Three Key Takeaways:
- McDonald’s is bringing back chicken tenders to its menu with the launch of McCrispy Strips, a permanent addition that fans are already raving about for their bold new black pepper flavor and crispy texture.
- The McCrispy Strips will be available with a variety of dipping sauces, including the new Creamy Chili, and will also be featured in the return of Snack Wraps, a popular menu item previously removed in 2016.
- McDonald’s has been listening to fan demand, with the company emphasizing that chicken has become a major focus of its menu innovation, and expects the McCrispy Strips to be a significant hit as part of its growing chicken portfolio.
McDonald’s is making some big changes to its menu this year.
The fast food giant is moving in a new direction.
And McDonald’s has a new menu item that has fans saying you can’t stop at one.
Chicken tenders are returning to McDonald’s menu
Chicken has become increasingly popular on fast food menus.
And chicken tenders are a longtime fan favorite.
Raising Cane’s and Zaxby’s have had explosive growth with a menu centered on chicken tenders.
McDonald’s debuted Chicken Selects in 2002, and these chicken fingers became a big hit.
They were pulled from the menu in 2013.
McDonald’s brought chicken tenders back in 2017 with its Buttermilk Crispy Tenders.
Stores ran out of them after they debuted after overwhelming demand from fans.
The Buttermilk Crispy Tenders were removed in 2020 in a bid to simplify the menu and operations during the pandemic.
McDonald’s is hoping that the third time will be the charm with chicken tenders.
McCrispy Strips are being rolled out nationally over the course of this year.
Some locations have already begun offering them.
McDonald’s said that McCrispy Strips will be a permanent addition to the menu.
This will be the first permanent addition to McDonald’s menu since the McCrispy Chicken Sandwich in 2021.
Fans will be able to get McCrispy Strips in three or four pieces with their choice of sauce.
A new Creamy Chili that’s “savory, sweet, and tangy” will be one of the dipping sauces along with ranch, spicy buffalo, and barbeque.
McDonald’s listens to its fans on chicken tenders
The fast food giant acknowledged that fans have been clamoring for the return of chicken tenders since they were pulled from the menu in 2020.
“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,” McDonald’s chief marketing and customer experience officer Alyssa Buetkofer said in a statement. “We took our time, listened to our fans, and created a product we knew they would crave.”
McCrispy Strips are going to be used for the return of another fan favorite to the McDonald’s menu.
Snack Wraps will wrap a McCrispy strip in a tortilla with lettuce, cheese, and a sauce.
That Snack Wrap was a cult favorite that was pulled from McDonald’s menus in 2016 because it took too long for employees to make.
McDonald’s said that McCrispy Strips are “made with juicy, 100% white meat, coated with crispy golden-brown breading and bursting with a bold, new black pepper flavor.”
Chicken has become one of the most popular choices on the menu in fast food.
Even Taco Bell has gotten in the game by making chicken nuggets a permanent addition to their menu.
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski told investors in February that chicken was going to be an important part of the menu moving forward.
“We’re excited about the significant opportunity we see within our chicken portfolio and see the potential to add another point of chicken market share by the end of 2026,” Kempczinski stated.
Chicken tender fans will finally be able to enjoy them again at the Golden Arches.
