McDonald’s Menu Items You Forgot Existed

Think McDonald’s is just burgers and fries? Think again. Over the years, the Golden Arches served up some wild and wonderful creations. Whether you remember them or missed them entirely, these forgotten McDonald’s menu items are tasty blasts from the past you won’t believe ever existed.

McDLT

The McDLT was all about keeping the hot side hot and the cool side cool. It came in a two-compartment container that separated the burger from the lettuce and tomato. Launched in the 1980s, it was phased out partly due to environmental concerns over its styrofoam packaging.

Arch Deluxe

Dubbed the “burger with grown-up taste,” the Arch Deluxe was McDonald’s big 1990s swing at a more sophisticated audience. It featured a peppered bacon patty and a signature mustard-mayo sauce. Despite a massive marketing budget, it flopped and disappeared by the early 2000s.

McPizza

Yes, McDonald’s once sold pizza. The McPizza was introduced in the late ’80s and tested into the ’90s. Although it had fans, long cook times didn’t mesh with McDonald’s fast service model. It quietly disappeared, though some locations served it well into the 2000s.

McSpaghetti

Believe it or not, McDonald’s once offered spaghetti and meatballs. This pasta experiment happened mostly in international locations—though it briefly showed up in the U.S. It still survives in a few countries like the Philippines, where it has its own cult following.

Hula Burger

The Hula Burger was McDonald’s meatless answer for Catholic diners avoiding meat on Fridays. It featured a grilled pineapple slice and cheese on a bun. Introduced in the 1960s, it quickly lost out to the now-iconic Filet-O-Fish. Safe to say, it wasn’t everyone’s tropical dream.

Onion Nuggets

Before Chicken McNuggets, there were Onion Nuggets. These deep-fried chunks of onion were McDonald’s answer to bite-sized snacks in the 1970s. Despite their crispy appeal, they didn’t catch on and vanished without much fanfare. Still, some fans remember them fondly as a savory side lost in time.

Mighty Wings

In 2013, McDonald’s tried tapping into the fried chicken trend with Mighty Wings. These spicy, bone-in wings had promise but were deemed too pricey by customers. Leftover inventory became a nationwide problem, and the item was soon pulled from menus in a quiet farewell.

McHotDog

Hot dogs at McDonald’s? It happened—just not for long. The McHotDog was tested in various U.S. cities and even launched in Japan. But with quality and branding concerns, it never stuck. Today, it remains one of McDonald’s most surprising menu experiments.

Big N’ Tasty

Seen as McDonald’s version of the Whopper, the Big N’ Tasty launched in 1997 with a seasoned beef patty, lettuce, tomato, and a smoky sauce. It stuck around for a while but never hit cult status. Eventually, it faded out and was replaced by premium burger options.

McSalad Shakers

Remember shaking your salad in a cup? McSalad Shakers were introduced in the early 2000s as a healthy option on the go. While fun and unique, they were quickly phased out in favor of more traditional salad bowls. Still, they were a creative twist in fast food history.

Long-Lost McDonald’s Items

These long-lost McDonald’s items may be gone, but they’ll always hold a special place in fast food history and our nostalgic cravings.