Introduction
McDonald’s has been a staple in the fast food industry for decades, and they continue to innovate and bring new menu items to their customers. In 2022, McDonald’s launched (or brought back) 13 new menu items that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. From the classic Big Mac to the new McPlant Burger, there is something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a quick snack or a full meal, McDonald’s has you covered. So, let’s take a look at the 13 new menu items McDonald’s launched (or brought back) in 2022.
13 Menu Items McDonald’s Launched (or Brought Back) in 2022
McDonald’s has been a staple of the fast food industry for decades, and they continue to innovate and bring new menu items to the table. In 2022, they launched (or brought back) 13 new menu items that are sure to please customers. Here’s a look at what’s new:
1. McPlant Burger
McDonald’s first foray into plant-based burgers, the McPlant Burger is made with a juicy, plant-based patty and topped with all the classic fixings. It’s a delicious and sustainable option for those looking for a meatless meal.
2. Spicy Chicken McNuggets
McDonald’s brought back their popular Spicy Chicken McNuggets in 2022. These crispy, juicy nuggets are made with a spicy blend of peppers and spices, and they’re sure to be a hit with customers.
3. Bacon Smokehouse Burger
The Bacon Smokehouse Burger is a delicious combination of a beef patty, bacon, smoked Gouda cheese, crispy onions, and a smoky BBQ sauce. It’s a savory and flavorful burger that’s sure to satisfy.
4. Caramel Brownie McFlurry
McDonald’s brought back their popular Caramel Brownie McFlurry in 2022. This creamy treat is made with vanilla soft serve, brownie pieces, and a rich caramel sauce. It’s a decadent and delicious way to end your meal.
5. Chicken McGriddle
The Chicken McGriddle is a delicious combination of a crispy chicken patty, melted cheese, and a sweet maple syrup sauce, all sandwiched between two fluffy McGriddle cakes. It’s a unique and tasty twist on the classic McGriddle.
6. Bacon BBQ Burger
The Bacon BBQ Burger is a delicious combination of a beef patty, bacon, melted cheese, and a smoky BBQ sauce. It’s a savory and flavorful burger that’s sure to satisfy.
7. Jalapeno Double
The Jalapeno Double is a spicy twist on the classic Double Cheeseburger. It’s made with two beef patties, melted cheese, jalapenos, and a spicy mayo sauce. It’s sure to be a hit with those who like a little heat in their burgers.
8. Bacon Cheddar Biscuit
McDonald’s brought back their popular Bacon Cheddar Biscuit in 2022. This savory biscuit is made with a flaky biscuit, bacon, and melted cheddar cheese. It’s a delicious and satisfying breakfast option.
9. Chicken McGriddle Sandwich
The Chicken McGriddle Sandwich is a delicious combination of a crispy chicken patty, melted cheese, and a sweet maple syrup sauce, all sandwiched between two fluffy McGriddle cakes. It’s a unique and tasty twist on the classic McGriddle.
10. Bacon Smokehouse Tenders
McDonald’s Bacon Smokehouse Tenders are made with juicy, crispy chicken tenders and topped with bacon, smoked Gouda cheese, and a smoky BBQ sauce. It’s a savory and flavorful meal that’s sure to please.
11. Caramel Frappe
McDonald’s Caramel Frappe is a delicious and refreshing treat. It’s made with a creamy blend of ice, caramel syrup, and whipped cream. It’s a sweet and indulgent way to cool off on a hot day.
12. Bacon BBQ Chicken Sandwich
The Bacon BBQ Chicken Sandwich is a delicious combination of a crispy chicken patty, bacon, melted cheese, and a smoky BBQ sauce. It’s a savory and flavorful sandwich that’s sure to satisfy.
13. Chocolate Chip Frappe
McDonald’s Chocolate Chip Frappe is a delicious and indulgent treat. It’s made with a creamy blend of ice, chocolate chips, and whipped cream. It’s a sweet and decadent way to cool off on a hot day.
McDonald’s continues to innovate and bring new menu items to the table. These 13 new menu items are sure to please customers and keep them coming back for more.
2022 was an exciting year for McDonald’s fans. Along with all the classic menu items that are never going anywhere—like the Big Mac, McNuggets, and Quarter Pounder—there were several new additions, a few limited time offerings, and several fan-favorite items that made a grand return.
