13 McDonald’s Items from the ’90s That Deserve a Comeback
Take a delicious trip down memory lane with 13 forgotten McDonald’s menu items from the '90s that fans are still craving—and that deserve a triumphant comeback.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
The 1990s were a golden age of fast food innovation, and McDonald’s was not shy about going out on a limb with its offerings. From the adult-oriented Arch Deluxe to the fabled McPizza and the crunchy original fried apple pie, these now-vanished foods made their mark on a generation of snack enthusiasts. This retro list takes a look back at 13 of McDonald’s greatest lost creations that vanished too soon — and why they should make a comeback today.
1. Arch Deluxe
amirali mirhashemian from Unsplash
This “burger for adults” consisted of a quarter-pound beef patty, peppered bacon, leaf lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, and a unique Dijon mustard-mayo sauce on a potato roll. McDonald’s invested more than $100 million to promote it, one of the most costly fast food product introductions ever. It failed despite the hype, but its gourmet aspiration is still unparalleled.
2. McPizza
Chad Montano from Unsplash
In a bold effort to challenge pizza franchises, McDonald’s launched the McPizza in a limited number of restaurants. It was available in personal or family sizes and was quite good, with a dense crust and generous toppings. The lengthy cooking time was logistically cumbersome, but enthusiasts still recall its quick-service spin on a comfort food favorite.
3. Super Size Fries and Drinks
Mitchell Luo from Unsplash
Although technically retired in the early 2000s, this mega portion period defined the late ’90s fast food culture. McDonald’s had huge servings of fries and sodas, which were ideal to share (or not). Super Size was later withdrawn after the movie Super Size Me fueled public health debates, but fondness for the excess lingers.
4. McDLT (lettuce and tomato)
David Foodphototasty from Unsplash
Although technically released in the late ’80s, the McDLT lasted through the early ’90s and was well before its time. Wrapped in a double-compartment Styrofoam package, it separated the hot from the cool and maintained it until it could be assembled. Environmental concerns ruined its special packaging, but the creativity and taste were legendary.
5. Onion Nuggets
Brett Jordan from Unsplash
These bite-sized pieces of battered, fried onions were the forerunners of today’s blooming onions and onion petals. Brought briefly into the ’80s, they stuck around in some markets through the early ’90s. Unlike onion rings, however, these were bite-sized, shareable morsels with a satisfying crunch and sweet onion taste.
6. McStuffins (a.k.a. McStuffed Sandwiches)
Mae Mu from Unsplash
These pocket-style sandwiches were filled with pepperoni and cheese or chicken teriyaki. Made for eating on the run and designed for a lunch-on-the-go audience, they were an offbeat alternative to the usual burger menu. They never made it nationally, but their flavor-filled creativity gained them a cult following.
7. Fried Apple Pie (original recipe)
Diliara Garifullina from Unsplash
Prior to switching to the baked version in the ’90s, McDonald’s original fried apple pie had a crunchy, golden crust and sweet cinnamon-apple filling. The fried pie was loved for its crunchy bite and greasy splurge. Some international stores still offer it, testimony that some lovers never let go.
8. McLean Deluxe
Lefteris kallergis from Unsplash
Promoted as a healthier alternative to the burger, the McLean Deluxe employed a 91% fat-free beef patty, stabilized by seaweed extract (carrageenan). It was McDonald’s initial foray into low-fat fast food, capitalizing on the ’90s health trend. Although the flavor didn’t win over enough devotees, its trailblazing efforts should be acknowledged.
9. Triple Thick Milkshakes
Pranav Kumar Jain from Unsplash
These spoon-thick, ultra-creamy shakes were a staple of the ’90s menu and featured vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry classics. They were so rich that you sometimes needed to use a spoon to even take a bite. The recipe thinned out over the years, leaving devotees missing the original decadence.
10. Pizza McPuff (India-birthed but ’90s world wonder)
Pablo Pacheco from Unsplash
Although mostly recognized in McDonald’s India, the Pizza McPuff idea drifted around international markets during the ’90s as a test product. It was a crispy, hot pastry filled with cheese, vegetables, and zesty tomato sauce. A savory relative of the apple pie, it provided international flavor that many now long for.
11. Cheddar Melt
Fiona Calisti from Unsplash
This seasonal offering had a beef patty topped with warm cheddar cheese sauce and grilled onions on a rye bun. It was a hearty, rich flavor that made it a favorite when it appeared on the menu in limited quantities during the early ’90s. Its distinct flavor profile made it stand out from McDonald’s regular offerings.
12. McDonaldland Cookies
Jennifer Pallian from Unsplash
These shortbread-tasting cookies shaped like beloved McDonald’s mascots — Grimace, Hamburglar, Ronald, and the crew — were packaged in small paper boxes and were a childhood favorite among kids and adults. Plain, sweet, and interminably collectible, they disappeared quietly sometime in the early 2000s.
13. The Big N’ Tasty
Ilya Mashkov from Unsplash
Unveiled in 1997 as a rival to Burger King’s Whopper, the Big N’ Tasty included a seasoned beef patty, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mayo on a sesame seed bun. It was a decent middle-of-the-road option between the Big Mac and the Quarter Pounder. Although it lingered into the 2000s, being a ’90s product makes it a good throwback.