The McChicken is a chicken burger sold by the international fast food restaurant McDonald's.[2] It consists of a toasted wheat bun, a breaded patty, shredded lettuce and mayonnaise.
History
The burger, originally introduced in 1980, proved to be a sales disappointment and was later replaced with the highly successful Chicken McNuggets.[3] However, following the success of McNuggets, the McChicken was reintroduced in 1988. McDonald's again removed the McChicken from its menus in the United States on September 26, 1996,[4] replacing it with the Crispy Chicken Deluxe, which was part of McDonald's ill-fated Deluxe line of burgers. The McChicken was phased back in gradually over the later months of 1997, due to overwhelming letters and petitions.[5] In the United States, the burger's size has shrunk over time to maintain a consistent price point, as it is a longtime staple of the Dollar Menu & More (previously just the Dollar Menu), which offers various food products starting at US$1.00.[6]
The meat of the McChicken was originally a mix of 50% white meat and 50% dark meat. Viewed in April 2015, McDonald's website states that the McChicken contains a blend of dark and white meat chicken.[7]
Variants
In certain regions and at specific McDonald's franchises, the McChicken is adapted to appeal to the local population's tastes.
Spiced
When the McChicken was reintroduced to McDonald's menu in mid-to-late 1997 as a smaller burger, it was initially marketed as the Cajun (Style) McChicken. The name was changed back to just McChicken around 2001, alongside the change to a milder, softer chicken patty.[8]
In the south and southwestern parts of the US, the Hot 'n Spicy variant is sold.[9] It originated as a nationwide menu item in January 2006, but by June of that year, McDonald's confirmed it had been discontinued due to slow sales.[10] In March 2013, McDonald's re-introduced the Hot 'n Spicy across the country[11] to what was then called the Dollar Menu.
See also
- Chicken McNuggets
- List of sandwiches
External links
References
- McChicken®: Chicken Sandwich McDonald's, retrieved 2022-03-11^
- This Michigan State student tried to eat 100 McChicken sandwiches in 24 hours Lansing State Journal, October 27, 2017, retrieved November 28, 2017^
- How the fried chicken sandwich clawed its way to the top of Toronto's fast-food chain