the U.S. except in one location in Orlando, Fla., it’s a popular menu item in the Philippines.

Related: McDonald's Put a Spicy Ranch Twist on the McCrispy Sandwich for a Limited Time

Big Mac Bacon

In January 2019, McDonald’s transformed the most iconic menu item: the Big Mac. Alongside cheesy bacon fries and a bacon Quarter Pounder came the Big Mac Bacon, a sandwich consisting of three slices of thick-cut applewood smoked bacon. At the time, McDonald’s stated that bacon was more popular than ever, with 17,000 daily mentions on U.S. social media platforms. However, fans no longer have the option to add bacon to their Big Macs these days.

Strawberry Shortcake McFlurry

In April 2023, McDonald’s introduced a strawberry shortcake McFlurry for a short run. Fans were excited about the springtime treat, with one user writing on X (formerly Twitter), “That strawberry shortcake mcflurry ain’t no joke.” Another user expressed in all caps that the sweet treat was “SO GOOD.” Sadly, the frozen dessert only lasted one month on the menu, much to fans' disappointment.

Chicken Snack Wrap

In 2006, McDonald’s released its Chicken Snack Wrap. The wrap — consisting of chicken, lettuce, shredded cheese and either ranch or honey mustard wrapped in a tortilla — was a hit with fans. The popular snack officially left the menu in 2016 and has yet to come back.

Related: McDonald's Will Sell Krispy Kreme Donuts Nationwide in 3 Flavors

All-Day Breakfast

In 2015, McDonald’s announced that it would serve breakfast all day long, and it was an instant success. However, in March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the chain decided to pare down its menu to prioritize popular menu items and streamline its services. Due to this, the fast-food restaurant stopped serving its morning menu beyond breakfast time.

Salad

In June 2022, the Golden Arches decided to pare back its menu and cut most of the healthier options. Menu items like salads, grilled chicken and fruit-and-yogurt parfaits were removed from McDonald’s offerings. Like the nixing of its all-day breakfast in 2020, these healthy options were removed to make service more efficient for the more popular menu items.

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