I'm Lovin' It
Can you picture McDonald's without the Big Mac on the menu? McDonald's selling pasta? A lemon-lime Shamrock Shake?
While it feels like the Golden Arches' menu is sacred, some of the items they have offered will shock you—unless, of course, you were there.
What McDonald's items were introduced the year you were born?
1940: BBQ
When Dick and Mac McDonald opened their car-hop restaurant at Fourteenth and E in San Bernardino, they offered 25 different dishes, most of them some version of barbecued meat in a sandwich. It was only after analyzing their sales numbers did they realize that 80% of their sales were their "Aristocratic Hamburgers".
Cogart Strangehill, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons
1948: Hamburgers And Cheeseburgers
When it came time for the McDonald brothers to expand their new fast food joint across America, they had whittled down their menu to four simple items: Hamburger, Cheeseburger, Potato Chips, and Pie.
Milk, coffee, root beer, and orange soda were available to drink.
1949: Fries And Milkshakes
Something was missing from that 1948 menu, isn't it? The next year, the McDonald brothers introduced Golden French Fries and Triple Thick Milkshakes. Now we're talkin.
1955: Ray Kroc
OK, you couldn't order Ray Kroc on the menu at McDonald's in 1955, but he bears mentioning. While the McDonald brothers came up with the simple menu and fast service, Kroc is the man who made the Golden Arches a global phenomenon.
So while the menu didn't change when he came aboard in 1955, in a way, everything changed.
Press photo, Wikimedia Commons
1963: The Hula Burger
Ray Kroc brought new ideas to McDonald's, but not all of them worked out. Case in point: The Hula Burger, which is a slice of pineapple with two slices of cheese on a bun that Kroc invented as a way to lure in Catholics who were avoiding meat for lent.
But someone else had a better idea...
1965: Filet-O-Fish
Lou Groen, a McDonald's franchisee in Cincinnati, also wanted a menu item to offer Catholics during lent. What he came up with instead was the Filet-O-Fish.
Ray Kroc, for his part, hated the idea, thinking it would make his restaurants smell like fish. What convinced him to adopt it? Simple: It crushed his Hula Burger in sales.
1968: Big Mac
Not since 1949 had the McDonald's menu changed in such a seismic way. Franchisee Jim Delligatti from Pittsburgh developed the Big Mac in 1967, and by the following year it was on menus nationwide.
Christopher Rath, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikipedia
1968: Hot Apple Pie
The Big Mac alone would be enough to make 1968 a landmark year in McDonald's menus, but that's also when they introduced the hot apple pie—which back then was deep fried.
N509FZ, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons
1968: Southern Fried Chicken
Not everything introduced in 1968 would become an iconic McDonald's item. They also introduced a classic "Southern Fried Chicken" to try and compete with KFC—and it was a flop.
1970: Shamrock Shake
McDonald's introduced the Shamrock Shake to celebrate St. Patrick's Day in 1970, but here's something I bet you didn't know: Back then, it was lemon-lime flavored!
Todd Van Hoosear, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1970: McSpaghetti
Yes McDonald's served spaghetti with meatballs. You could also get Fettuccine Alfredo and lasagna. I think I'd stick to burgers...
1973: Quarter Pounder and Mint Shamrock Shake
Another development by a franchisee that later became a McDonald's staple, the Quarter Pounder started in Fremont, California in 1971 before going nationwide two years later.
It's also the year someone came to their senses and they changed the Shamrock Shake from lemon lime to mint vanilla.
1975: Egg McMuffin
Every morning at breakfast, we should all take a moment to salute Herb Peterson of Santa Barbara, California, inventor of the Egg McMuffin in 1972.
Peterson was ahead of his time: The McMuffin wasn't added to the national menu until 1975, and McDonald's complete breakfast menu didn't arrive until 1977.
Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1975: Onion Nuggets
As an attempt to provide an option for vegetarians, McDonald's started offering deep-fried onion nuggets in 1975—long before the introduction of the Chicken McNugget.
Downtowngal, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons
1979: The Happy Meal
Someone at McDonald's noticed how much kids loved their bright, cardboard cereal boxes with toys inside, and in 1979, they followed suit with the first Happy Meal.
1982: McRib
When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, and when you're McDonald's and life gives you a chicken shortage in the late 1970s, you invent the McRib because you're going to need a replacement for your chicken menu items.
Chomp.
1983: Chicken McNuggets
The original McNugget came straight from McDonald's executive chef, René Arend, in 1979. They were an instant hit, but remember that chicken shortage?
It wasn't until 1983 that McDonald's had enough to chicken to introduce McNuggets nationwide.
