Fresh find: McDonald's new Chicken Big Mac

McDonald's had a smash hit when the double-decker Big Mac sandwich made its debut at a Uniontown, Pennsylvania, franchise in 1967.

The 45-cent burger went national a year later, and its catchy "two all-beef patties ... " jingle in 1974 only added to the sandwich's popularity. Today, an estimated 550 million Big Macs are sold each year in the U.S.

So you might wonder: Why mess with success?

The answer, of course, is that menu innovation brings in new customers, especially when it's a limited-time offer that puts a creative spin on an iconic product.

This month, the burger giant debuted the Chicken Big Mac, and if the number of people asking for it at my local McDonald's is any indication, they've got another winner (and social media darling) on their hands.

The sandwich is exactly what it sounds like — the Big Mac we've known and loved for more than 50 years, only made with two (very thin) fried chicken patties instead of ground beef.

"With the introduction of the Chicken Big Mac, we're excited to pay homage to one of our most iconic menu items, the Big Mac, and introduce it to a whole new generation of fans," chief marketing and customer experience Officer Tariq Hassan said in a release announcing its debut on Oct. 10.

"By tapping into some of our fans' biggest passions from dupe culture to live-streaming, we're able to serve up more than just a sandwich."

Chicken only continues to grow in popularity as an alternative to beef, with Americans consuming a little over 100 pounds per capita in 2023. So you can't blame McDonald's for thinking customers would love it in their signature sandwich. Still, how does it stack up?

"Do you like chicken nuggets?" the drive-thru cashier asked when I sought advice on whether to order one. "That's what most people say they taste like."

Having just shared a couple McNugget Happy Meals with my grandkids, I have to say she was spot on.

While the sandwich's chicken patties are much thinner and a bit crispier than McNuggets, they feature the same ground all-white meat mixture and tempura-style exterior, and taste pretty much the same. So if you prefer the fatter, juicier chicken breast fillets featured in a McCrispy sandwich, you might be disappointed.

On the plus side: The Chicken Big Mac is built much like a regular Big Mac, with Secret Sauce, one slice of American cheese, shredded lettuce and crisp dill pickles in a club-style sesame seed bun. The only difference is they skipped the diced onion. If you want a true double-hander to satisfy the midnight or midday munchies, this is it.

Still, all I could taste on the first couple of bites was tangy-sweet Secret Sauce. There's a lot of it on this sandwich, maybe to make up for the fact the chicken is just a little bit dry? If you don't get a good grip, everything is going to slide around while you eat it.

While chicken as the protein is new, this isn't the first time the Big Mac's makeup has been altered. Previous Big Mac-inspired limited-edition sandwiches include the Double Big Mac featuring four patties that came out this past January. The Little Mac — basically a single patty cheeseburger with a big 'ol dollop of Big Mac Special Sauce — came out in 2020 and sold for just $2.29.

It also isn't its most significant upgrade. In 2023, McDonald's tweaked the cooking process for all of its burgers, including the Big Mac, to get hotter, meltier cheese on a softer bun and a better sear on the meat patties.

What, you ask, about nutrition? A lot of fast food is notoriously high in calories, saturated fat and salt and this hefty, messy sandwich is no exception. According to McDonald's, the Chicken Big Mac clocks in at 700 calories, or 110 more than a regular beef Big Mac. It also contains more fat (37 vs. 34 grams) and more sodium (1,410 vs. 1,050 mg).

Tested in international markets, including in the U.K., Australia, and Canada, the Chicken Big Mac was tested in roughly 50 restaurants in the Miami market in 2022 before heading to Pittsburgh. It will be available while supplies last at participating franchises for $5.39.

Was I glad I tried it? Sure. It's fun to try new things.

Would I get it again? Probably not. When it comes to McDonald's chicken, nothing beats a box of McNuggets.