McDonald’s Brings Back Unexpected Breakfast Items

Two once-popular breakfast sandwiches from McDonald’s are making a short-lived comeback in Michigan as part of a broader push to dominate the fast-food chicken market. McDonald’s has reintroduced two chicken breakfast sandwiches, namely, the McChicken Biscuit and the Chicken McGriddle, for a limited time this summer.

Knewz.com has learned that these menu items, featuring fried chicken on either a buttermilk biscuit or the brand’s signature maple griddle cake, were originally launched nationwide in early 2020.

The Return of McDonald’s McChicken Biscuit and the Chicken McGriddle

Despite their initial popularity, the McChicken Biscuit and the Chicken McGriddle were quietly removed from most U.S. locations during the post-pandemic menu streamlining that followed in the years after. Now, McDonald’s is giving these sandwiches a second chance, but only in Michigan and only until July 21. The move follows regional test runs in Florida, Kansas, and parts of Canada in 2024.

Each sandwich costs $2.50, although customers may find them in limited quantities as local outlets assess demand. The Chicken McGriddle, which sandwiches a breaded chicken patty between two syrup-infused pancake buns, has a legacy that predates its 2020 launch. A nearly identical version was once offered as the Southern Style Chicken Biscuit in select markets during the late 2000s, reflecting McDonald’s long-running interest in chicken-forward breakfast.

The Return is Part of the ‘Chicken For Breakfast’ Campaign

The return of the sandwiches is part of a broader campaign dubbed “Chicken For Breakfast,” which McDonald’s launched in Michigan this summer to boost morning sales and experiment with poultry options in a traditionally pork-dominated segment. “Our customers told us they wanted more chicken, more often — and especially at breakfast… We’re excited to bring two bold, flavorful choices that satisfy that craving in a big way,” said Mike Rodewald, a McDonald’s franchise owner in Michigan, in a public statement. The fast-food giant has gradually expanded its chicken offerings across all meal periods.

While sausage remains the staple for breakfast items nationwide, regional trials like this help McDonald’s gauge whether chicken could eventually become a core part of the morning menu on a larger scale.

Other Fast-Food Chains Lean into Chicken

McDonald’s reintroduction of its chicken breakfast sandwiches is just one piece of a broader trend across the industry. The company has been investing heavily in its chicken portfolio since 2021, when it debuted the Crispy Chicken Sandwich as a direct competitor to Popeyes and Chick-fil-A.

In May, McDonald’s expanded that initiative with the launch of McCrispy Strips. “We’re excited about the significant opportunity we see within our chicken portfolio… We see the potential to add another point of chicken market share by the end of 2026,” said McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski during the company’s April earnings call.

It is worth noting that other chains are making similar moves. For instance, Wendy’s continues to push its breakfast chicken sandwiches, while Taco Bell has added items like chicken nuggets, Crispy Chicken Tacos and more.

The History of McDonald’s Breakfast Menu

According to reports, McDonald’s, known today as the world’s most iconic burger chain, did not enter the breakfast game until three decades after its founding. Although the chain’s first location opened in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant in California, it was not until the early 1970s that breakfast items became part of the McDonald’s menu. It has been reported that in 1971, Jim Delligatti, a Pittsburgh-based franchise owner, secured permission from corporate to sell donuts and pastries during morning hours. The move revealed an untapped customer base, i.e., a steady stream of early patrons eager for quick breakfast options. That same year, McDonald’s began experimenting with “Continental Breakfast” options at select locations.

Around the same time, California franchisee Herb Peterson developed a new breakfast item, an English muffin sandwich with a fried egg, American cheese, and Canadian bacon, which would eventually be known as the Egg McMuffin. The sandwich’s success was immediate, and by 1975, the Egg McMuffin was officially introduced nationwide, becoming the cornerstone of what would grow into McDonald’s full breakfast menu.

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