The Chicken Cordon Bleu McMuffin
McDonald's might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think about brunch, but thanks to this secret menu superstar it could definitely be an option. The Chicken Cordon Bleu McMuffin is a genius hybrid of a couple of classics from different menus — the breakfast menu and the saver menu, combining an Egg McMuffin with a McChicken patty.
We love this combination of McDonald's menus, and the Chicken Cordon Blue McMuffin represents everything that is great about having secret intel! The best part? It will cost you less than 5 bucks.
The Big Mac 'N' Cheese
Let's be honest, the McDonald's menu heavily favors meat eaters, with only a handful of vegetarian options on offer. This is where the Big Mac 'N' Cheese comes in. Far superior to the Grilled Cheeseburger that you'll find on the regular menu, this take on the classic Big Mac will delight customers who are looking for the authentic meat-free McDonald's experience. Essentially, it's the Big Mac minus the patty, but the all-important burger sauce is the key ingredient here.
Simply order a regular Big Mac, but ask for it to be served without the beef patty. Also, be sure to ask politely if your sandwich can be rung up cheaper than the standard meat-filled version.
The Apple Pie McFlurry
As you can probably imagine, the Apple Pie McFlurry is one of the most popular items on McDonald's' secret menu. A combination of two of the fast food chain's most iconic dessert options, the mouth-watering hybrid contains a full pie slice blended into a famous McFlurry. This truly is a game-changing hack for anyone with a sweet tooth, as it's so often the case that we have to decide between the two!
To get your hands on this secret sweet treat, order an Apple Pie and a McFlurry separately, then ask your server if they can blend the pie into the ice cream to make a Pie McFlurry.
The All-American Burger
Do you want to show off your patriotism while dining out? Then the McDonald's All-American burger is the secret menu item for you. The custom sandwich is simple yet effective, comprising of a beef patty with pickles and ketchup inside of a trademark bun. The All-American is the ideal choice for those who fancy a break from processed cheese and it's light enough to be enjoyed as a quick snack.
All you have to do is ask for the All-American burger and your McDonald's server should know exactly what you're after. If not, just spell out the components of the sandwich and they'll take care of the rest.
The Mc10: 35
One for McDonald's connoisseurs, the Mc10:35 is possibly one of the most difficult secret menu items to get your hands on. Named after the short window between 10:30 and 11:00 in which both the breakfast menu and regular menu are available to customers, the Mc10:35 is a hybrid of the beloved Egg McMuffin and a chunky McDouble Burger, with the McDouble patties added to the breakfast favorite to get your day off to a winning start.
Plenty of McDonald's staff will understand what the Mc10:35 is, but if they don't then this is a relatively easy DIY job. This secret brunch beast is also a steal at only $3.50.
The McGangbang
Without a doubt, the most NSFW item on the McDonald's secret menu is the risque-named McGangbang. It's also one of the best value for money, costing a very affordable $2. The McGangbang is a DIY combination of two Dollar Menu classics, the McDouble and the McChicken. The chicken burger is placed right in the middle of the McDouble, buns and all, to create a juicy hybrid with serious bang for your buck.
This famous secret menu item is easy to request and even easier to create. Just order the two Dollar Menu burgers and put them together. You'll probably want to order a drink to wash it all down with.
McDonalds Fries With Big Mac Sauce
One of the ironies of McDonald's is that their best sauce is the one they don't actually serve as a sauce. Sure, the sweet chili sauce is pretty good and the barbeque sauce never lets you down, but the Big Mac sauce is where it's at! If you're a Big Mac fan then you'll know this already, so take a chance on asking your server for a side of Big Mac sauce with your fries.
This secret menu classic is pretty easy to get hold of, and it's usually free as well. Occasionally you might have to pay $0.50 for it, but trust us, it's worth it.
The Monster Mac
If you're feeling like a challenge, the Monster Mac is the secret menu item for you. Essentially a Big Mac on steroids, the Monster Mac includes 8 — yes, 8 — beef patties. As well as the extra meat, you can also request an additional 8 slices of cheese. It's worth saying that this shouldn't be an everyday option but could be a fun challenge to take on when with friends or when you're genuinely ravenous.
Simply ask your server for a Monster Mac with 8 patties (or as many as you can handle) and they should be able to build it for you accordingly. Good luck!
The 2 Cheeseburger Meal
The 2 Cheeseburger Meal is one of the old-school classic secret menu items, so many of you might already be familiar with it. A regular Cheeseburger Meal always hits the spot — the no-frills, yet still, unmatched cheeseburger comes with a side of fries and a choice of drink. Now imagine that meal with an extra burger thrown in for good measure! We know that you can't wait to get your hands on that.
So, what's the hack? Next time you're at a McDonald's, simply as the server for a 2 Cheeseburger Meal from the secret menu and see what happens. You might just double your luck.
