The McRib Return has started at McDonalds and they are now starting their advertising push in advance of the McRib returning. It appears that this year the theme is more of a throwback to the original Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer stop motion movie. While some locations have already started offering the McRib, McDonalds is advertising the official kickoff will be December 3rd at participating locations. See our map for the latest.
Enjoy the latest jingle on YouTube, which again is alike the stop motion holiday specials of the past.
How you can help
If you find the McRib, please drop a report on our map. If you purchase the sandwich, please send us a receipt showing the date, store, and price of the McRib sandwich at your location so that we can mark your report as confirmed. Thank you in advance!
Here is the latest McRib News for October 11, 2024. The McRib Returns with a new option in one market, the UK release date is set, and we have more information about the US release date.
McRib Returns in Guatemala
Guatemala likes to get ahead of the US on the McRib release, and has done some again this year. As has been the case the past few years, they have three variations on the McRib. New for this year, they have replaced the Jalapeño McRib with a Pineapple McRib! Also back are the classic McRib and the Bacon McRib.
The McRib is part of a “Western” theme this year, with a Texas Omelet breakfast sandwich on the menu too. This actually appears to be a throwback to the US campaign from the 80’s. Here is a photos from the 80’s US promotion.
McRib Return date set for UK Customers
The METRO out of the UK has confirmed that the McRib will be returning to customers there on October 16th, 2024. This was also teased in a recent promo video on the McDonalds UK YouTube page. They are continuing with their “accidental” release as was the strategy used with the “test” text messages sent out earlier this year.
McRib Return date for US Customers more certain
The Springfield News-Leader is reporting that the McRib will return in the Missouri US market on November 27th. This falls in line with what we found recently when sampling the US stores for release availability. Expect the US to see a soft release leading up to the 27th release. Just in time for Thanksgiving!
The 2024 McRib Spain season is underway! The McRib was added to menus on June 20, 2024 and much content was add to the McDonalds site. I have grabbed some of this content in the gallery below.
It appears that there is a strong push to show fans enjoying the McRib as opposed to promotional material we see elsewhere that tends to focus more on the McRib itself. One notable difference with the McRib in Spain is the lack of pickles included on the sandwich. Otherwise, it appears that the McRib in Spain is alike that we see as the “traditional” offering.
UPDATE (7/13):
The McRib offering in Spain now features a McRib with cheese and bacon! Would you try this?
McRib option with cheese and bacon
Based on the advertising materials, it appears the McRib will be on the menu in Spain through August! The McRib was last in Spain in 2019.
It has been a few years, however the McRib has finally returned to Australia! We were first tipped off to the return from a fan named Jan who provided the following teaser image that was being used in Australia.
To no surprise, one of the McRib options is the “traditional” McRib.
2023 Australia McRib
However a unique option being offered is the McRib Deluxe.
2023 Australia McRib Deluxe
As noted, the Deluxe brings in their cream McChicken sauce, cheese, tomato, and lettuce to top the traditional McRib. We do hear from fans that add each of these ingredients to their sandwiches, however not all on the same order. This has some resemblance to the McRibs offered in Japan and the Philippines in past years.
We have the ingredients available, would you be willing to try one while McRibs are available at participating US locations?
We are now reaching the final days of the 2022 McRib release season in the US based on the advertised November 20th marketing completion date. At this point in the season, components of the sandwich start to run out. Stores are left to find creative ways to deliver some form of the McRib. We have our first reported incident from Danny P where his McRib was served on a hamburger bun. While better than no McRib, these late season builds are always entertaining to see. If you find a “last chance” McRib build, please share your photo with us. It may be interesting to others to see how each stores solves this problem.
Danny P sent us this photo of a McRib offered on a hamburger bun
Merchandise
The McDonalds McRib merchandise sale arrived and sold out of all products very rapidly. November 15th those lucky enough to make purchases are seeing shipping details being sent. Personally, my order shows an arrival of November 19th. This gives me under a day to show off my McRib related items before the McRib is gone from menus for the year.
