The McRib, a McDonald’s fan favorite, is making its much-anticipated return.
Beginning December 3, the American fast food chain is pulling out all the stops for the McRib’s festive return to participating locations throughout the U.S. Not only will the McRib — described by McDonald’s as “seasoned boneless pork dipped in a tangy BBQ sauce, topped with slivered onions and tangy pickles, all served on a toasted homestyle bun” — be available to order at restaurant locations nationwide, but so will its beloved tangy sauce.
For the first time ever, fans can purchase a half-gallon jug of the chain’s signature McRib sauce, aptly named “A Whole Lotta McRib Sauce.” According to McDonald’s, the jug is “perfect for holiday parties, festive recipes, or the ultimate stocking stuffer for McRib lovers.”
The sauce will drop ahead of the sandwich on November 25 at 10 a.m. ET and will be available to purchase online for $19.99.
In addition to the sandwich and the McRib sauce, the December roll-out will also feature an official holiday jingle, titled: “It Could Only Mean One Thing (McRib is Here).”
“The McRib is more than a sandwich — it’s a part of culture, it’s a legend, it’s an event,” Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s chief marketing and customer experience officer, said in a statement. “McRib [season] is a holiday unto itself, so we wanted to embrace that spirit and give fans an even bigger way to celebrate this year with A Whole Lotta McRib Sauce.”
The announcement of the McRib’s return to participating U.S. locations comes after the sandwich made another return to McDonald’s restaurants across the United Kingdom. Originally introduced in the early 1980s, the fan-favorite sandwich was removed from permanent circulation nearly a decade ago.
“It is more than just a sandwich; it’s a phenomenon. We have heard our fans loud and clear — the fan petitions and pleas on social — and after almost a decade of anticipation, we are thrilled to bring back this iconic menu item,” Thomas O’Neill, the head of menu at McDonald’s U.K., told The Independent last October.
“Knowing how well-loved the McRib is, we had very little choice — we had to make it happen. It was time to step up and satisfy the cravings of McRib enthusiasts across the country.”
The McRib was last available in the U.K. between 2014 and 2016 for short periods, but the excitement surrounding its return this year proves its status as a beloved menu item.