The McBrunch Burger
As you can tell from the photo, this burger isn't one for the faint-hearted! But hey, brunch is often the time of day when we need something hearty, and the McBrunch Burger certainly fits the bill. A combination of the Jalapeno Double from McDonald's' regular menu and crunchy hash browns and round egg from the breakfast list, this homemade whopper is arguably one of the best hangover cures known to man.
If the kick from the jalapeno is too much for you — perhaps your stomach is feeling a little delicate — then the McBrunch Burger also works with a Bacon McDouble as the base.
The Big McChicken
Let's be honest, when it comes to chicken, McDonald's struggles to hold a candle to fellow fast food favorite, Kentucky Fried Chicken. To be fair to the golden arches, chicken isn't its core offering - unlike KFC. However, this item from McDonald's' secret menu might just rival anything its competitor is offering across the way. The Big McChicken replaces the sesame seed buns of a standard Big Mac, retaining all of the original fillings.
This twist on a classic is a meat lover's dream and its high percentage of protein is bound to keep you feeling full for a long time. Simply add 3 McChickens in place of the buns in your Big Mac.
Cinnamon Melt a La Mode
Talk about a sweet treat! The Cinnamon Melt a La Mode is one of the more creative items on McDonald's' secret menu, which combines two already delicious dessert options to make a hybrid from heaven. The Cinnamon Melts from the All Day Breakfast Menu form the basis of this combo, with a scoop of soft-serve vanilla ice cream (with or without a cone) from the dessert menu added on top.
This is the ideal sharing dessert since it's incredibly sweet. Perfect for a date, perhaps? Not only will you show off your impressive secret menu knowledge, but it will only set you back 3 dollars.
The McCrepe
If you're in the mood for a slightly lighter, sweeter start to the day, the classic McCrepe could be right up your street. A secret menu favorite, the McCrepe is simple but effective — you add a Yoghurt Parfait to a McDonald's Hotcake, fold, and enjoy. This may be a secret menu classic, but the McCrepe isn't an item that your server will be able to put together, so be prepared to go homemade.
You'll need to order the parfait and hotcakes separately, but the great thing about this is that you can create as many McCrepe's as you like. Share with friends or just have them all to yourself!
An Egg Added To Your Burger
Who wouldn't want an egg added to their burger? That mouth-watering first bite but made even better by the moist richness of a trademark McDonald's round egg. Delicious. Thankfully, the All Day Breakfast menu is now available so those in the know can exploit the system for unlimited eggy goodness! McDonald's offers round eggs, folded eggs, and scrambled eggs, so any of these can be added to a burger at your request.
While this isn't a free hack, it's totally worth the extra couple of dollars to take your burger to the next level. The ideal hangover cure? Yep, we think so.
The Poor Man's Big Mac
The Poor Man's Big Mac is one of the smartest secret menu hacks out there. Not only does this creation save on calories, but it'll also save your pocket too. Removing the middle slice of bread and the second slice from a standard Big Mac will leave you with a leaner option and take the cost from around 4 dollars to just $1.50, hence the name Poor Man's Big Mac.
To get your hands on the Poor Man's Big Mac, ask your server for a McDouble with lettuce and Big Mac sauce instead of ketchup and mustard. Thank us later!
The Caramel Apple Sundae
Do you have fond memories of visiting the country fair and tasting the various sweet treats on offer? If so, then this secret menu hack is for you. Helping recreate that nostalgic experience, the Caramel Apple Sundae is the standard McDonald's Hot Caramel Sundae (including nuts) with added apple chunks. The apple provides added crunch to the texture of the sundae and is a surefire hit for anyone craving something sweet.
If you're polite, this secret dessert shouldn't cost you anything extra, either. Simply ask your server if they can add a few apple chunks to your Hot Caramel Sundae. Enjoy!
The Land, Sea, and Air Burger
Not for the faint-hearted, McDonald's' Land, Sea, and Air Burger is one of the chunkiest items on the secret menu, combining beef (land), fish (sea), and chicken (air) patties, stuffed in between as many buns as you can handle. This meat lover's dream is an excellent option for when a Big Mac isn't big enough — you can even add fries on the side if you're feeling like a proper challenge.
As far as ordering goes, the Land, Sea, and Air Burger is a bit of a DIY job. Order a Big Mac (or McDouble), Filet-O-Fish, and a McChicken separately and assemble yourself. We hope you're feeling hungry!
The McKinley Mac
One of the most sought-after secret menu items, the McKinley Mac is particularly popular among meat lovers as it packs a protein punch like no other. Essentially a bulked-up Big Mac, the McKinley Mac replaces standard beef patties with quarter-pound patties, adding some extra beef — literally and figuratively — to a classic. If you're a Big Mac fan, but find the patties get dominated by the buns, salad, and sauce, then this one's for you.
