Review: The Chicken Big Mac Is A Pleasantly Surprising Twist To An Old Favorite

McDonald's rolled out its brand new Chicken Big Mac across the country on October 10, marking the first time that the fast food chain has introduced a poultry twist on its staple Big Mac burgers in the United States. Big Macs have been around for almost 50 years, since 1967, and have remained one of the most popular fast food sandwiches throughout the United States. Today, however, a new competitor steps into the proverbial ring. Foodie tried the McDonald's Chicken Big Mac on the day of its release, comparing the new sandwich to both the traditional all-beef Big Mac and another similar chicken sandwich on the menu, the Deluxe McCrispy. 

We break down what makes the new Chicken Big Mac unique and how it compares to other items on the McDonald's menu in taste, value, and nutrition. If you're chicken curious or a Big Mac maniac, check out what we thought about these fast food sandwiches before placing your next order. 

The McDonald's Chicken Big Mac is more or less exactly what it sounds like. The fast food giant takes its classic favorite, the Big Mac, and replaces the traditional all-beef patties with chicken. The new sandwich includes two large tempura-battered chicken patties, unlike the McCrispy chicken sandwich, which features fried tender-like filets. The patties in the new sandwich are surprisingly thick, and the tempura breading almost resembles the outside of a giant chicken nugget. (Did you know McDonald's isn't the inventor of the fabulous McNugget?) 

Besides the choice of protein, the other main difference between the Chicken Big Mac and its red meat predecessor is the lack of onions. This chicken version omits them but keeps the special Big Mac sauce, lettuce, melty cheese, pickles, and sesame seed bun. The third bun sitting snug right in the middle of the sandwich helps keep it all together, while the sturdy white-meat chicken is satisfyingly thick and has a nice crunchy exterior. 

A press release from McDonald's states that the Chicken Big Mac is available only for a limited time. Nowhere does the company hint at how long we can expect it to remain on menus across the United States. That most likely depends on how many of the new sandwiches McDonald's sells in the next month or so. The Chicken Big Mac first hit select markets several years ago as a trial run in other countries, including Ireland and the U.K., before making its first appearance in the United States. In 2022, Miami was the first city to taste the new McDonald's sandwich for a short run. 

Promotional McFlurries, which recently saw a packaging upgrade along with all of the chain's McFlurries, usually stay on the menu for about six to eight weeks, according to McDonalds. That timeframe would bring us right into the holidays, when McDonald's is likely to come out with a few seasonal items. (And if you're a regular at the Golden Arches, be sure to check out the McDonald's hacks you wish you knew sooner.) 

When the Chicken Big Mac is eventually replaced, though, McDonald's is expected to drop some new poultry picks in its place. "Chicken is a major growth category for us," Wayne Kuhl, senior manager of proteins for McDonald's U.S., tells People magazine. "We're going to continue to pursue within that category."  

The Chicken Big Mac has a whopping 700 calories. That's significantly more than both the classic Big Mac at 590 calories and the Deluxe McCrispy at 530 calories. The new sandwich also contains a lot more carbs than the ones that came before it, with 61 grams of carbohydrates. The Deluxe McCrispy has 48 grams of carbs, while the Big Mac has 46 grams. 

McDonald's Chicken Big Mac is similar in fat content to the classic Big Mac, almost matching at 37 grams and 34 grams, respectively. The McCrispy Chicken Sandwich, seemingly the most "healthy" of the three, contains way less fat at 26 grams while also boasting 27 grams of protein compared with the 25 grams found in the other two sandwiches. Sodium content is also worth calling out, since the Chicken Big Mac has 1,410 milligrams of sodium, which is 61% of your daily recommended value. The classic Big Mac and Deluxe McCrispy aren't much better, with each containing 1,050 milligrams of sodium.

The Chicken Big Mac is slightly less offensive in cholesterol than the others. It contains 60 milligrams in comparison to the Big Mac's 85 milligrams and the 65 milligrams in the Deluxe McCrispy. Still, none of these sandwiches is a great choice if you have dangerously high cholesterol levels. 

Like all of McDonald's products, the cost of the Chicken Big Mac will vary depending on your location across the country. In Los Angeles, expect to pay a premium price of $6.29 for the sandwich alone. In El Paso, Texas, it costs $5.99. You can find it for a bit cheaper in Indianapolis, Indiana, where it's priced at $4.59. 

The Chicken Big Mac meal, which comes with a medium-sized french fry and a soft drink, will cost you a few dollars more. In Los Angeles, for example, the cost jumps $4 more to $10.29. Ordering online will also substantially increase the price. McDonald's allows you to order through at least three different delivery apps, which are featured on its website. Ordering online through DoorDash, for example, increases the $6.29 sandwich to $7.49 before fees. A McDonald's on Broadway in New York City charges $8.19 for the sandwich on DoorDash, while the full meal costs $14.39.

And while a lot of us are lamenting the higher costs of eating out these days, McDonald's USA president issued an open letter earlier this year to address its menu price hikes and offer some explanation behind the higher amounts.

Compared to the regular Big Mac and the Deluxe McCrispy sandwich, the Chicken Big Mac may one day soon take the top spot as the superior McDonald's sandwich. The fried chicken on the McCrispy may have a slightly better flavor and more satisfying bite, but cohesively the sandwich falls apart — literally and figuratively. The flavors don't blend together as well as they do on this new Chicken Big Mac, which is topped with pickles and sauce that don't totally overwhelm the sandwich.

The chicken patties themselves, while probably not the best quality on the market, resemble any premade chicken patties you would find in the frozen aisle of your local grocery store. They cover the width of the sandwich instead of separating it in halves like tenders. Even better, the patties on this sandwich are certainly thicker and more hearty than the thin, flimsy beef patties on the old-school Big Mac. Looking at the nutritional info for the new Chicken Big Mac was certainly a kick to the stomach, and this is definitely no version of a light lunch. Consider it more of a meal that you might order only occasionally. Still, the new Chicken Big Mac is certainly worth trying — especially if you prefer McDonald's chicken sandwiches to its hamburgers.