Skip to content

McDonald's McRib Is Officially Returning in November: Here's What We Know

The beloved (and sometimes detested) McRib makes its return only a year after its latest "Farewell Tour."
FACT CHECKED BY Justine Goodman

Less than a year has passed since McDonald's launched a "Farewell Tour" to send off the famous McRib—but the chain is already pulling the sandwich out of retirement.

That's right! The McRib is slated to return to make its grand return next month, McDonald's confirmed to Eat This, Not That! However, it will only be available for a limited time at select restaurants rather than nationwide, so only some lucky customers will be able to get their hands on the sandwich.

Last year marked the fourth time that McDonald's conducted a farewell tour to give the McRib one last hurrah before retiring it from menus. However, the chain seems incapable of fully letting go of the iconic seasonal item.

RELATED: Ex-McDonald's Chef Reveals Why They Will Never Serve Onion Rings

"It turns out not everyone was ready to say goodbye to the McRib after last year's Farewell Tour," McDonald's USA said in a statement. "While it won't be available nationwide, some lucky fans may find their favorite elusive saucy sandwich at their local McDonald's restaurants on November 15."

For the uninitiated, the McRib features seasoned boneless pork dipped in a tangy barbecue sauce, slivered onions, and dill pickles all sandwiched inside a toasted bun. The sandwich first hit menus in 1981, per CNN, and came back sporadically on either a regional or national basis in the decades following the debut.

It has proven to be quite the polarizing menu item over the years. Some think it's "junk food in its finest essence." Others say it's "gross" or "overrated." But in light of the news that the McRib is coming back next month, fans of the divisive sandwich were elated.

mcdonalds mcrib
McDonald's

 

"It's back. IT'S BACK," one fan wrote on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, in reaction to the news.

RELATED: 4 Fast-Food Chains Dietitians Stay Away From

"I sold my soul for the McRib to come back again, you're welcome," another posted.

On the other hand, many weren't taken aback at all that McDonald's couldn't stick with its decision to discontinue the McRib.

"Not surprising that one of the best fast-food items wouldn't go away forever," a fan wrote on Reddit.

While the McRib is coming back on a limited basis next month, it could still be quite some time before McDonald's brings it back nationwide. When the chain announced last year's farewell tour, it confirmed that the McRib wouldn't be sold nationally for a while following the promotion.

RELATED: Culver's Weirdest Burger is Coming Back

This isn't the only exciting McDonald's news to come out in recent days. The chain's wildly popular Spicy Chicken McNuggets also recently returned to menus, but only for a limited time. Additionally, the fast-food giant announced last week that it was launching two brand-new dipping sauces.

One of the new additions is a Sweet & Spicy Jam designed to slather on McDonald's breakfast sandwiches, billed as the first-ever McDonald's dipping sauce to take inspiration from the morning meal. The other new dipping option is Mambo Sauce, McDonald's take on the sweet and tangy condiment popular in the Washington D.C. area.

Zoe Strozewski
Zoe Strozewski is a News Writer for Eat This, Not That! A Chicago native who now lives in New Jersey, she graduated from Kean University in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. Read more about Zoe
Filed Under