One of the reasons the McKinley Mac is so famous is its scarcity. At present, it's only available at restaurants in Alaska, so customers elsewhere will need to get creative and build it themselves.
The Chicken McGriddle
The Chicken McGriddle is such a popular item on the McDonald's secret menu that it has even been added to the regular menu in parts of the southeastern United States. Talk about listening to customer feedback! Anyone who has tasted this secret classic will understand why, as it takes the standard McGriddle to a new level with the addition of a succulent McChicken patty to compliment the bacon and egg, wedged between two cakes.
Plenty of McDonald's staff members will be familiar with this secret menu favorite, so simply order a Chicken McGriddle. If not, ask for a McChicken patty in between two McGriddle cakes.
The Orange Creamsicle
A fun twist on the McDonald's Dessert Menu, the Orange Creamsicle is a reduced-fat vanilla soft-serve ice cream with a splash of Orange Hi-C from the soda fountain. An easy way to add some extra flavor to the classic ice cream, the Orange Creamsicle shouldn't cost you any more than a standard soft-serve, so long as you're polite. Order the ice cream and ask your server if it's okay to add a spray of soda to it.
If not, simply order an additional small soda and add a splash to your ice cream yourself. This option is pricier, but at least you'll have a free refill to take home with you!
Hash Browns McMuffin
Can you think of a McDonald's breakfast without hash browns? Us neither. This seemingly innocuous potato-based snack can satisfy a morning craving like no other, so adding one to a classic McMuffin is what breakfast dreams are made of. Even better is that this secret menu item is available all day, every day thanks to the McDonald's All Day Breakfast Menu, to which both parts of this hybrid belong.
Coming in at under 3 bucks, this secret menu classic can either be ordered directly or you can create it yourself. However you choose to get hold of one, it'll be one of the tastiest decisions you make that day!
McDonalds Dipping Sauces
Not exactly a McDonald's secret menu item, more like an insider hack, the range of dipping sauces is seldom taken advantage of — mainly because most people don't know they all exist! Ketchup, Mayo, and BBQ sauce are commonplace, and servers tend to throw these onto your tray or into your takeaway bag as standard, but you can also get your hands on the following: Sweet and Sour, Spicy Buffalo, Sweet Chili, Honey Mustard, Chipotle BBQ, Tangy BBQ, Hot Mustard, and Creamy Ranch.
This list is something of a game-changer, so be sure to note it down before your next trip to McDonald's. The best thing about these secret sauces? They're absolutely free!
Portuguese Sausage McMuffin W/ Egg
If you're from Hawaii or happen to be visiting anytime soon, then this secret menu item is a hack you need. For no additional cost, diners in Hawaiin McDonald's restaurants can ask to swap out the standard sausage patty of a regular Sausage McMuffin with Egg for a flavorsome Portuguese Sausage Slice. The Portuguese sausage is the real star of this secret item, bringing some spice to a beloved classic.
Simply order a Sausage McMuffin with Egg and ask your server to replace the standard sausage with the Portuguese version. You'll be craving this version throughout the rest of the US, believe us!
McDonald's Milk Tea
Even though McDonald's hasn't yet capitalized on the popularity of milk tea, this clever hack will help you get your hands on one when you next visit the fast food chain. All you have to do is order sweet tea and ask for extra creamer, ideally two or three. Slowly stir the creamer into the tea and you'll soon have your very own McDonald's version of the delicious drink.
To make things a little more interesting, ask your server for a half-cut sweet tea with a pump of hazelnut syrup, then add at least three creamers to the mix. Enjoy!
Spam McMuffin With Egg
Another Hawaiian gem, the Spam McMuffin with Egg is a secret twist on the sausage version of the same name. Locals of Hawaii consume lots of spam so it only makes sense that McDonald's offers it on the island. Most servers will be familiar with this request, so it shouldn't be a problem getting hold of one. If they're unfamiliar, just ask for a Sausage McMuffin with spam in place of the sausage.
It's incredible how many secret menu items there are exclusive to Hawaii. Clearly, the fast food chain values its customers there and they're always going the extra mile to give the locals what they want.
McDonald's Saimin
Another secret menu item found exclusively in Hawaii, McDonald's added Saimin to their menu in the late 1960s — the first local "ethnic" dish ever added to a menu. Saimin is a noodle soup native to Hawaii and, similar to Japanese ramen, is a soup with egg noodles served in a hot broth with fish cake, barbecued pork, and seaweed. While Saimin isn't on the regular menu, you should be able to order it in Hawaiian chains.
Along with Saimin, Hawaii has other unique items on its McDonald's menu, including the Portuguese sausage we mentioned earlier. It's hardly like you need an excuse to visit Hawaii, but this is certainly one of them!
