.png)
.webp)
McDonald's
Note: Some items, such as McPizza, had extended test periods spanning multiple years, and a few items had brief regional availability beyond their main discontinued dates.
Discontinued: 1984
Possibly the most disappointing menu item in McDonald’s history.
Chef René Arend created these bite-sized fried onion pieces for vegetarians, but the Onion Nuggets flopped spectacularly.
But here’s the twist, when Chairman Fred Turner casually suggested “Why not chicken?” in a hallway conversation, it sparked the creation of Chicken McNuggets. One of McDonald’s biggest successes ever.
Discontinued: 1980
McDonald’s attempt at fine dining went wrong fast.
The Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich featured an elongated beef patty on a French roll, which cost $1.29, compared to the regular burgers, which were 40¢. Only available after 4 PM with its own jingle and marketing campaign. The Beefsteak Sandwich only lasted a year.
Customers loved the taste but hated the price, leading to its downfall.
Discontinued: 1991
“Keep the hot side hot, and the cool side cool!”
The McDLT came with cool packaging, featuring a special styrofoam container that separated hot and cold ingredients until you assembled it yourself. Jason Alexander starred in the commercials, but environmental activists killed it.
The packaging was the product. When styrofoam became taboo, the McDLT died with it.
Discontinued: 1996
The ’90s health craze hit McDonald’s hard.
This “91% fat-free” burger used seaweed-derived carrageenan to replace beef fat. NFL star Kevin Greene promoted the McLean Deluxe, but customers hated the dry, flavorless result.
Turns out people want their burgers to actually taste like burgers.
Discontinued: 2000
McDonald’s most expensive failure ever.
With a $200 million marketing budget (worth approximately $601 million today), the Arch Deluxe was intended to appeal to snobby adults. The ads showed kids rejecting this “grown-up burger,” which backfired by alienating families (McDonald’s core customer base).
Discontinued: 2003
Ahead of their time. These grab-and-go salads in coffee cups were designed for car cup holders.
The McSalad Shakers came in three varieties: Garden, Chef, and Grilled Chicken Caesar. The concept was brilliant for busy consumers. But America wasn’t ready for portable healthy fast food in 2000.
They’d probably crush it today.
Discontinued: 2013
McDonald’s premium chicken strips that actually worked.
Unlike many failures on this list, Chicken Selects had a devoted fan base. These weren’t your normal McNuggets—they were real chicken tenders that competed with restaurants like Raising Cane’s. They briefly returned as “Buttermilk Crispy Tenders” but never stuck around long enough.
Discontinued: 2016
The wrap that broke McDonald’s back. Literally.
Customers loved these tortilla-wrapped chicken strips with ranch or honey mustard, but Snack Wraps were “too time-consuming to make” during rush periods. McDonald’s chose speed over customer favorites.
But we have some good news. They’re reportedly coming back soon as part of the McCrispy line.
Discontinued: 2017
Deconstructed cinnamon rolls covered in cream cheese icing.
Simple concept, devoted following, and Cinnamon Melts still have an active Change.org petition demanding their return.
Discontinued: 2022
The marathon runner of the McDonald’s menu. 22 years of layered yogurt, fruit, and granola.
COVID killed the Fruit’ N Yogurt Parfait when drive-thru efficiency became everything. Too complex to assemble quickly, it became a casualty of pandemic simplification.
Discontinued: 2020
McDonald’s serious attempt at healthy eating. Caesar, Southwest, Bacon Ranch. You could choose your favorite dressing.
Then again, COVID hit. And McDonald’s decided Premium Salads were too complicated for their streamlined pandemic menu. Some franchises can revive them, but most won’t.
America’s relationship with fast food salads still remains complicated.
Discontinued: 2019
Lived fast, died young.
These bacon-and-cheese-topped fries were so popular that Cheesy Bacon Fries went nationwide within months of testing. Then they were discontinued just as quickly.
Sometimes McDonald’s moves too fast for its own good.
Discontinued: 2019
Cinnamon-sugar perfection that lasted about as long as a sugar rush.
These fried dough sticks hit the breakfast sweet spot, but Donut Sticks disappeared faster than you could say “McCafé.”Another victim of McDonald’s limited-time obsession.
Discontinued: 1990s
McDonald’s had a decade-long war against Pizza Hut and Domino’s.
The problem? Pizza takes 11 minutes to make, and McDonald’s is built on speed. Some locations served family-sized McPizza pies on pizza racks at tables.
You can still get one at Epic McDonald’s in Orlando.
Discontinued: 1963
Ray Kroc’s biggest bet and biggest loss.
Just grilled pineapple and cheese on a bun, the Hula Burger competed against the Filet-O-Fish. Kroc was so confident that he wagered a new suit.
Final score: 350 Filet-O-Fish vs. 6 Hula Burgers.
Kroc paid up, and the fish sandwich became legendary.
Discontinued: 1995
Three beef patties, two cheeses, and a movie tie-in with Batman Forever.
When the movie left theaters, so did the Super Hero Burger.
Not all heroes wear capes. Some just disappear quietly.
Discontinued: 1998 (brief returns 2017, 2022)
The sauce that broke the internet.
Created for Disney’s Mulan, Szechuan Sauce disappeared for 19 years until Rick and Morty made it legendary. The 2017 return caused riots when stores ran out of stock.
Now it sells for $750 on eBay.
As they say, nostalgia is more powerful than reality.
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)