McDonald’s will introduce a new value menu and breakfast deals next month to try to lure back budget-conscious diners — many of whom are worried about inflation and the ever-growing cost of living.
The chain, once regarded as an affordable fast food option for many Americans, saw prices swell due to inflation after the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, McDonald’s hopes to reel customers back in with new deals and discounts, including a $3 and less menu and $4 breakfast meal deals starting in April, the Wall Street Journal reported.
McDonald’s has framed its upcoming deals, internally nicknamed “McValue 2.0,” as a way to focus on providing effective discounts to customers, as well as better breakfast promotions.
The $4 meal deal will include popular breakfast items like the McMuffin, hash brown and coffee. The $3 and less menu will include items like a sausage biscuit or 4-piece McNuggets and will stand to replace the buy-one-add-one-for-a-dollar menu that was introduced in 2025, per the report.
McDonald’s has taken steps over the past few years to try to regain its affordability image.
In 2024, the chain introduced new $5 meal deals, and in January 2025, added an option to add on an additional $1 item, such as a double cheeseburger or sausage biscuit, when purchasing a full-priced item.
Executives noted during an investor call last month that the chain was going to stay focused on retaining that value for customers.
“We absolutely are going to make sure that we are protecting our leadership position in value,” Chief Executive Chris Kempczinski said.
While more diners are starting to turn back to McDonald’s as it reintroduces better deals, the chain hasn’t quite gained back its status as a cheap option for Americans, according to market-research firm Technomic.
Of the people surveyed, 21 percent called McDonald’s affordable last year, up from 18 percent in 2024, according to the report. UBS Evidence Lab survey conducted in 2025, and cited in the Journal, said around 50 percent of consumers described McDonald’s as ‘good value’ in 2014.
In January, McDonald’s surveyed its operators on its McValue meals. In addition to setting their own prices, franchise operators can weigh in on national advertising through local votes.
However, on Monday, the chain told franchises that the McValue plan was approved by franchisee groups with “unanimous alignment.”
The company plans to start training restaurants on the new deals within the coming weeks, according to the report.
The chain announced earlier this month that its global same-store sales — or sales at locations open at least a year — jumped 5.7 percent in the October-December period, which was much better than the 3.9 percent that Wall Street was expecting.
Chicago-based McDonald's fourth-quarter revenue and earnings also beat analysts' expectations.
The chain boosted U.S. traffic during the fourth quarter last year thanks to limited-time deals, including the return of its Monopoly game in October and a Grinch-themed deal in December.
McDonald’s revenue also rose 10 percent to $7.01 billion in the fourth quarter, beating Wall Street’s forecast of $6.84 billion.
Uber and Lyft prices to LAX are going up to battle congestion
Inflation held steady in February, consumers brace for energy spikes due to Iran war
How much you need to earn to be middle-class in the US’s largest cities
All Eddie Bauer stores face closure after no buyer emerges in bankruptcy
Credit card rates are near all-time highs – this one move could save you thousands
