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6 Menu Items McDonald's Stopped Selling This Year

Here's the latest on whether or not we can expect these items to come back.

Loyal McDonald's fans know the chain has gone through quite a few menu changes this year. In the interest of streamlining their operations during the pandemic, McDonald's had made several surprising cuts, discontinuing some items that had been among their staples for years. 

And while things like chocolate chip cookies, bagels, the Bacon McDouble, and vanilla ice cream cones were eventually added back to the menu, some of the other items seem to be gone permanently.

Here are the status updates for items McDonald's stopped selling this year.

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Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Tenders

McDonald's buttermilk crispy chicken tenders
Courtesy of McDonald's

While the McNuggets and McChicken sandwiches are still very much core staples of the fast food giant's menu, the Buttermilk Chicken Tenders have left the building. Considering the fact that they have several more popular crispy chicken options, McDonald's is likely to make this menu cut permanent.

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Salads

McDonald's salad
Courtesy of McDonald's

Salads left the menu at the start of the pandemic, and so far, there hasn't been a single sign of their return. One of the main reasons the chain decided to ditch the salads was their relative unpopularity compared to other items. Additionally, simplifying the menu means McDonald's can fulfill orders faster and more efficiently. However, experts quoted by Business Insider believe salads will most likely make a comeback in the future. Once the pandemic is over and dining rooms open up to full capacity, the fast food giant will want to win some of that foot traffic back by expanding their menu with new healthy options.

Grilled Chicken

McDonald's chicken sandwich
Courtesy of McDonald's

Grilled chicken was a great healthy alternative for those who didn't want to eat fried batter every time they ordered chicken at McDonald's. It was featured in the Grilled Chicken Sandwich as well as some of the McDonald's salads, but with both of those items gone from the menu, getting a healthier chicken order just became that much harder.

All Day Breakfast

mcdonalds breakfast
Shutterstock

It seems that the rumors are true and McDonald's doesn't plan on bringing back the all day breakfast. Certainly not during the pandemic, when speed at the drive-thru and general operational efficiency has become top priority for fast-food restaurants. Franchisees are thrilled with this change, which they had been rooting for for years. The customers? They're less thrilled but still finding ways to hack their way to an afternoon breakfast order.

Yogurt Parfaits

mcdonalds fruit yogurt parfait
Courtesy of McDonalds

Who remembers ordering a yogurt parfait at McDonald's? Us either. Which is probably why this "healthy" menu item got the boot this year and likely isn't coming back.

Spicy Chicken Nuggets

mcdonalds spicy mcnuggets
McDonald's/ Facebook

The chain caused a frenzy this September with their debut of Spicy Chicken McNuggets and Mighty Hot Sauce. Only three short weeks after launch, the supplies of both items had run dry and fans across the country were left disappointed. And while the spicy nuggz and the actually-spicy hot sauce were limited-time offers from the get-go, even McDonald's didn't expect to sell out of their supplies within such a short timeframe. But worry not—while this may always end up being a seasonal offer (just like the McRib), the hot creations are sure to come back in the future.

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Mura Dominko
Mura is ETNT's Executive Editor, leading the coverage of America's favorite restaurant chains, grocery stores, and viral food moments. Read more about Mura
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