McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac Is Here — and Yes, It’s a Giant Chicken Nugget Sandwich

McDonald’s has been having a banner year of building buzz. 

This summer, as rising fast food prices left customers concerned about overspending, America’s top chain introduced a $5 Value Meal so popular that the limited-time offer has been extended through December. Next, it rolled out a Collector’s Meal complete with nostalgia-stoking keepsake cups, and then a whole new way to enjoy the McFlurry that doesn’t involve wasteful rigid plastics. 

Now, McDonald’s has announced what might be its most hotly anticipated release of 2024: the Chicken Big Mac, arriving nationwide on October 10 and available while supplies last.

The Chicken Big Mac has long been available in McDonald’s international markets, including Canada, the UK, and Australia — and Americans have been green with envy for roughly just as long. The sandwich is almost identical to the classic McDonald’s Big Mac, except with two tempura-breaded chicken patties in place of the traditional all-beef patties. The third quasi-bun in the center of the sandwich is still present, and toppings still include Big Mac Sauce, lettuce, cheese, and pickles — the only element removed from the chicken version is minced onions. The tempura batter on the chicken, by the way, is similar to the breading on the Chicken McNuggets, so you can think of this Big Mac like a giant nugget sandwich. 

Reports surfaced in August that the Chicken Big Mac was heading to the United States, though no specific date was given. The sandwich was tested in Miami in 2022, though it never expanded beyond that test market. Until now. 

“With the introduction of the Chicken Big Mac, we’re excited to pay homage to one of our most iconic menu items, the Big Mac, and introduce it to a whole new generation of fans,” said Tariq Hassan, chief marketing and customer experience officer at McDonald’s USA, in a press release.

This is an opportune time for McDonald’s to release the oft-demanded Chicken Big Mac in the United States. At the WSJ Global Food Forum in June, McDonald’s USA president Joe Erlinger noted that chicken is the “[big] trend around protein consumption,” and that “We sell more chicken today as a brand than we sell beef.” It’s a trend that’s expected to continue in the coming years. 

“Some of it may be driven by climate… some of it will be driven by health decisions,” Erlinger said. “Ultimately, it’s going to be the consumer’s choice, but they seem to be leaning more towards chicken.”

If the Chicken Big Mac has a successful U.S. debut, does it have a shot at joining the permanent menu? Anything’s possible. McDonald’s has consistently pointed out that fans drive the conversation and help determine what should be on the menu at any given time (or what shouldn’t be, in the case of McDonald’s salads). So if you taste this sandwich and love it, you’d better shout it from the rooftops — an executive might just hear you.