12 Discontinued Fast-Food Burgers You'll Never See Again
Share and Follow

While most fast-food burgers are discontinued because they failed to reach the kinds of mass sales that their makers were looking for, they still won over hordes of fans. Fans who, to this day, hope they’ll make a comeback.

Here are some of America’s favorite discontinued burgers—from recent departures to retro classics.

RELATED: 8 Fast-Food Chains That Never Freeze Their Burgers

mcdonalds arch deluxe burgermcdonalds arch deluxe burger
@AnthonyKincart/Twitter

The Arch Deluxe could have been McDonald’s most expensive flop, according to Eater. Developed by a real chef and dubbed the “burger with the grownup taste,” the burger featured stone-ground mustard sauce, which was supposed to be innovative for a fast-food restaurant at the time. It didn’t last long but we’d love to try it again, maybe it was just before its time.

RELATED: Battle of the Italian Chicken Sandwiches: Wendy’s vs. Burger King

whataburger chop house cheddar brugerwhataburger chop house cheddar bruger
Courtesy of Whataburger

First launched in 2009, the premium offer that was the Chop House Cheddar Burger quickly became a customer favorite. Even so, the burger never became a permanent menu item, and after several limited-time stints on the menu, it now seems to be gone for good—it hasn’t been seen since 2016. However, fans are still holding out hope and have even started a petition for its return. It’s gotta be that combo of grilled onions and melted shredded cheddar.

hardee's original beyond thickburgerhardee's original beyond thickburger
Hardee’s Facebook

Hardee’s original Thickburger went meat-free in 2019. It was part of the chain’s trend-chasing push into the plant-based arena, and the burger was only one of four items that were created in partnership with Beyond meat.

But sometime between then and now, Hardee’s decided to remove all the Beyond items from the menu, and currently seems to be focusing more on chicken and real Angus beef.

In 2019, when McDonald’s decided to simplify its operations and reduce the number of products its kitchens had to stock and make, the fancy, much-hyped line of Signature burgers was the first to go.

The Maple Bacon Dijon, Sweet BBQ Bacon, and Pico Guacamole burgers, as well as their chicken sandwich counterparts, were discontinued because they slowed operations and didn’t bring the kinds of sales McDonald’s was hoping for.

jack in the box mini sirloin burgersjack in the box mini sirloin burgers
Courtesy of Jack in the Box

Once upon a time, when sliders were all the rage, Jack in the Box tried its luck with Mini Sirloin Burgers. The mini burgers came in three per order, each topped with American cheese, grilled onions, and ketchup. Unfortunately, there can only be one White Castle, and Jack in the Box discontinued the minis for lack of sales in 2011.

mcdonald's angus burgersmcdonald's angus burgers
Courtesy of McDonald’s

Another higher-end burger that couldn’t make it on the McDonald’s menu was the Angus Burger. Available in three varieties and featuring one-third pound of Angus beef, the item was meant to attract younger customers that gravitated toward premium burgers at sit-down restaurants. But the chain ended up cutting the $4 creation in 2013.

burger kind turkey burgerburger kind turkey burger
Courtesy of Burger King

Burger King tried to lighten up the calorie load of its Whopper by offering the first-ever turkey burger by a major fast-food chain. This was in 2013 and, needless to say, the item didn’t last on the menus very long.

Wendy's Gouda Bacon CheeseburgerWendy's Gouda Bacon Cheeseburger
Wendy’s / Facebook

The Gouda Bacon was another popular limited-time cheeseburger at Wendy’s circa 2015. But the chain likes to keep its LTOs fresh and interesting, so it’s quite unlikely we’ll see this burger again in the same iteration.

McDonald's Big N TastyMcDonald's Big N Tasty
Quora

Burger King’s Big Whopper caused such a stir at McDonald’s that the chain ended up creating several burgers to go up against it in the ’80s and ’90s. First, there was the McDLT, discontinued due to its ridiculous two-sided styrofoam packaging, then came the equally unsuccessful Arch Deluxe. And then there was the last try, the Big N Tasty, which launched in 1997. But even this creation with a catchy name didn’t quite catch on, and after being demoted to the dollar menu, the Big N Tasty was finally discontinued in 2011.

burger kind bk mini burgersburger kind bk mini burgers
Courtesy of Burger King

In 2008, Burger King wanted in on the slider market, so it re-released its long-gone Burger Buddies as BK Burger Shots. These little burgers came in pairs, attached to the bun, and were undeniably adorable. Still, they ended up disappearing from the menu a few years later.

wendy's bacon and blue burgerwendy's bacon and blue burger
Courtesy of Wendy’s

The first national chain to add blue cheese to a burger, Wendy’s was riding the artisanal cheese trend of the 2010s like a pro. The same burger was later brought back in an even better version—nestled in a brioche bun, smothered in blue cheese and blue cheese aioli. Sadly, it hasn’t been seen since 2015.

RELATED: 8 Fast-Food Chains That Never Freeze Their Burgers

Taco Bell BeeferTaco Bell Beefer
Courtesy of Taco Bell

Decades ago, Taco Bell tried to compete with fast-food burger slingers by creating its own version of a burger-slash-Sloppy Joe. There was taco beef between a burger bun, topped with diced onions, shredded lettuce, and—if you got the Supreme version—cheese and tomatoes. The sandwich debuted on the menu in the ’70s and managed to stick around until the ’90s. Still, fans who remember it say it was delicious, and its absence, while understandable, is mourned to this day.

A previous version of this post was originally published September, 2022.

Mura Dominko

Mura is ETNT’s Executive Editor, leading the coverage of America’s favorite restaurant chains, grocery stores, and viral food moments. Read more about Mura

Share and Follow
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

On April 4, 2024, Witness a Dreamy Alignment of Four Planets in Pisces, Inspiring Grand Visions

You might assume that the date 4/4, especially in the year 2024,…

Which Is Better for Losing Weight: Treadmill or Elliptical?

You’ve decided it’s time to lose weight and boost your metabolism to…

Top 10 Weight Loss-Friendly Paleo Recipes

The paleo lifestyle simplifies eating to its ancient roots. The term “paleo,”…

10 Best Agility-Enhancing Workouts

If you want to be quick, you’ve got to practice moving fast.…

5 Essential Weekly Exercises Women Can Do to Maintain Fitness

Ladies, achieving top-notch fitness is straightforward—at least in theory. Numerous articles suggest…

Are You Scared of Falling Asleep? Discover Ways to Alleviate the Fear-Inducing Effects of Sleep Phobia

For countless individuals, the act of settling into bed after a day…

Top 10 Beginner-Friendly Conditioning Workouts for Home Practice

Initiating a home-based conditioning regimen is a brilliant step for novices aiming…

What Do Hyaline Casts Found in Urine Indicate?

Hyaline casts represent a basic form of urinary casts. These microscopic structures…