The Oreo Caramel Fudge McFlurry
Lovers of the iconic McDonald's McFlurry will be salivating at the prospect of an improved version of the dessert, but as you can tell by the name this is exactly that. Oreo McFlurries are already delicious, and this secret menu item adds caramel on the bottom and fudge on top, taking the creamy sweetness to a new level. The two additions make the McFlurry an even more exciting prospect that usual.
The only downside of this secret hack is that you'll have to pay slightly more for the extra fudge and caramel, but we think it's definitely worth the added cost.
The Root Beer Float
The Root Beer Float is such an iconic and popular secret menu item that it's odd McDonald's hasn't added it to their regular menu by now. A nostalgic dessert option, the Float consists of a Root Beer from the soda fountain with a scoop of vanilla ice cream added to create a refreshingly sweet treat. The fizz created by the ice cream when it's dropped into the cup will take you back to your childhood!
The Root Beer Float is so popular that most staff members will understand what you mean when you order it, but if not, simply ask for some ice cream in your root beer.
Buffalo Ranch Fries
One of the standout features of the McDonald's secret menu is creativity. All of these items appear thanks to the creativity of customers who want more from their meal and imagine clever ways of inventing — or re-inventing — classics. The Buffalo Ranch Fries are a great example of this. To get your own, first order a portion of regular fries with one cup of ranch dressing and one cup of spicy Buffalo sauce.
Pour your fries out of their holder and into the paper bag, add the dressings, and give the bag a good shake. What you'll have is some nicely coated Buffalo Ranch Fries!
The Strawberry Eggnog Shake
Are you feeling festive? You certainly will be after tasting this Christmassy classic off the secret menu. The Strawberry Eggnog Shake is only available during December, so make sure you give it a go during this time of year. The Eggnog Shake is served up by McDonald's on its regular menu, and you can add a sweet, strawberry taste to it by requesting a 50/50 split of eggnog and strawberry shake.
In fact, if you've got a sweet tooth during the holiday season then you can try out the same mix but with chocolate, banana, or vanilla. It's all we want for Christmas...
The Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich
While this secret menu item isn't especially exclusively native to McDonald's, it's a clever twist on a couple of dessert menu items that make for a naughty treat. The Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich is a McFlurry (of your choice) spread between two chocolate chip cookies. This is a fun DIY creation and is sure to be enjoyed by anyone with a sweet tooth. Just be sure to catch the crumbs when your cookie crumbles!
There are plenty of ways to build your sandwich too. If you want to maximize the amount of McFlurry you have, use only one cookie at a time and spread nice and thick!
The Chicken Big Mac
Have you ever sat in McDonald's, but kind of wished you were in Popeye's or KFC? Perhaps your friends had the final say on which fast food spot you were eating at? Well, worry not. You can turn a McDonald's icon into a chicken lover's dream by ordering a Chicken Big Mac. To build this poultry delight, order two plain Chicken Sandwiches and ask for some Big Mac sauce on the side.
Then, remove the top bun from your first sandwich, pour in some Big Mac sauce inside, and then stack your second sandwich on top. There you have it, a chicken twist on a McDonald's icon!
The Land And Air Burger
There's no denying that McDonald's is strongest in the beef department. Sure, they offer the Fillet-O-Fish and a couple of chicken options, but it can sometimes feel like these other meats are an afterthought. Well, why not have the best of both by creating a Land And Air Burger? All you need to do is add a McChicken Sandwich to a regular beef burger and you'll have a double delight.
One of the bonus benefits of this creation is its low cost. A humble hamburger can be found on the Dollar Menu, and a McChicken Sandwich won't break the bank either.
Neapolitan Ice Cream Shake
Some McDonald's secret menu items are so complicated, you wonder if they're worth the hassle. Others, however, are so simple that you'll be asking yourself why you haven't tried them before. The Neapolitan Ice Cream Shake is very much the latter, as it barely takes any effort to get hold of. The shake is simply a combination of three classic milkshake flavors — chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, all mixed together.
All you need to do is ask your server for a regular or large shake with the three different flavors. Sure, it won't be much to look at, but the taste is definitely worth it.
Vanilla Espresso Milkshake
If you're looking for a dessert with a caffeine kick, look no further than the Vanilla Espresso Milkshake on the secret menu. Italians will be familiar with this combination as it's kind of the McDonald's version of an affogato — espresso coffee poured over vanilla ice cream. Simply order a plain vanilla ice cream and a single espresso shot, pour the coffee over the ice cream, and enjoy, either with a spoon or sipped.
You can get creative with the Vanilla Espresso Milkshake depending on your personal taste and how much of a buzz you require. Feeling tired? Opt for a double espresso shot.