11 McDonald’s Menu Items That Are No Longer Available

Alongside the removal of PlayPlaces and the Supersize option, McDonald’s has discreetly discontinued numerous menu items over the years. Some of these products gained a dedicated fanbase, while others simply didn’t stand the test of time. (Swapping beef for pineapple certainly wasn’t Ray Kroc’s finest move.) From plant-based McNuggets to quick-serve pasta, these are some of the discontinued offerings that might jog your memory of McDonald’s past.

1. Onion Nuggets

Before the iconic Chicken McNugget debuted, McDonald's offered a vegetarian alternative made from breaded, deep-fried onions. Available only in certain U.S. regions during 1978 and 1979, the Onion Nugget was among the first items to complement the chain’s classic burgers and fries. Despite its niche popularity, the side dish never expanded nationwide. By the early 1980s, the idea was revamped into the now-famous chicken McNuggets.

2. McPizza

In the late 1980s, McDonald’s took a bold step into the pizza business, even inventing a speedy oven and expanding drive-thru windows to accommodate the new offering. Despite these innovations, the item was phased out from most locations within a few years. However, one McDonald’s in Orlando, Florida, still holds out, not only serving the McPizza but also letting customers customize their toppings.

3. Fish McBites

In 2013, McDonald’s introduced a seafood twist on their classic nuggets. Fish McBites offered the same crispy pollock found in the Filet-O-Fish sandwich, but in a bite-sized form. Despite the novelty, the seafood nuggets failed to win over customers and were removed from menus by the end of the year, though not before sparking some unusual promotional campaigns.

4. Hula Burger

McDonald’s founder Ray Kroc once envisioned a pineapple-based “burger” replacing the Filet-O-Fish on the menu. In 1963, an Ohio franchise tested both options to cater to Catholic customers during Lent. Lou Groen, the franchise owner, championed the fried fish sandwich, while Kroc pushed for the Hula Burger—a bun with a pineapple slice and cheese. The Filet-O-Fish won overwhelmingly, securing its place on the menu, while the Hula Burger faded into obscurity as a culinary misstep.

5. McSpaghetti

The McSpaghetti never achieved the iconic status of the Big Mac or McNuggets for obvious reasons: pasta and marinara sauce in a box didn’t quite fit the fast-food mold. After debuting in 1970, it was removed from U.S. menus in the 1980s, though it remains a staple in McDonald’s outlets in the Philippines.

6. McHotDog

McDonald’s rolled out the McHotDog in 1995, only to discontinue it by the late 1990s. Ray Kroc, though not around to see its downfall, foresaw its failure in his 1977 autobiography Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald's. He famously cautioned, "There's no place for hot dogs at McDonald’s. You can't be sure what’s inside them, and our quality standards would never allow it."

7. Arch Deluxe

In 1996, McDonald’s attempted to elevate its menu with the Arch Deluxe, a burger designed for more sophisticated tastes. It boasted premium ingredients like peppered bacon, “Dijonnaise,” and artisan-style buns. Priced at up to $2.50 (about $4.60 today) in some areas, it was pricier than a Big Mac. Despite a massive $300 million marketing push, the Arch Deluxe failed to convince customers of McDonald’s upscale potential and was quickly pulled, marking one of the company’s most notable failures.

8. Snickerdoodle McFlurry

In 2019, McDonald’s introduced a seasonal McFlurry flavor for the holidays. The Snickerdoodle McFlurry combined vanilla soft serve with crunchy cookie bits. Although it was well-received, the treat was only available for a limited period. Now, McFlurry enthusiasts must stick to traditional flavors like Oreos and M&Ms during the holidays—assuming the McFlurry machine is operational.

9. Fruit and Walnut Salad

The Fruit and Walnut Salad was part of McDonald’s early 2000s initiative to offer healthier options. Made with apples, grapes, walnuts, and low-fat yogurt, it targeted health-conscious diners—though the demand proved insufficient. Like many of McDonald’s “healthy” offerings, it was discontinued in 2013, eight years after its debut.

10. Mighty Wings

While McDonald’s has excelled with chicken products, bone-in options were uncharted territory in 1990. That year, they introduced Mighty Wings, a deep-fried hot wing offering. Surprisingly, the wings outperformed expectations, transitioning from a limited-time item to a menu staple until 2003. Thanks to a dedicated fanbase, they made brief comebacks in 2013 and 2016, but ultimately, the high costs and operational challenges led to their permanent removal.

11. McDLT

The McDLT (McDonald’s Lettuce and Tomato) stood out not for its ingredients but for its innovative packaging. The burger was served in a unique Styrofoam container that kept the patty separate from the lettuce and tomato, ensuring "the hot stays hot" and "the cool stays cool," as famously advertised by a young Jason Alexander. Launched in the 1980s, it was discontinued in the early 1990s as McDonald’s phased out polystyrene packaging.