However, not everything that popped onto the McDonald’s menu in 2022 was a permanent addition, so don’t get your hopes up too high for the items we’re covering here today. In fact, a few have already come and gone. In other cases, it may be only a matter of time before we’re discussing items that have been removed from the McDonald’s menu.
Here are 13 items that were launched or brought back by McDonald’s in 2022, and whether or not you can still get them.
Launched in the fall of 2022 and always planned to be a “Limited Time Only” offering, this is a burger you should try while you can. It’s basically a McD’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese that’s been dressed up a bit, and said “dressing” includes applewood smoked bacon, freshly-sliced tomatoes, and a smoky sauce. And while reviews have been mixed, especially on the price, there are some that love the new iteration of the Quarter Pounder.
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The McRib is the classic, here again, gone again McDonald’s menu item. It is as famous for its inconsistent appearances on the menu as it is for its smoky flavor. But when McDonald’s returned the McRib to the menu in 2022, they did so with a warning that once it’s pulled again, it’s going to be gone for a long time or maybe, the last time.
While the McPlant—McDonald’s first plant-based burger—did not debut in 2022, it did hit many new markets. After being available at only a handful of nationwide locations for several months, the plant-based item was rolled out to 600 additional McDonald’s restaurants in February. However, the menu item didn’t perform as projected and it was nixed off every menu in July.
In October, McDonald’s tugged at our sweet heartstrings when it was announced that limited locations would start selling Krispy Kreme’s famous donuts. While only nine locations in Kentucky and Indiana were participating in the test, we can hope that they are a success and that more McDonald’s will follow suit in 2023.
Brightly festooned with colorful sprinkles and loaded with creamy vanilla custard, McD’s Holiday Pie is back for the holiday season. It is a treat that comes out most years, but not every year, so get yours soon if you love them.
Another fall release that has a planned end date (we don’t know exactly when, so don’t wait too long), the OREO Fudge McFlurry is about as rich and sweet as frozen fast-food desserts get. The regular-sized version packs in 630 calories and 20 grams of fat, FYI, so consider a “snack size” or at least make this a once or twice treat. P.S. if you miss the run, you can hack this item by just adding fudge to an Oreo McFlurry.
In May, McDonald’s made customers with a sweet-and-salty tooth sing when it released a new McFlurry with vanilla soft serve, caramel swirls, and blended-in chocolate pretzel bites. It, alas, is gone for now.
In April, this sharable donut wa sbrought back to the menu after a successful debut in 2021. Outside of its current appearance, the Glazed Pull Apart Donut made its debut as part of a fall menu update in 2021. The pastry came as a follow-up to the Apple Fritter, Blueberry Muffin, and Cinnamon Roll—the first breakfast pastry additions the chain had made in a decade.
Of course, the beloved perennial green shake returned just in time for St. Patrick’s Day with a McFlurry partner. It again left the menu shortly after as customer look forward to the holiday and it’s return in 2023.
This is one that you have already missed if you didn’t try it in the fall, we’re sorry to say. As chains across the nation rolled out pumpkin spice everything in September, McDonald’s added the Pumpkin and Crème Pie to the menu, the sweet treat featuring a filling that blended pumpkin pie and sweet crème.
Remember how McDonald’s used to have bagels on the menu? The pandemic ended that nationwide. But in 2022, in select markets, bagel sandwiches began returning to the McD’s menu. At last check, bagels are only back in Columbus, Chicago, Washington D.C., New York City, and other New England areas.
McDonald’s brought the Cheese Danish back to the menu in 2022 for the first time in years—decades in fact. It was last offered back in the 1980s. This 21st-century take on the treat—which is not available everywhere—is a flaky pastry filled with sweet cream cheese topped with sugary, vanilla-flavored icing.
Starting in the early fall of 2022, McDonald’s began testing the Chicken Big Mac in restaurants located in and around Miami, Florida. The burger swaps out those famed “all beef patties” for fried tempura-breaded chicken patties, keeping all other ingredients the same. We think that’s brilliant all around and hope it goes national ASAP. 2023 is, according to restaurant forecasters, to be the the year of the chicken sandwich.