Here's Why McDonald's Doesn't Serve Onion Rings

In early 2021, McDonald's Australia announced the addition of onion rings to its menus across the country, bringing the crispy side dish to its Aussie locations for the first time ever. For a limited time, customers could order either a side of onion rings — with a Southern BBQ dipping sauce — or they could experience them as a topping on the chain's Aussie Angus burger. 

But despite their brief appearance Down Under, onion rings haven't ever been a thing in McD's U.S. restaurants, and one former McDonald's chef recently took to TikTok to explain why. 

"McDonald's is the most profitable when it is the most efficient and that efficiency in scale," Mike Haracz, a former Manager of Culinary Innovation at the chain's headquarters, said in an almost two-minute long clip. "If McDonald's could sell only one thing, that would be great for them, so they actually [...] have reduced choice and have reduced options, more specifically in the United States." 

Haracz also explained that if McDonald’s even introduced onion rings as a limited-time offer, fewer people may order its French fries — which are “over the top profitable” for the chain. 

“[With onion rings] they would be selling a much less efficient, much less profitable item for them,” he said. “Would you be willing to pay a lot more for your side of onion rings [...] They would probably have to charge you an extra dollar or something even more because they’re not as efficient at making onion rings as they are with French fries.” 

Haracz wrapped up his video by emphasizing that McDonald’s turns such a profit on its French fries that it would hesitate to offer any side — especially a “less efficient” side — that might take away from their fry sales. (Don’t tell that to Burger King, where onion rings have been a long-time menu staple. Earlier this summer, the chain even tested “Fries n’ Rings,” a combination of two sides, at its locations in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida.)  

Incredibly, McDonald’s once tested out “onion nuggets,” a fried side that can only be explained by shrugging and saying, “It was the late 1970s.” According to Mental Floss, McDonald’s first executive chef came up with the concept of a “deep fried onion mixture,” but the chain’s execs suggested that he turn his attention to a breaded chicken idea instead. That eventually became the Chicken McNugget, and the Onion Nugget was relegated to the McArchives. 

McDonald’s, if you bring the Apple Fritter back, we promise to forget about that whole Onion Nugget thing entirely.