CHICAGO — McDonald’s holiday spirit seems to have flourished, as the much-anticipated Grinch Adult Happy Meal, previously available only in Canada in 2024, is finally launching this week at participating U.S. restaurants. This limited-time release suggests the fast-food giant’s “heart has grown three sizes” this year, embracing the success of its nostalgic adult-focused meals.
However, the excitement is tempered by a familiar issue: the brand may still be playing the “mean one.” Reports indicate that overseas McDonald’s Grinch meals are offering significantly more items, better collectibles, or exclusive food offerings than the United States cousin. This disparity ensures the debate over international menu exclusives continues as we detail exactly what you can expect with the Grinch Meal.
The Grinch Meal Contents Confirmed: Dill Pickle McShaker Fries Debut in the US
The limited-time Grinch Meal is launching at participating U.S. McDonald’s restaurants, marking a highly anticipated collaboration with Dr. Seuss Enterprises.
The meal’s intent—to spread “mischief” rather than cheer—was made clear in an official statement from the star himself:
“THiS iS MY MEAL AND i DiDN’T PARTNER WiTH McDONALD’S OUT OF THE GOODNESS OF MY HEART,” the Grinch wrote in a handwritten note from Mt. Crumpit. “i SAW AN OPPORTUNiTY TO BRiNG MiSCHiEF TO YOUR BELOVED ‘RESTAURANT’ WiTH MY DELiCiOUS CHAOS FOR THE HOLiDAYS AND i TOOK iT.”
The Full Grinch Meal Includes:
The new meal bundle is priced as an Extra Value Meal and features two major food items plus a collectible accessory.
A US First: McShaker Fries
The Dill Pickle McShaker Fries are the main novelty driver of the promotion. This marks the first time that the McShaker Fries format—where seasoning is added to the bag and shaken—has been released in the United States, following popularity in international markets like Canada and Asia.
Executive Strategy: McDonald’s USA Marketing Chief Says Grinch Meal Was a “No-Brainer”
Alyssa Buetikofer, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer for McDonald’s USA, confirmed the strategic decision to debut the Grinch Meal domestically, citing the success of the promotion in Canada as the key justification.
Buetikofer emphasized that the limited-time meal is designed to connect with the brand’s dedicated fandom by tapping into the chaos of the holiday season:
“The Grinch gets it—the holidays are chaotic, and he’s thrilled to give our fandom permission to embrace their inner Grinch with his festive, mischievous meal and spirited socks,” she said in a statement.
The statement underscores McDonald’s continued focus on customer experience and leveraging culturally relevant, nostalgia-driven promotions to drive engagement in the highly competitive Q4 retail environment.
Official Menu Breakdown: What’s Included in the McDonald’s Grinch Meal
According to the official McDonald’s news release, the limited-time Grinch specialty meal bundle offers a choice of entrée, a new novelty side item, and a collectible accessory.
Item Category,Component,Key Feature/NotesMain Entrée (Choice),Big Mac® OR 10-piece Chicken McNuggets®,Customers choose one classic entrée.New Side Item,Dill Pickle McShaker™ Fries,”Novelty Debut: Regular fries served with a packet of Dill Pickle “”Grinch Salt”” seasoning for in-bag shaking.”Beverage,Medium Drink,Medium soft drink of choice.Collectible Item,Grinch-Themed Socks,”A pair of festive, collectible socks, available in four different color variants (red, blue, yellow, and green).”
