What is the most missed McDonald’s item that fans are craving? Pork lovers won’t be surprised that the No.1 wanted comeback is the McRib, a pork patty shaped like a rack of ribs, smothered in barbecue sauce.
A recent study analyzed searches for over 70 discontinued McDonald’s items, ranging from the McPizza to the Hula Burger.
It’s clear the McRib that debuted in Kansas City in 1981 and was released nationwide in 1982 is a fan favorite. It was permanently removed from the menu in 2005 and has made several limited-time returns, including a “farewell tour” in 2022.
The McRib averages 95,425 monthly searches as compared to the No. 2 item listed - Snack Wraps.
Snack Wraps averages 41,950 searches a month. After nearly a decade off menus and years of fan petitions, the beloved item is making a comeback this year. Featuring various types of chicken, lettuce, and cheese wrapped in a warm tortilla, Snack Wraps inspired dozens of petitions, one of which received nearly 18,800 signatures.
In third place, fans ranked Spicy Chicken McNuggets with an average of 10,093 searches a month, according to the research carried out by online calculator site Infinity Calculator. Spicy Chicken McNuggets have made a limited return to select restaurants in cities like Phoenix and Dallas. First introduced in 2020, they’ve appeared nationally only a handful of times as a limited time offering but have primarily been a regional item since 2022.
“In 1940, McDonald’s opened its first-ever U.S. restaurant in San Bernardino, Calif. The store had a menu packed with classics, such as the brand’s beloved hamburgers and cheeseburgers,” explains Jehan Wadia, CEO of Infinity Calculator, in a release. “Since then, McDonald’s has expanded its menu to include hundreds of items. While some have stood the test of time, like the brand’s iconic Big Mac, others have not been so lucky, from the McRib to McPizza.”
Wadia says the researchers examined search volumes to identify the top 10 items Americans have an emotional connection to now. Still, the question remains — will McDonald’s bring them back?
