McDonald’s Is Making Changes to Its Iconic Burgers

It promises the tweaks will make them 'even better.'

April 17, 2023

Photo by: Photo courtesy of McDonald's

Photo courtesy of McDonald's

A McDonald’s burger is a McDonald’s burger — the kind of thing you can rely on to be consistent day after day, lunch after lunch, year after year. But now, Mickey D’s is changing up its classic burgers in several key ways to make them, the chain says, “even better.”

Several “small but tasty improvements” are coming to your McDonald’s Hamburger, along with your Big Mac, McDouble burger, classic Cheeseburger and Double Cheeseburger, McDonald’s has announced. The changes, which have been well received as they’ve rolled out in international markets including

Australia, Canada and Belgium, will hit the U.S. this year. Now being served in several West Coast cities (including Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver, Boise and Tucson), the improved burgers will be available nationwide in 2024.

So … what, exactly, is changing? For starters, the burgers will be served on new, freshly toasted buns that are “softer” and more “pillowy.” They’ll also feature meltier cheese, a “juicier, caramelized flavor” that comes from adding white onions to them on the grill and more Big Mac sauce for added tangy sweetness.

“I’ll always remember my first burger from McDonald’s. And now my culinary team and I have the best job in the world: thinking about ways to bring even more of that iconic McDonald’s taste to fans,” Chef Chad Schafer, senior director of culinary innovation at McDonald’s USA, says in a press statement. “We found that small changes, like tweaking our process to get hotter, meltier cheese and adjusting our grill settings for a better sear, added up to a big difference in making our burgers more flavorful than ever.”

To introduce the burger tweaks, McDonald’s is bringing back its old character the Hamburglar (remember that rascally beef thief?) and sending him into select cities to signal that the newly tweaked burgers have arrived.

Related Content:

Next Up

McDonald’s Is Finally Making Happy Meals for Adults

The chain is teaming up with streetwear brand Cactus Plant Flea Market on boxed meals, toys and other merch — and we’re lovin’ it.

McDonald’s Brings Back Its Fan-Favorite Double Big Mac

The item was cut due to pandemic-era menu streamlining, and is finally returning after a four-year hiatus.

McDonald’s Is Turning ‘WcDonald’s,’ Its Anime Counterpart, Into a Reality

The fictional version of the fast food chain has appeared in many films and series. The real-life version will be serving up "WcNuggets" and a limited-edition Savory Chili WcDonald’s Sauce.

McDonald’s Has a New Adult Happy Meal Featuring ‘McNugget Buddies’ Toys

The classic chicken nugget-shaped toys are back for the first time in over 25 years as part of a collaboration with artist Kerwin Frost.

McDonald’s New Purple Grimace Shake Tastes Like Sweet Berry Cereal Milk

We may never know what Grimace is, but now we know what his namesake shake tastes like.

I Tried Almost All the New Menu Items Taco Bell Plans to Drop in 2024

The chain unveiled the exciting slate at its recent Live Mas Live event in Las Vegas.

Subway Makes Major Menu Change for the First Time in 60 Years

If you’ve always been indecisive at the sandwich chain, you can now choose from 12 signature sandwiches.

Taco Bell Is Bringing Back Its Coveted Taco Lover’s Pass For One Day

The deal — $10 for 30 days of free tacos — will be available on October 4, National Taco Day.

Taco Bell Launches Two New Twists on Nacho Fries

New 7-Layer Nacho Fries and Grilled Cheese Nacho Fries made their debut the same day the Enchirito returned.

Wendy’s Is Giving Out Cards for Free Breakfast Sandwiches for a Year

On April 1, April Fools’ Day, the first 100 people in line at more than a thousand locations across the U.S. will snag the coupon cards.

What's New