McChicken

The McChicken is a chicken sandwich sold by the international fast-food chain McDonald's in several countries. The sandwich consists of a toasted wheat bun, a breaded chicken breast meat patty, shredded lettuce, and mayonnaise.

History
The sandwich, originally introduced in 1980 by Andrew Clark and Justice Newcomb, proved to be a sales disappointment, and was later replaced with the highly successful Chicken McNuggets. Following the success of McNuggets, the McChicken was reintroduced in 1988. McChicken was replaced by Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Tenders in September 26, 1996, and reintroduced again in March 22, 1998 due to overwhelming letters and petitions.

The current McChicken sandwich recipe is somewhat spicier than the original. Additionally, in the United States, the sandwich is somewhat smaller than it was previously, as it is now on the Dollar Menu, which offers various food products for the price of US$1.00.

The shaped chicken patty in the McChicken sandwich used to be 50% white meat and 50% dark meat. As of late 2006, McDonald's commenced advertising that the McChicken contains only 100% white meat.

Variants
In certain regions and at specific McDonald's franchises, the McChicken is adapted to appeal to the local population's tastes.

Variants in the US
In the south and southwestern parts of the US, the Hot 'n Spicy variant is sold; whereas, in Hawaii, the Ala Moana Shopping Center McDonald's sells the McTeriChicken variant, a McChicken with teriyaki ("teri") sauce. "Teri" is heavily used in Hawaii and has been applied in various McDonald's sandwiches, such as the McTeri Burger. As of March 2013, McDonald's has introduced the Hot 'n Spicy variant of the McChicken nationally as part of its Dollar Menu, which consists of many of the McDonald's items costing just one dollar.

Other variants in some states and currently in test marketing include the Jalapeño Cheddar McChicken, a McChicken with jalapeño peppers sauce and a slice of white cheddar cheese, and the Cheddar Onion McChicken, a McChicken with caramelized onions and a slice of white cheddar cheese, both on a toasted bun.

Variants outside the US
In most countries outside of the US, such as India, the McChicken sandwich comes on a sesame-seed bun and is not spicy. In Canada, Australia (where it originally appeared as a promotional menu item but, due to its popularity, became a full-time menu item), and New Zealand, the McChicken sandwich comes on a sesame-seed bun with lettuce and "McChicken Sauce" and is lightly spiced.

In Canada and the United Kingdom, the McChicken name is used for chicken sandwiches similar to but significantly larger than the sandwich that currently carries that name in the United States, while sandwiches closer to the American product are available under other names. In Canada, the latter sandwich is available as the Junior Chicken for C$1.39 (as an offering on its "Value Picks" menu); in the UK it is sold as the Mayo Chicken.

McDonald's restaurants in Singapore and India serve a spicy McSpicy variant. Previously, the sandwich was for a time known as the "Cajun McChicken"; but, the name was changed to just "McChicken" around 2000, when a milder, softer chicken patty was introduced. The spicy variant is also available as the "Double McSpicy", which consists of two spicy chicken patties.

McDonald's restaurants in Taiwan serve the hot-and-spicy Spicy McChicken variant, which is available on a traditional bread bun or a formed rice bun.

McDonald's restaurants in Spain serve a variant with barbecue sauce rather than mayonnaise.

McDonald's restaurants in Malaysia serve a variant similar to the McSpicy called the "Spicy Chicken McDeluxe" but with a cornmeal bun.

McDonald's restaurants in the Netherlands temporarily had a Royal version of the McChicken Sandwich, from January 2016.

McDonald's restaurants in Germany serve a variant called "McChicken Classic". This variant is served on a submarine bun (identical to the one used for the McRib) and uses a longer patty because of that.