15 Things McDonald’s Tried That Most People Don’t Remember
For decades, McDonald’s has been a major player in the fast-food industry, constantly changing its menu to attract new customers. The restaurant has tried innumerable things that didn’t quite work out, but the Big Mac and fries have become iconic classics.
After a brief appearance, many of these menu items vanished from fast food history, forgotten by the majority of customers who formerly waited in line to experience them. Here is a list of 15 McDonald’s products that most people are unaware even existed, even though several of them created a lot of buzz when they first came out.
McLean Deluxe
In the early 1990s, McDonald’s tried catering to health-conscious customers with the McLean Deluxe. To maintain moisture and texture, this burger contained 91% fat-free beef mixed with water and seaweed extract (carrageenan).
Despite heavy promotion as a healthier alternative, customers weren’t impressed with the taste, which vanished from menus by 1996.
Arch Deluxe
The Arch Deluxe was McDonald’s attempt to create a ‘sophisticated’ burger for adults in 1996. It featured a quarter-pound beef patty on a bakery-style roll with special sauce, lettuce, onions, and tomato.
Despite a massive $100 million marketing campaign (one of the most expensive in fast food history), customers weren’t willing to pay premium prices for a slightly upscale McDonald’s burger.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
McPizza
During the late 1980s and early 1990s, McDonald’s attempted to compete with pizza chains by introducing McPizza. The individual-sized pizzas took significantly longer to prepare than standard menu items, creating operational nightmares and frustrated customers.
The lengthy cooking time contradicted McDonald’s fast-service model, and most locations discontinued it by 1991.
Mighty Wings
McDonald’s has tried selling chicken wings multiple times, most notably with Mighty Wings. These spicy, bone-in chicken wings appeared in 1990 and briefly returned in 2013.
Despite decent taste reviews, their higher price point ($1 per wing) and spicier-than-expected flavor profile didn’t connect with the typical McDonald’s customer base.
McSpaghetti
In the late 1970s, McDonald’s attempted to diversify with pasta offerings including McSpaghetti. The dish featured pasta topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and sometimes small pieces of meat.
While it flopped in most markets, it remains available in some international locations like the Philippines, where it’s become a menu staple.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Salad Shakers
In the year 2000, McDonald’s launched Salad Shakers, which were tall bowls of salads that customers shook to disperse the dressing. The idea appeared practical, particularly for eating while on-the-go, but the novelty soon wore off.
In 2003, they were supplanted with Premium Salads, which came in conventional bowls and included more components.
McDLT
The McDLT (McDonald’s Lettuce and Tomato) launched in 1984 with innovative packaging that kept the hot and cold portions of the burger separate until ready to eat. The styrofoam container had two compartments: one for the hot beef patty and bottom bun, and another for the cool toppings and top bun.
Environmental concerns about the packaging led to its discontinuation in the early 1990s.
Hula Burger
One of McDonald’s earliest failed experiments came directly from founder Ray Kroc. The Hula Burger was created in 1962 as a meatless option for Catholic customers who didn’t eat meat on Fridays during Lent.
It consisted of a grilled pineapple slice with cheese on a bun. Franchisee Lou Groen’s Filet-O-Fish was tested against the Hula Burger and won by a landslide.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Onion Nuggets
Before Chicken McNuggets became a global sensation, McDonald’s tested Onion Nuggets in the 1970s. These chunks of breaded, fried onions were essentially onion ring nuggets.
While they didn’t succeed nationally, they paved the way for the chicken version that would later become one of the chain’s most successful products.
McHotDog
McDonald’s has attempted to sell hot dogs multiple times throughout its history, beginning in the 1970s. Ray Kroc initially opposed selling hot dogs, writing in his memoir that he wouldn’t sell them regardless of demand because of quality concerns.
Nevertheless, the chain has occasionally tested McHotDogs in various markets, including as recently as 2016 in Japan.
McStuffins
In 1993, McDonald’s launched McStuffins, pocket sandwiches similar to Hot Pockets. They came in several flavors including teriyaki chicken, barbecue beef, and pepperoni pizza.
Despite their similarity to popular frozen convenience foods, they lasted less than a year on the McDonald’s menu before quietly disappearing.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
McLobster
The McLobster is a seasonal offering that appears occasionally in New England and Atlantic Canada when lobster prices drop. It consists of lobster meat mixed with mayonnaise in a hot dog bun with lettuce.
While it remains available in limited regions during certain times, attempts to expand it nationally have failed due to high costs and concerns about quality perception.
Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich
In 1979, McDonald’s tested a Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich aimed at competing with steakhouse-style fast food. This hefty sandwich featured a larger, thicker beef patty on a special bun with a unique steak sauce.
The higher price point and shift away from traditional McDonald’s flavors contributed to its quick disappearance from test markets.
McGratin Croquette
Known as the “Gurakoro” in Japan, this deep-fried patty contains macaroni, shrimp, and mashed potatoes with white sauce, covered in breadcrumbs. While unfamiliar to most American consumers, it’s actually been a winter seasonal item in Japan since 1993.
McDonald’s has occasionally offered regional specialty items that reflect local food preferences, with varying success.
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Super Size Option
While not a specific food item, McDonald’s once-famous Super Size option deserves mention. Made infamous by the 2004 documentary “Super Size Me,” this portion size offered significantly larger fries and drinks. McDonald’s phased out the Super Size option in 2004, citing menu simplification rather than health concerns, but the timing suggested the documentary influenced the decision.
Fast Food Evolution
These forgotten menu items represent McDonald’s willingness to experiment while highlighting how difficult it is to create new fast food classics. For every Chicken McNugget success story, there are numerous McLean Deluxes and Arch Deluxes that didn’t survive.
The company continues this tradition today, constantly testing new offerings while maintaining the core products that made it famous. The most successful items fit seamlessly into McDonald’s operational model while meeting genuine customer needs.
Those that failed often strayed too far from the brand’s strengths or tried to position McDonald’s in market segments where consumers weren’t willing to accept them. These forgotten experiments have helped shape what McDonald’s is today, even if most customers can’t remember tasting them.
More from Go2Tutors!
- 18 Unexpectedly Valuable Collectibles You Might Have Lying Around
- 20 Little-Known Historical Battles That Had Huge Consequences
- 20 Historical Artifacts That Scientists Can’t Explain
- 15 Inventions That Were Immediately Banned After Being Created
- 20 Actors Who Were Almost Cast in Iconic Roles
Like Go2Tutors’s content? Follow us on MSN.
