During a time when most companies are working to add something new to their repertoires, McDonald’s is going back to basics. After years of shifting menus and limited-time offers, the Golden Arches is reinstating eight of its most-requested meals combinations as Extra Value Meals on September 8, 2025. It’s the first time in six years that the restaurant chain has leaned into the concept that defined fast food value in the 1990s and early 2000s
Why It’s Back
With food costs continuing to rise, taking a larger bite out of paychecks, and fast-food traffic slowing, value is once again topping the priority list. Rival chains have recently started launching deals, from Burger King’s two-for-$5 mixes to Wendy’s $3 breakfast bundles. For McDonalds, along with bringing back the beloved Snack Wrap, reintroducing the Extra Value lineup is a way of reminding customers that a drive-thru meal can still feel like a smart buy.
“McDonalds USA is laser-focused on delivering value and affordability for our customers… from the $5 Meal Deal to McValue and now Extra Value Meals, we’re sending a clear message: We’re here for our customers,” McDonald’s USA President Joe Erlinger said in a release.
What’s on the Menu?
To celebrate the relaunch, McDonalds will feature a special $5 Sausage and Egg McMuffin meal and an $8 Big Mac meal. Additionally Extra Value options that range from breakfast to dinner include:
- Sausage Egg and Cheese McGriddles
- Egg McMuffin
- Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit
- 10-piece Chicken McNuggets
- Quarter Pounder burger (any variety)
- McCrispy Sandwich (any variety)
The restaurant says that the bundled meals deliver about 15% savings compared to ordering the items separately, and they’ll be promoted heavily through the McDonald’s app.
Related: McDonald’s Has Added New Burger to its McValue Meal Deal
What’s Next?
McDonalds doesn’t plan to end the September rollout specials any time soon. In November the chain plans to rotate in limited-time deals, including a $5 Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddle meal and an $8, 10-piece Chicken McNuggets combo. The re-introduced Snack Wrap will be priced at $2.99 through the end of 2025.
The Big Picture
This move underscores how much the fast-food landscape has shifted. For years, chains chased premium sandwiches, celebrity tie-ins, and inventive flavor combinations. But with customers looking for affordability and predictability, McDonalds is leaning back into what has worked historically: the idea that you can score a full meal without blowing your lunch budget.
The return of the Extra Value Meal is not only competitive on price, it’s also a nod to nostalgia. For many customers, the bundled meals were a fixture of late-night runs, on-the-go lunches, and after-practice dinners. Bringing it back, McDonalds is re-offering the familiar.
Whether this revamp is enough to reverse slowing sales remains to be seen, but the message is clear: McDonalds is vying to be the go-to stop for customers hunting for both comfort and savings in one bag.
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