McSalad Shakers: The Revolutionary Cup Salad That Failed to Stick
The McSalad Shakers were introduced in 2000 and sold in the United States and Thailand, and were discontinued in 2003. Think about it—salad in a cup that you could literally shake up like a snow globe. The McSalad Shakers were a salad meal which came in three meal choices, including Chef, Grilled Chicken Caesar and Garden. The concept was brilliant for busy people who wanted something healthy on the go, but sales didn’t reflect much popularity, and they were discontinued in 2003.
The Hula Burger: McDonald’s Most Absurd Creation
Picture this: grilled pineapple slices with cheese on a bun, and that’s your entire burger. The Hula Burger, introduced in 1963 as a limited menu item, was a meatless burger consisting of grilled pineapple slices with American cheese on a bun aimed at the ones who avoided meat. Ray Kroc himself championed this bizarre creation to compete with the Filet-O-Fish. In a competitive sales test against the Filet-O-Fish, the Hula Burger sold only six units compared to the 350 Filet-O-Fish sandwiches sold, leading to its quick exit from the menu. Even McDonald’s founder later called it a massive flop.
McLean Deluxe: The Health-Conscious Experiment That Backfired
The Mclean Deluxe was introduced in 1991 and consisted of a reduced-fat patty (90% meat with added carrageenan, a seaweed extract), ketchup, mustard, lettuce, pickles, tomato, and a slice of cheese, all on a bakery-style roll, Marketed as a healthier option by McDonald’s. McDonald’s tried to make a healthier burger by replacing fat with water and seaweed extract. It advertised the burger as 91 percent fat free; it had 10 grams of fat compared to the Big Mac’s 26 and Beef made up only 90 percent of the patty, and water and carrageenan made up the remaining 10 percent. But the seaweed additive not only removed calories but flavor, and the McLean Deluxe quickly garnered a reputation for being bland.
McDLT: The Build-Your-Own Burger That Died from Environmental Concerns
Also known as the McDeluxe, the McDLT was a new innovation for 1985. Served in a styrofoam container that split up the hot burger patties from the crisp, cold veggies, the McDLT was meant to keep the delicious factor at a 10 until it was time to eat. The idea seemed genius—keeping hot ingredients separate from cold ones until you assembled your own perfect burger. What was it: The McDLT, which stood McDonald’s Lettuce and Tomato was a burger sold in a specially designed two-sided Styrofoam container. The meat and bottom half of the bun were placed separately from the lettuce, tomato, American cheese, pickles, sauces, and top half of the bun. Customers then combined the hot and cool sides. However, the item was discontinued in 1991 due to the wastefulness of the styrofoam packaging.
Onion Nuggets: The Vegetarian Alternative That Never Caught On
McDonald’s Onion Nuggets were Introduced in 1975 in selected US locations alongside the Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich. McDonald’s Executive Chef Rene Arend developed the Onion Nuggets as a side item, but they were ultimately overshadowed by the Chicken McNugget, which debuted shortly after their introduction. They were basically bite-sized pieces of onion, breaded and deep-fried like chicken nuggets. We’ve all heard of the Chicken McNugget, but back in the 1970s, McDonald tried to expand its nugget line with the onion nugget. Yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like: a chunk of onion breaded, deep-fried, and served with dipping sauce. Unsurprisingly, the onion nuggets weren’t a huge hit, and the chain axed them only shortly after they were introduced. They were discontinued in 1984.
McDonald’s Pizza: The 11-Minute Disaster That Broke the Speed Promise
Back in the 1970s, McDonald’s was more than just a place to get burgers and fries—it was a pizza joint, too. The ill-fated McPizza was on and off the menu for over two decades, finally getting ditched for good in 2000. The biggest problem wasn’t the taste—it was the wait time. McDonald’s has always prided itself on how speedily its food gets from cook to customer, but the McPizza took a whopping 11 minutes to prepare, slowing down restaurant operations and taking their reputation as a “fast” food chain down a few notches. McPizza was introduced in the mid-1980s when McDonald’s aimed to expand its menu beyond burgers and fries. McPizza featured family-sized pizza and later a personal-sized option.
Chicken Selects: The Premium Tenders That Couldn’t Stay
McDonald’s Chicken Selects were premium chicken tenders introduced in the mid-2000s. With a crispy, seasoned breading and juicy chicken inside, they were a favorite for those wanting a higher-quality alternative to McNuggets. Despite their popularity, they were discontinued in 2013 due to supply chain issues, though similar products occasionally return. These weren’t your typical McNuggets—they were actual chicken breast strips with a crunchier coating. Real ones remember Chicken Selects. While they’re still available in certain markets (which means you can travel to them if you’re that dedicated), they were discontinued from U.S. menus in 2013. The irony is that they were actually good, but operational challenges killed them off.
McCafé Bakery Items: The Sweet Treats That Vanished in 2023
After a three-year stint on the menu, the McCafé bakery items left the chain in July 2023. The selection of baked goods included a blueberry muffin, cinnamon roll, and an apple fritter. These weren’t ancient history like the other items on this list—they literally disappeared just last year. October 2020 saw the arrival of the McCafé Bakery, which consisted of three confectionary goods: an apple fritter, a blueberry muffin, and a cinnamon roll. These items were available for purchase throughout the day, though they were originally added to the menu in an effort to draw more customers in for breakfast. But taking into account the establishment’s statement to the New York Post, saying “We’re always listening to our fans and adjusting our menu based on what they crave,” it can be assumed that perhaps the baked treats didn’t achieve exactly what the corporation was going for, leading to their erasure in 2023.
The Quiet Revolution of Menu Simplification
What’s fascinating about these vanished items is how they represent McDonald’s constant struggle between innovation and simplicity. Over the past 68 years, McDonald’s has discontinued plenty of menu items for various reasons, such as low popularity or operational issues. No matter the cause, menu item cuts hit some customers harder than others, with loyal fans even creating fan pages or petitions in an attempt to revive their favorite fast-food options. The chain has learned that sometimes being the best at a few things beats being mediocre at many. Most people today have no clue that McDonald’s once served pizza that took longer to make than most restaurant meals, or that they tried to replace hamburger fat with seaweed. These forgotten experiments remind us that even the most successful companies fail more often than they succeed—they just do it quietly enough that we forget it ever happened.
