McRib or McMid?

2–3 minutes

The McRib makes its return for 2025

The McRib at McDonald’s is a staple of the fall and winter season. Each holiday season, an entourage of McRib fans eagerly waits for that first bite, which consists of a ground pork patty shaped into a rack of ribs topped with barbecue sauce, onions, and pickles—all on a toasted bun.

But should McDonald’s bring back the McRib permanently? According to Retroist, the McRib was originally introduced in 1981 but discontinued in 1985 due to poor sales. McDonald’s tried to sell it as a new concept and pushed marketing with coupons, even offering free McRibs for people to try.

Recently, the McRib has been sold around November and December after McDonald’s brought it back in 2022 with the Farewell Tour—they advertised, “This could be your last bite.” Capitalizing on the new McRib hype, McDonald’s has sold it in 2023, 2024, and 2025.

The seasonal menu item drives customers who love it every year. Jacob Serrano (12) said, “I go to McDonald’s every year when the McRib is back.”

Some customers think that the McRib is only available for a limited time, but it will most likely be back next year. “I think that if McDonald’s did put the McRib back on the menu permanently, sales would be high for the first few months after release,” said Andrew Guerrero (12). “However, after that, the fans would be burnt out, and the McRib would lose its hype value.”

The patty of the McRib tastes different from any other burger, and the long shape of the burger also adds a unique form factor. The patty is made with pork instead of beef, and the burger is topped with onions and pickles instead of the usual lettuce. After all, mystery-meat slurry shaped like a rack of ribs and drowned in barbecue sauce could not be good. Cain Avila (12) said, “I love the McRib juices dripping down my face.”

A toasted, roll-shaped bun topped with onions sliced at exactly the right size and pickles to balance the savory patty, the McRib is a staple that comes back every year near the holidays, driving many customers to McDonald’s again and again.