10 Best McDonald’s Menu Items Ever

Best McDonald's Menu Items

When it comes to iconic fast food brands, McDonald’s stands above them all. The company has been around since 1940 and over its 80+ years has developed some of the most well-known menu items ever.

Let’s take a look at the rankings of the best offerings that have ever graced the McDonald’s menu when on a trip to the Golden Arches.

10. Spicy McCrispy

If you want to stay in the fast food game you have to step it up with the flavors. Kick it up a notch, so to speak. And that’s what McDonald’s did with the spicy version of the McCrispy sandwich which ranks among the best things they’ve ever put on the menu. You get the breaded chicken patty, but it’s got that heat to it which adds a bit more of a punch. Through in the spicy mayo sauce and it’s easy to see why this ranks in the top 10.

9. Apple Pie

While not as iconic as some of the famous names on this list, the McDonald’s apple pie has been around for as long as almost anything else on the menu. It comes out warm, the flaky pastry tastes great and the apple filling puts it over the top. Make this a go-to, if you haven’t already when finishing off a meal.

8. Chicken McNuggets

Now we’re talking. The Chicken McNuggets came around in the early 80s and were a near-instant hit. They’ve remained near the top of the McDonald’s menu ever since, coming in the famed 10-piece variety that still rings out today. There’s fierce debate around the best dipping sauce (answer: it’s sweet and sour) and this has been a favorite of adults and kids alike.

7. Quarter Pounder with Cheese

If you are from across the pond you might call this a Royale with Cheese, but here in the States, we are taking the .25 pounds of all-beef patty to the bank. Melted cheese, pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard all combine for one of the Golden Arches’ signature items, having been on the menu for more than 50 years now.

6. McFlurry

McDonald’s has a solid soft-serve ice cream game and the McFlurry leads the pack in terms of signature menu items for desserts. Feel free to add Oreo cookies, M&M’s, or caramel as a topping or just play it straight. In terms of McDonald’s menu items, this one is relatively new (within the last 25 years) but it’s become popular for good reason.

5. Egg McMuffin

Breakfast time baby. Over the years, the fast food chain has become a popular place for the morning commuter crowd because of the speed and consistency of the offerings. A big part of this is the Egg McMuffin which came on the scene in 1971, combing eggs, bacon, cheese on top of an English muffin. In terms of name-brand recognition, the McMuffin is right up there.

4. McChicken

Two versions of the McChicken make this list because, well, McDonald’s does chicken pretty well (all things considered). This is the original sandwich that came along in the 80s, putting a chicken patty, lettuce, and sauce onto a bun for a simple, yet tasty, meal go-to. This is one of the best deals on the menu and has stuck around for decades because of it.

3. Filet-O-Fish

Didn’t expect to see this one this high, did you? While not known as a seafood stop-off, the Filet-O-Fish has stuck on the McDonald’s menu since the early 1960s because there is a core group of customers who keep coming back for more. It’s got the breaded fish patty, the tartar sauce and there’s a slice of cheese thrown on top for good measure.

2. French Fries

For the final two McDonald’s menu options, we are going to the old faithfuls of their core offerings. The French Fries have been around as long as the brand itself, with a signature style and taste that many put on the top of the fast food side dish pyramid. The iconic red box or the simple white bag tells you all you need to know about what you are getting here. 

1. Big Mac

The McDaddy of them all. The Big Mac has been around since the late 1960s and might be the most recognize and iconic fast food menu item ever created. It’s got two beef patties, the special sauce and all the fixings. McDonald’s used to say, “hold the pickles, hold the lettuce, special orders don’t upset us,” but you’re undoubtedly going with the Big Mac straight up these days. This sandwich basically *is* the McDonald’s brand.