McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac is finally making its nationwide debut in Canada.
Can I get a Big Mac with chicken?
Yes. You can actually get a Big Mac with chicken. However, the poultry version of the classic McDonald’s burger is only available in select locations.
Instead of two beef patties, the Chicken Big Mac features two crispy tempura chicken patties, along with shredded lettuce, a slice of processed cheddar cheese, pickles, and the signature Big Mac sauce, all on a sesame seed bun. In Canada, the two chicken patties are made with 100% Canadian-raised seasoned chicken breast in a crispy, light-tasting coating.
The Chicken Big Mac will be available at select McDonald’s Canada locations for a limited time starting March 7th, 2023. The new variety of the Bic Mac can be ordered in-store or through the McDonald’s app at the Drive-Thru or via McDelivery.
“We know that Canadians have been hacking the Chicken Big Mac in creative ways over the years, eager to get their hands on the real thing,” said Alyssa Buetikofer, Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald’s Canada, in a press release announcing the launch of the chicken version of the Big Mac in the country. “To these guests, we love your passion and your hacking days are officially behind you: the Chicken Big Mac is finally here. But it’s only for a limited time, so try it while you can.”
In addition to McDonald’s Canada, the Chicken Big Mac has also been sold in McDonald’s Norway, McDonald’s United Kingdom, and McDonald’s United States. But in the U.S., it was only made available during a test run at select McDonald’s locations in Miami Florida.
Has the Chicken Big Mac been discontinued?
While the Chicken Big Mac has just kicked off its initial limited-time run in Canada, it’s not clear whether the menu item’s test run in the U.S., which started in August 2022, is still ongoing.
In February 2022, the Chicken Big Mac debuted at over 1,300 locations in the U.K. But McDonald’s U.K. had to remove the item from the menu just 10 days after its release due to its high demand. The abrupt removal of the menu item left some fans devastated as they hadn’t had the chance to try the burger yet. In response to requests to bring back the product, McDonald’s U.K. restored the Chicken Big Mac to its menu in March 2022, but only for the duration of two weeks.
What does the Chicken Big Mac taste like?
It’s not exactly clear whether versions of the Chicken Big Mac are the same in all countries. But according to journalist Irish Mae Silvestre who tried the sandwich in Canada in March 2023, the burger has all the textures you can think of.
The sesame seed bun is soft. The two chicken patties are lightly battered and crispy, while the shredded lettuce brings an added crunch. Silvestre described the Chicken Big Mac as “one messy sandwich,” as it is not easy to eat and requires the use of both hands to enjoy fully. Despite this, Silvestre still recommends the sandwich, calling it “a solid choice” the next time you find yourself at a McDonald’s.
On the other hand, Danielle Radin, an Emmy-winning journalist for CBS LA who tried the Chicken Big Mac in Norway back in August 2022, was not impressed by the sandwich.
“It was HORRIBLE,” she wrote in a tweet at the time. “It’s like they took two of their chicken nugs, made them bigger, and stuffed them in instead of the meat, it was a NIGHTMARE.”
How did the Big Mac get its name?
The original Big Mac was created by Jim Delligatti, a McDonald’s franchisee, in 1967. But it was actually a secretary who came up with the burger’s name.
The name of the menu item underwent extensive brainstorming before being finalized. Two other names that were considered were the Aristocrat and the Blue Ribbon Burger. Both names, however, were ultimately rejected.
Then a 21-year-old secretary named Esther Glickstein Rose, who worked for McDonald’s advertising department in 1967, proposed Big Mac. According to the Associated Press, the name was met with skepticism by executives and other employees, but it eventually stuck and became one of the most famous product names ever.
Despite this, Glickstein Rose had a hard time getting recognition for coining the name — even her own children didn’t believe her. But after persistently contacting the chain to receive credit for naming the sandwich, she was finally acknowledged for her contribution in 1985 with a plaque engraved with a Big Mac and a thank-you note.
Although she never requested or received any payment for naming the burger, McDonald’s lawyer Jeff Olian believed that Glickstein Rose deserved recognition for her role in naming the sandwich. “I felt that because of her perseverance all these years, the fact that it really is for her kids and the fact that, yes, indeed, she did play a role in naming the sandwich, we should recognize her,” said Olian at the time.