Lukeeee112, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1985: McDLT
When one door closes, another opens. McDonald's removed the McRib from the menu (though it would be back) and introduced the McDLT—their competitor to Burger King's Whopper.
It was the first time McDonald's had offered fresh vegetables on their burgers.
1986: Salads
Anyone who's complaining that fast food restaurants "aren't what they used to be" is wearing rose colored glasses. McDonald's started trying offering salads as a healthier alternative all the way back in 1986.
1988: Cheddar Melt
1/3 a pound of meat with oozing cheddar sauce, onions, teriyaki sauce, and a rye bun, the Cheddar Melt was introduced in 1988 and discontinued in 1999.
The sandwich had die hard fans to this day, with the "Bring Back the Cheddar Melt" Facebook page still being active as of 2023.
1990: Mighty Wings
Ever have a Chicken McNugget and think, "Boy do I wish there was a bone in this!"
Then you should have gone to McDonald's in 1990 to try the new Mighty Wings, which were pretty much exactly that.
1991: McPizza
The origins of McPizza trace back to the late 80s and they're a little hazy, but by 1991, the personal-sized McPizza was officially on McDonald's menus nationwide.
You could still find them at the odd McDonald's locations until around 2000, but it's safe to say they never really caught on.
1991: Corn Dog McNuggets
Ok, so the Mighty Wings weren't the greatest idea, but at least McDonald's bounced back with a banger: Corn Dog McNuggets.
They brought the dish back in 2002, but this time they called them "Mini Corn Dogs" instead. One question: Why?
1991: McLean Deluxe
Advertised as being "91% fat-free," the McLean Deluxe was an attempt to court people who were looking for a healthier menu item at McDonald's.
The only problem? The people looking for a healthier option...weren't going to McDonald's.
1992: Baked Apple Pies
For those who love the McDonald's Baked Apple Pie, 1992 is a year to celebrate.
But for those who remember the deep-fried version that preceded it? It's a tragedy.
1993: McStuffins
If you think McStuffins sounds like a McDonald's hot pocket, you're smart, because that's exactly what it is.
If you think that sounds like a great idea—then where were you in 1993? The menu item was discontinued almost immediately.
1993: McLobster
You may laugh at the idea of McDonald's introducing the McLobster in 1993, but the joke's on you: It was a hit in New England and Atlantic Canada, where you can still buy it in the summer to this day.
1995: McFlurries
Where else but the Great White North to see the creation of the McFlurry: In 1995, Canadian franchisee Ron McLellan whipped up McDonald's soft-serve with Oreos, creating the first McFlurry.
The sweet treat immediately spread to other Canadian McDonald's locations, and was added to American menus soon after that.
Faruk Ateş, USA, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
1995: McHotDog
It seems like the most obvious pitch for a new McDonald's item, but it wasn't introduced until 1995—probably because Ray Kroc explicitly hated hot dogs.
Well, maybe he was right, because the McHotDog didn't last very long.
Dandy1022, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
1996: Arch Deluxe
Sure, kids love McDonald's, but what about erudite adults who are looking for something more refined? Enter: The Arch Deluxe.
McDonald's gave it the most expensive advertising campaign in history—and it was a complete flop. Turns out, people just wanted a Quarter Pounder.
1998: Bratwurst
McDonald's franchisee Steve Killian of Wisconsin first put Johnsonville Brats on his restaurant's menu in 1998. It caused something of a media sensation, and it spread to more locations around the Midwest, where sausages were served sporadically until 2009.
2013: Fish McBites
You can immediately tell exactly what Fish McBites are when you hear the name. Honestly, it makes sense. If McChicken = Chicken McNuggets, why can't the Filet-O-Fish = Fish McBites?
Unfortunately, people just didn't want them.
2000: Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait
You may think that a McDonald's Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait sounds like another gimmicky health-food item that the chain tried and failed, like the McLean Deluxe.
Well, you'd be wrong: The Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait is still going strong today.
2001: The McGriddle
McDonald's greatest invention since the McNugget. Nothing else comes close.
2001: The Big 'N Tasty
McDonald's loved an 'N around Y2K, and right after the Fruit 'N Yogurt Parfait came the Big 'N Tasty, another competitor to BK's Whopper. This time around, they were more successful, and the Big 'N Tasty stuck around for almost a decade.
The difference this time? Got to be the 'N.
مانفی, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2010: Oatmeal
It took a long time, but McDonald's finally figured out how to offer "healthier" options that people actually want. Apparently the key was breakfast.
Some fans rolled their eyes when the chain started selling oatmeal in 2010—but it's still on the menu today.
2015: All-Day Breakfast
2015. It took them that long. 2015. And it's already gone. I didn't even get a chance to say goodbye...
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