The Reason McDonald's Banished Grilled Chicken Sandwiches From The Menu

The reason we no longer have grilled chicken as an option at the Golden Arches is the same reason why McDonald's stopped selling salads – people weren't spending enough money on them. "Y'all didn't buy enough," Mike Haracz, a former McDonald's corporate chef divulged on his popular TikTok. Back in 2020, McDonald's cut several items from menus in an attempt to streamline operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. All-day breakfast got the axe, along with some healthier choices like grilled chicken and salads. According to Haracz, who is uniquely situated to give an insider's perspective on the situation, McDonald's was trying to cut production costs and realized that, while many people appreciated choices other than Big Macs (although McDonald's best-selling item is not, in fact, a meaty burger), they wouldn't necessarily balk at eating there if they were deprived of more nutritious fare.

Cutting grilled chicken saved McDonald's big money. With fewer protein options competing for space on the griddle, "that makes things a lot easier," Haracz pointed out. "The more they can make the same thing over and over again, it's more profitable for McDonald's." The pandemic was a good excuse for McD's to trim the excess from its menus, but, as of this writing, the company still has not brought back grilled chicken or all-day breakfast, despite seeming to tease the latter on McDonald's official X account.

It's solely a matter of speculation as to whether McDonald's would ever consider bringing back grilled chicken to complement the various fried chicken options it offers currently. This includes McCrispy Strips, which appeared in April 2025 after years of tenders being absent from menus. They arrived just in time to fill out Snack Wraps in July 2025, marking the return of another entree that customers desperately wanted back. Theoretically, if enough customers asked for grilled chicken, McDonald's might consider reviving the idea. History has proven that McDonald's will give customers things they want, like the semi-regular return of the McRib and other LTO faves like Holiday Pies and Shamrock Shakes.

In the meantime, if you are on the search for lighter options on the McDonald's menu — maybe you got dragged there by friends or are trying to feed your kiddos a quick dinner — there are a few surprising options that get high marks from dieticians. Items that pack protein and other nutrients into less-caloric packages include plain hamburgers, apple slices, four-piece Chicken McNuggets, and even a Filet-O-Fish with light tartar sauce. Smaller is usually better when it comes to the Golden Arches, meaning that you can indulge in treats like fries and soft drinks provided you order a modest serving and balance it out with something that has a bit more quality dietary oomph to keep you feeling full and energized.