McDonald’s is shaking things up with a new twist on a classic. They’ve swapped the beef in the legendary Big Mac for chicken, and – wait for it – called it the Chicken Big Mac.
Revolutionary? Not exactly. This feathered version of the classic Big Mac has caused a bit of a stir, but is it really worth crowing about? As with all things fast food and social media, some love it, some don’t. Naturally, I had to try it for myself, so I ordered one last night to give you the first-hand scoop.
Score on a scale of 1-10:
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Liberty Paige: 5 out of 10
Liberty Paige’s husband: 8 out of 10
Where’s the Beef?
The Chicken Big Mac looks and feels like the classic Big Mac as far as the size but the sandwich comes to you much more squashed down than it appears in the lovely photo I’ve included with the story.
Some reviewers have claimed the patties are just oversized Chicken McNuggets, but that’s not the case. Sadly, they DON’T taste like Chicken McNuggets. The two tempura-battered chicken patties feature a lighter, airier coating than what you’d typically find on fast-food chicken sandwiches but our sandwiches did have a slight crunch to them.
It’s the same “Big Mac sauce” as on the regular Big Mac. Yes, as the song (mostly) says it’s “special sauce, lettuce, cheese and pickles on a sesame seed bun.”
The only thing missing: the onions. That’s because onions and chicken don’t really go together – at least not in my world. Apparently not with the taste-testers at the McDonald’s headquarters either.
For me, the sandwich was way too messy with all of the sauce. But that is what my husband loves. Always the pessimist, when asked if he liked it, he said, “It’s a winner which means it’ll be gone.” I told him that his prediction was true since it’s a limited time option. When asked why he liked the sandwich, he said, “the sauce.” He’d probably eat a grilled rat if it had Big Mac sauce on it.
The price of a chicken craving: a hefty bite out of your wallet.
The cost? About $4.50 to $6.25 per sandwich depending on where you live. Where I reside up in northern lower Michigan, a Chicken Big Mac meal is a hefty $12.69.
Was it worth the price? Eh… probably not. At least not for me. But then again, I haven’t bought many Big Macs in my lifetime because I’m not a Thousand Island dressing fan and that is what their sauce tastes like. And it’s also why my hubby gives the sandwich a higher rating than I do as I mentioned above. His salad dressing of choice is always Thousand Island no matter where we go.
There was a little “crunch” with the chicken sandwich but not much. What I didn’t like was that there were only two measly pickles. The cheese was melted which was a plus – but my husband thought they should add another piece of cheese on the top part of the sandwich. In the end, my hubby said he’d buy it again although he admitted that he liked the burger version better.
What about the calorie counters?
Let’s face it…if you’re counting calories, you’re probably NOT going to McDonald’s to begin with – or shouldn’t be. But if you are interested in counting calories, you should know that while there’s less fat in the Chicken Big Mac than the traditional Big Mac, the calorie count is pretty close – 590 for a classic Big Mac and 530 for the Chicken Big Mac.
Too many buns.
With three “buns” in one sandwich, you might wonder if you’re getting a carb overload. You are. And that’s not really my cup of tea either. While I LOVE bread especially in it’s heated form as toast, I’ve never really been a “bun” person. It just takes up too much space in my stomach when I could be eating burger, pickles, bacon etc. So having three “buns” really isn’t my thing.
What’s next? The McPickle Supreme?
If McDonald’s keeps up these sandwich swaps, what wild combos can we expect next? Here are a few humble suggestions for Ronald and crew:
Fish Filet Big Mac – Double the fish, double the fun! Special sauce and tartar sauce unite for a flavor fusion – becoming the new “mayochup” or “kranch.”
The McVegan Mac – Lettuce, pickles, special sauce, and uh… more lettuce. Perfect for those who enjoy eating salads between three buns.
My favorite choice – The McFries Sandwich – Skip the protein entirely and just stuff fries between the buns. Maybe add bacon because…well, why not?!
The bottom line on the Chicken Big Mac.
So when I have a chicken craving, I probably won’t be reaching for a Chicken Big Mac – but then again, it’s only available for a limited time (while supplies last) anyway so those who like the sandwich shouldn’t get too attached to it.
I’ll stick with Chick-fil-A and KFC when I want a chicken sandwich – after all, they actually have “chicken” in their names.
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