McDonald’s is reviving one of its most popular deals in an aggressive bid to win back budget-conscious customers — and this time, the discounts are deeper than ever.
For the first time since 2019, the fast-food giant announced the return of its Extra Value Meals, offering eight bundled breakfast, lunch, and dinner options priced roughly 15% lower than buying the items separately. The move comes as inflation continues to squeeze American wallets and competition among fast-food chains heats up.
“We know our customers are looking for ways to stretch their dollars,” said Danielle Marasco, a McDonald’s franchise owner and operator. “Bringing back Extra Value Meals reflects our commitment to making the menu items they love affordable for everyone in the communities we serve.”
Starting this week, customers can grab discounted bundles, including: Big Mac meal; 10-piece Chicken McNuggets meal; Quarter Pounder (original, bacon, or deluxe); McCrispy sandwich (original, deluxe, or spicy deluxe); Sausage McMuffin with Egg; Egg McMuffin; Sausage Egg & Cheese McGriddle; and Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit.
As part of the rollout, McDonald’s is also offering limited-time deep discounts — like a $5 Sausage McMuffin with Egg meal and an $8 Big Mac meal — with more special offers planned for November.
The decision comes after weeks of negotiations between McDonald’s corporate leaders and U.S. franchisees, sparked by concerns over soaring prices and growing backlash from customers who felt priced out of their go-to meals.
In 2024, viral reports claimed some McDonald’s locations were charging up to $18 for a Big Mac combo, prompting outrage online. McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger pushed back hard at the time, blaming “poorly sourced reports” for creating the perception of “runaway pricing.”
“Yes, you might find an $18 Big Mac meal in rare situations,” Erlinger said in a May 2024 note to customers, “but that is the exception — not the rule.”
Still, the company knows it’s fighting a perception problem. Competitors like Wendy’s and Burger King have been rolling out aggressive value menus, forcing McDonald’s to double down on its comeback strategy.
Earlier this year, McDonald’s launched a “McValue” menu featuring “Buy One, Add One for $1” deals across breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The company has also been leaning heavily into app-exclusive promotions to drive digital traffic, including: free medium fries every Friday with a $1 purchase; a free McCrispy chicken sandwich for new app users; and local franchisee-driven specials, like 20% off orders over $10.
The return of Extra Value Meals marks a major step in that broader plan to reclaim cost-sensitive customers without alienating franchisees struggling with rising labor and ingredient costs.
With minimum wage hikes driving up labor expenses in several states — particularly California — and lingering inflation affecting menu pricing, McDonald’s is walking a fine line: offer real value without hurting profitability.
“This is about keeping McDonald’s competitive,” said restaurant analyst Mark Kalinowski. “They’ve been under fire for prices lately, and this is their way of saying, ‘We hear you.’”
For now, McDonald’s hopes nostalgia meets necessity. The Extra Value Meals — once a staple of the chain’s identity — are back. Whether they can win over skeptical customers who’ve been flocking to cheaper options remains to be seen.
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