McDonald's makes first permanent menu item change since 2021 — and it comes with a new sauce
Talk about a Happy Meal.
McDonald's announced the addition of chicken strips to its menu, and fans are certainly lovin' it.
The fast-food chain is launching McCrispy Strips, made with 100% white meat strips and coated with a new black pepper-flavored breading.
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4 McDonald's announced the addition of McCrispy Strips to its menu.
'We've been listening to our fans on social and beyond, and they have made one thing clear: they want more chicken. But not just any chicken – they want juicy, dippable perfection,' the press release read.
This marks the first time McDonald's debuted a permanent menu item in the U.S. since 2021, when they added the Crispy Chicken Sandwich.
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'When we introduce a new menu item like McCrispy Strips, we know we have a big promise to fulfill to meet our customer's expectations,' Cesar Piña, senior vice president and chief supply chain officer at McDonald's, said in a statement.
The McCrispy Strips also come with a brand new Creamy Chili Dip, which is described as 'a savory, sweet and tangy sauce.'
4 The McCrispy Strips come with a brand new Creamy Chili Dip, which is described as 'a savory, sweet and tangy sauce.'
McDonald's
McCrispy Strips are expected to be available in all participating restaurants nationwide by May 5, though some stores already have the offering.
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'The demand for chicken strips has been remarkable to see across the industry, so we knew we had to deliver something so craveable that it was worth the wait,' Alyssa Buetikofer, chief marketing and customer experience officer at McDonald's, said.
'We took our time, listened to our fans and created a product we knew they would crave. And the best part is we're just getting started.'
4 McCrispy Strips are expected to be available in all participating restaurants nationwide by May 5.
McDonald's
The new chicken strips can be ordered in servings of three or four, and while they come with the Creamy Chili Dip, customers can opt for other sauces as well.
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Prices may vary based on location and individual restaurant, but food blogger Burger Beast posted prices of $4.99 for three strips with two sauces and $5.99 for four strips with two sauces.
Those waiting for the return of the beloved Snack Wrap can take this as a good sign.
4 This marks the first time McDonald's debuted a permanent menu item in the U.S. since 2021.
McDonald's
Back in December 2023, McDonald's USA President Joe Erlinger essentially confirmed during an Investor Update Q&A that the beloved menu item will make a comeback, saying that having a McCrispy tender will 'allow us to eventually have a McCrispy Snack Wrap.'
'If you think it about in the US business we have three really strong chicken brands between McChicken, Chicken McNuggets and obviously McCrispy. But McCrispy we're in the early days, really building that brand and so looking forward, will we eventually have a crispy tender? Yes. And will that allow us to eventually have a McCrispy snack wrap? Yes. But we're still in the early days of doing that,' Erlinger said at the time.
McDonald's recently teased its imminent return in a social media post, writing on X, 'snack wraps 0x.14.2025.'
The post appears to suggest that the Snack Wrap will return before October, the first double-digit month of the year.
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