Creative McRib Builds
We asked on Facebook for some unique McRib customizations, and here are a a few of the responses we received.
Mike Peters and the McRib PizzaJoey Ferrigno McRib With BaconJason Long Spicy Chicken McRibJaime Ortega McRib With American CheeseGreg Oreiro McRib With Onion RingsAndre Moberg McHappyFamily : McChicken, Filet-O-Fish, 2 Burgers, and a McRibNikölai Suszczewicz McRib MacTitu Doan Double McRibSean Sanchez McRib Egg Sandwich
Looking to 2023 in the US Market
There are a lot of questions regarding if the McRib will be leaving US Markets forever as the current marketing would suggest. Some conversations have suggested the issue is that the McRib sauce is hard to maintain. Some store managers have said from the start that they were certain this was the end, while others say it is unlikely to be the case. I still am leaning toward next year the McRib will return. However, I think the 2023 release may be a more limited scale of stores offering the sandwich.
Globally
It appears that now Germany and Malta are the only other global markets where the McRib is still available. While the McRib is on a farewell tour in the US, there is no indications it will be leaving menus in Germany. Perhaps an uptick in flights to Germany will be noted if the McRib does not return in the US for 2023.
How you can help
As we close in on the end of the 2022 season, please be on the lookout for the McRib. With the potential for a limited, or perhaps no, release next year, some fans are going to really want to grab a last McRib meal. If you find the McRib, please drop a report on our map. If you purchase the sandwich, please send us a receipt showing the date, store, and price of the McRib sandwich at your location. Thank you in advance!
The US McRib release day is here! During lunch and dinner hours, fan should now be able to find a McRib at most if not all US locations. We have already had confirmations in 47 states, and reports in all 50. McDonald’s is advertising the McRib will be on menus through November 20th, 2022. We will be looking for your help late November to find locations still with availability so fans can grab one more McRib before the season completes.
Many locations this season have had more of a stealth release. These locations have no McRib related advertising space on menu boards, no advertising on windows, and only available upon request. With the nationwide release today we should see the McRib shown in the mobile app, store kiosks, and advertised. While not uncommon for the McRib to have a more quiet arrival for a few days, I can not recall so many locations quietly preparing the McRib for such a prolonged period ahead of the release date.
Facebook advertisement photo2022 McDonald’s Webpage listing for the McRib2022 McDonald’s sandwich detail for the McRib
As noted earlier, McDonalds is advertising this season that this is a “Farewell Tour” for the McRib. Through conversations with fans reporting the McRib (thank you!) we know that not all locations are promoting this “Farewell Tour”. At some locations the store manager is certain this is the end of the McRib. At other locations the managers do not think that this can truly be the end. A suspicion I have is that this could indicate that next season we MIGHT see a more limited release as we have had in the past. Time will tell!
If you have not yet watched, there is a viral video on YouTube where a McDonald’s employee shows how the McRib is prepared at stores. It is an interesting video of what goes on behind the scenes at stores. The process is not all that surprising, and follows the same process burgers at McDonald’s use other than the rest in sauce at the end. One difference in preparation compared to the past appears to be with the BBQ sauce at assembly time. Today it appears the McRib patty is submerged in the BBQ sauce before serving, however in the past you would see the McRib patty flipped in the BBQ sauce multiple times when being served.
Globally
It does not appear much has changed since our last update. McRibs appear to still be on the menus in Germany, Malta, Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. The one change is that it appears the McRib is still available in Guatemala if you order with their mobile app. We had earlier thought that they had ran out of McRibs as they had removed their promotional material about the McRib from their webpage.
How you can help
As we get closer to the release date, please be on the lookout for the McRib and report the return when it is on menus in your area. We know that the locations that are first to offer the McRib are generally the first to see it go. It is much appreciated having help from fans like you to help other fans find the sandwich. If you find the McRib, please drop a report on our map, and then if you purchase the sandwich please send us a receipt showing the date, store, and price of the McRib sandwich at your location.
