Back in the '90s, McDonald's gave us some wild, wonderful menu items that quietly vanished while no one looked. This trip down memory lane will stir up cravings, chuckles, and a whole lot of "Wait, I forgot about that!" moments.
Arch Deluxe
Credit: flickr
McDonald's called it the "Burger with the Grown-up Taste," but most grown-ups didn't bite. Released in 1996, the Arch Deluxe featured a peppered bacon quarter-pound patty with mustard-mayo sauce on a potato bun. It flopped hard despite a $100 million marketing cost, one of the most expensive in fast food history.
McPizza
Credit: flickr
Pizza from McDonald's sounded promising… until people had to wait way too long for it. The ovens slowed everything down, and fast food loyalists weren’t into that. It lingered in a few spots through the 2000s but eventually disappeared without a fuss. Honestly, the McPizza just never fit into the drive-thru rhythm.
Fried Apple Pie
Credit: flickr
The original fried apple pie was a crunchy, molten-hot classic that burned a thousand tongues and still earned a fanbase. McDonald’s switched to the baked version in 1992, claiming it was a healthier move. Fans weren’t thrilled. These days, the fried version exists only in a few international branches.
McDLT
Credit: flickr
Half hot, half cold, and totally wrapped in a giant Styrofoam clamshell. That was the McDLT’s thing—keeping the lettuce and tomato crisp while the meat stayed warm. Smart in theory, but the packaging got heat from environmental groups and was eventually shelved in the early ’90s.
McHotDog
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Even though Ray Kroc couldn’t stand the thought of hot dogs at McDonald’s, the chain tested them out anyway. The McHotDog popped up in a few spots during the ’90s but never made it nationwide. Between quality concerns and people side-eyeing the mystery meat reputation, this one didn’t stand a chance.
Onion Nuggets
Credit: pexels
Before McDonald's figured out how to win hearts with Chicken McNuggets, they tried onion nuggets. Chopped onions, battered, and deep-fried, these golden bites had a brief run in the late '70s and early '80s, but some locations carried them into the early '90s. They weren't a hit, but they are great for retro food trivia today.
Triple Cheeseburger
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Three beef patties and three cheese slices—this was a bold bite for big appetites. Some locations brought it back later as a Dollar Menu item, but it's been on and off like a flickering neon sign. It's not officially dead, but it's not officially alive either. Call it fast food limbo.
Chicken Fajitas
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
McDonald's briefly went Tex-Mex with Chicken Fajitas. Wrapped in a tortilla, these microwave-warmed snacks came with bell peppers, onions, and seasoned chicken. They had fans, but they never caught fire nationally. Most locations stopped serving them by the early 2000s.
Cheddar Melt
Credit: Youtube
If you remember the Cheddar Melt, you probably remember that gooey, tangy cheese sauce. This limited-time burger had a cheddar cheese sauce on a rye bun, grilled onions, and a quarter-pound patty. It popped in and out of menus in the late '80s and early '90s. It came back briefly in 2004 but hasn't been seen since.
Big N' Tasty
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The Big N' Tasty was McDonald's answer to the Whopper. Introduced nationwide in 2000 after limited runs in the late '90s, it had a seasoned beef patty, lettuce, tomato, and that signature ketchup-mayo sauce. It was, well, tasty—but it never entirely caught on and left U.S. menus in 2011.
Mighty Wings
Credit: flickr
McDonald's went bold with Mighty Wings: spicy, bone-in chicken pieces introduced in 1990. Flavor-wise, they packed heat, but at nearly a dollar per wing, they were too pricey for most customers. After a short return in 2013, they disappeared due to excess inventory.
McSalad Shakers
Credit: Instagram
These looked like something from a gym vending machine: tall cups of salad that you’d shake up with dressing. McSalad Shakers were actually kind of fun but not all that convenient. The cups were awkward to eat from, and the shaking got messy fast. Still, thanks to their novelty, they’ve earned a weird spot in McDonald’s nostalgia.
Swiss Mushroom Melt
Credit: Youtube
Savory, rich, and a bit fancier than your average drive-thru burger, the Swiss Mushroom Melt combined grilled mushrooms, Swiss cheese, and beef on a toasted bun. It popped up and down during the ’90s, usually around fall. Even though it never became a staple, fans still talk about it like it was a secret menu MVP.
McStuffins
Credit: Youtube
McStuffins were baked snack pockets filled with cheesesteaks or pepperoni. They were meant to be quick and easy—like a Hot Pocket’s cousin. They were a bit ahead of their time, but poor sales and limited marketing quickly pushed them off the menus.
Super Size Fries and Drinks
Credit: Youtube
There was a time when "Super Size It" felt like a dare. McDonald's introduced the oversized option in the late '80s, lasting until 2004. Health concerns ramped up, and the chain eventually phased it out. Some fans still mourn those bucket-sized sodas and fries that needed two hands to carry.
