McDonald’s has always been a burger place at heart. But rising beef prices are quietly pushing the chain in a new direction, and chicken is stepping into the spotlight.
Industry experts say a tightening beef supply is driving the shift. McDonald’s isn’t alone, either. Burger King and Wendy’s have been making similar moves toward chicken across their menus.
For McDonald’s, the most talked-about development is a new lineup of flavored McCrispy Strips being tested at select locations. The plain version of the strips first appeared back in 2015, with a brief return in 2025. But these new flavors are entirely different.
Six options are currently in testing: Sweet Chili, Teriyaki, Kickin’ BBQ, Spicy Chili Garlic, Garlic Parm, and Sweet Asian. Some are sauces. Some are dry rubs. All of them go well beyond the classic dipping sauce approach McDonald’s has relied on for years.
Food account Snackolator, which has been following the tests closely, posted on April 4 that the new strips “really unlock the potential of the McCrispy Strips” and called for a nationwide rollout.
Fans who have already tried them are not shy about their opinions.
“The BBQ ones were so good, they need to bring those back.”
One customer wrote. Others have been eyeing the Spicy Chili Garlic and Garlic Parm options with plenty of enthusiasm.
No nationwide rollout has been confirmed yet. But the buzz from fans and food media suggests it may just be a matter of time before these show up at a McDonald’s near you.
McDonald’s is also running a limited-time collaboration with Netflix, tied to the streaming service’s KPop Demon Hunters series. The partnership includes two adult combo meals (The Saja Boys Breakfast Meal and The HUNTR/X Meal), both featuring South Korean-inspired flavors and collectibles. A new Derpy McFlurry is part of the deal as well.
Alyssa Buetikofer, McDonald’s chief marketing and customer experience officer, said:
“Everything we do at McDonald’s is for the fans, and no one can relate to that more than Netflix and KPop Demon Hunters.”
The Netflix collaboration items are available now at participating locations while supplies last.