11 of McDonald’s Biggest Menu Flops

It’s no secret that McDonald’s is king in the world of fast-food chains. The iconic golden arches offer familiarity and culinary consistency across the globe. Children grow up with the vision of their best day ever, including a meal at McDonald’s. But even McDonald’s isn’t immune to small failures. Hold the fries, because today we’re exploring 11 of the fast food giants’ biggest menu flops.

From burgers that flopped to onion nuggets and McSalad shakers, this list will have you scratching your head as we share some of the biggest menu flops McDonald’s has had. So buckle up, friends! We’re taking a trip through McDonald’s graveyard menu!

1. McGratin Croquette

McDonald’s launched their specifically designed Japanese burger in the late 1990’s. The texture and flavor explosion were often heavy on the grease. The McGratin Croquette swapped a traditional chicken or beef patty with one made of ground shrimp, deep-fried macaroni, and mashed potatoes, topped with a mystery brown sauce. Unfortunately, the burger did not resonate with enough customers and is thought to have been pulled from the menu in the early 2000s.

2. Hula burger

McDonald’s created the meatless Hula burger to appeal to meat-abstaining Catholics. The burger consisted of a slice of pineapple and cheese in between two buns. It was first introduced in the 1960s but wasn’t found to be appealing to many. In the mid-1980s, the burger was re-released, but with a beef patty and lettuce added, and was called the Gold n’ Grill. 

3. McSpaghetti

McSpaghetti was first launched in the 1970s. The dish was made up of pasta, marinara sauce, meatballs, and a cheese topping. The meat sauce was reminiscent of Filpino spaghetti sauce, as it was sweet and spicy. It was typically made with banana ketchup, ground meat, vegetables, and honey or sugar for a sweet touch. 

4. McAfrica

The McAfrica burger stirred up a lot of controversy upon its launch. It was originally released in 2002. During this time, Africa was going through a devastating famine with disastrous results. McDonald’s launched the McAfrica originally in Norway, which was one of the world’s wealthiest countries. It was then relaunched in 2008 for a time to promote the Beijing Olympics. The McAfrica was considered a tone-deaf move by McDonald’s and upset many. The burger was made of beef, cheese, and tomatoes in between slices of pita bread.

5. McDLT

The McDLT (Mcdonald’s lettuce and tomato) was created in response to the iconic Whopper burger from Burger King. It consisted of a quarter-pound beef patty, lettuce, tomato, mayo, cheese, pickles, ketchup, and a toasted sesame seed bun. But the coolest part about the McDLT was its’ packaging. Customers would receive the McDLT in a styrofoam container with two compartments. One was for the warm ingredients, and the other was for the cool. Then, the customer would put the burger together themselves and enjoy the flavors and textures fused. The McDLT was discontinued in the late 1990s because of the environmental impact the styrofoam packaging had. The burger was then relaunched as “Big & Tasty” with the same ingredients but different packaging, but customers did not love it.

6. McHot Dog

McDonald’s McHot Dog might have been doomed from its very beginnings. In his 1977 autobiography, the CEO of the Golden Arches declared that hot dogs weren’t hygienic and didn’t meet McDonald’s quality standards. Despite this bold statement, the McHot Dog was launched in 1995 and discontinued by the year 2000.

7. Onion Nuggets

In an effort to appeal to non-meat eaters, McDonald’s launched its onion nuggets in 1975. They were a cross between beloved onion rings and nuggets, but customers did not fall in love with them. However, they did pave the way for the global success of Chicken McNuggets. Chicken McNuggets launched in 1983 and became an iconic part of McDonald’s menu!

8. McLean Deluxe

The McLean Deluxe was the answer to the outcry about wanting healthier options from the fast food giant. It was part of an entire line of deluxe sandwiches. The McLean Deluxe was made with ketchup, mustard, whole-leaf lettuce, sliced tomato, and a reduced-fat beef patty on a bakery-style roll. It launched in 1991 and was not loved by customers, as they said it was dry and didn’t taste good.

9. McSalad shakers

The McSalad shakers were created to address the demand for healthier fast food options that were convenient and affordable. They launched in 2000 and were made of prepackaged salad in a clear cup with a lid. The salad dressing came in another container, and the idea was to put the dressing on the salad, pop the lid back on, and shake it up to mix the dressing into the salad. However, the McSalad shakers required a fair bit of preparation, and by 2003, McDonald’s phased out the shakers and replaced them with salads in plastic bowls.

10. Chicken Fajitas

McDonald’s introduced their chicken fajitas in 1993. They were made of a soft flour tortilla filled with seasoned chicken, diced peppers, and onions, and drizzled with a cheese sauce. However, customers thought it lacked in portion size and wasn’t comparable to a true Mexican restaurant where the fajita is made fresh, and by the early 2000s, it had quietly left the McDonald’s menu.

11. Mighty Wings

Mcdonald’s jumped aboard the bandwagon of the wings craze in 2013 and launched their Mighty Wings menu item. The exterior was golden crispy, and customers had the option of buffalo or tangy BBQ sauce. However, the wings were considered quite small, and the cost of the menu item was substantial in comparison to ordering a McDouble or a cheeseburger. They left the menu sometime in 2014.

Final Thoughts

McDonald’s has shown that they will evolve and try new things, even if they’re outside of the burger and fry realm. From the McGratin Croquette to the meatless Hula burger, McSpagetti, McHot Dog, onion nuggets, and McSalad Shakers, McDonalds is innovative and creative in giving customers what they want at an affordable fast food style price.

These 11 menu items were flops for the fast food giant, but that’s not to say we’ll never see them differently show up on the menu again. McDonald’s often relaunches past items with a creative flair! So whether you’re a big fan of salty fries, iconic burgers, or ice cream, these 11 menu items weren’t loved by many and flopped majorly.