15 Most Popular McDonald’s Items Ever Sold
Fast food trends come and go, but McDonald’s has built a menu full of items that continue to drive traffic and revenue year after year. Some were invented out of necessity, while the rest became staples because they hit the right balance of flavor, cost, and availability.
Though McDonald’s rarely shares exact sales numbers, available data points to these menu items as the most lasting, ordered, and highly influential in the company’s long global run.
Fries
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Introduced in 1949 as a replacement for potato chips, McDonald’s fries became a customer favorite. By 2022, a rewards report showed they ranked as the most-ordered item in every U.S. state. The company now serves over 9 million pounds daily. Even after changes in cooking oil to reduce trans fats, their popularity stayed strong.
Cheeseburger
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The cheeseburger has remained on the menu for decades with very few changes. Its basic ingredients—beef, American cheese, pickles, ketchup, mustard, and onions—have made it a well-liked burger. MyMcDonald’s Rewards data from 2022 placed it just behind fries in overall orders.
Breakfast Burrito
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People looking for a quick, filling breakfast often reach for the Breakfast Burrito. It wraps scrambled eggs, sausage, cheese, onions, and green peppers in a soft flour tortilla. The mix delivers solid flavor and decent protein without weighing you down.
Chicken McNuggets
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When McDonald’s released Chicken McNuggets nationally in the early 1980s, demand steadily outpaced chicken supply. They were developed by executive chef René Arend while experimenting with onion nuggets. The product caught on because it offered a new protein option, plus dipping sauces, which gave fans a reason to diversify their order.
Big Mac
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Franchisee Jim Delligatti created the Big Mac to offer something bigger than the standard burger. Its two beef patties and three-part sesame bun led it to stand out. By 1969, Big Macs made up nearly 20% of McDonald’s total U.S. sales. That kind of success proved the concept worked, and it’s been a menu fixture ever since.
Happy Meals
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Between 2018 and 2022, McDonald’s sold 5.7 billion Happy Meals in 20 major markets. The meal format—an entrée, side, drink, and toy—was a successful family-focused product. In 2022, the company also introduced adult Happy Meals. These sold out fast due to the appeal of nostalgia-driven packaging and collectibles.
Apple Slices and Baked Apple Pie
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While apple slices were first introduced as a Happy Meal side, they soon gained enough traction to become a regular menu item. The baked apple pie, added later, built its own following with low prices and a nostalgic recipe.
McChicken
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After being removed from the menu in 1996 to make room for new products, the McChicken sparked enough pushback that McDonald’s eventually brought it back. Customers had grown attached to its simple formula and didn’t let its absence go unnoticed. Today, it ranks among the chain’s top-selling sandwiches.
Egg McMuffin
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The Egg McMuffin combines a round egg, Canadian bacon, American cheese, and a toasted English muffin. Its success pushed McDonald’s to develop a full breakfast lineup, which remains a major part of daily sales and reshaped industry-wide expectations for breakfast.
Snack Wraps
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If you wanted something lighter than a full sandwich, Snack Wraps were the go-to option for years. The format caught on right away and became one of McDonald’s best-selling items. Although no longer available in the U.S., they remain popular abroad. Online, fans still campaign for their return.
Double Cheeseburger
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Affordability played a major role in the success of the Double Cheeseburger when it debuted as part of the Dollar Menu. At a time when McDonald’s faced declining profits, this item helped reverse the trend by offering real value. With two beef patties, two slices of cheese, and classic toppings, it felt like more food for less money.
McGriddles
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Another addition to McDonald’s expanding breakfast menu, McGriddles offered something different with their sweet pancake buns and compact structure. It combines bacon or sausage, folded egg, and cheese between maple-infused griddle cakes. That mix appealed to individuals who wanted variety and could easily fit it into busy mornings.
Coffee
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Many people don’t think of a burger chain when they have a coffee craving, but the fast food brand has built a surprisingly loyal following. After launching McCafé, McDonald’s expanded its drink options, yet regular hot coffee still leads in sales. It’s priced around $1 in many locations, and draws early-morning crowds looking for speed and reliability.
Sausage McMuffin
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At just 400 calories, the Sausage McMuffin is good enough for a light breakfast. It features a spiced sausage patty and melted American cheese between toasted English muffin halves. You can pair it with hash browns or black coffee for a complete, low-cost morning meal.
McRib
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Promotions tied to the McRib have consistently boosted McDonald’s sales during limited runs. In 2022, the chain reported a 10.3% year-end sales jump, crediting much of the momentum to the sandwich’s return. Interestingly, it was added to the menu in 1981 to offset chicken shortages.