Try McDonald’s Big Arch Burger on USA TODAY
USA TODAY’s Mike Snyder sampled McDonald’s Big Arch Burger, which will be released nationwide in March 2026.
McDonald’s March menu features something big called the Big Arch.
The Big Arch Burger is already available in other international markets and will be available for a limited time in the United States starting Tuesday, March 3rd. This burger attracts a lot of attention due to its size. There are two quarter-pound beef patties surrounded by three slices of melted white cheddar cheese.
Billed as McDonald’s “biggest and boldest burger ever,” the Big Arch is different from other McDonald’s burgers even in its toppings. In addition to lettuce and pickles, the burger includes crunchy sliced onions and is tossed in Big Arch sauce, which McDonald’s describes on its online Menu Spotter page as “a tangy, creamy sauce with the perfect balance of mustard, pickles, and sweet tomatoes.” taste. ”
The burger is sandwiched between toasted sesame and poppy seed buns. The company says, “This is the most McDonald’s-like McDonald’s hamburger.”
Big arches also have a lot of calories.
McDonald’s new burger, the Big Arch, also weighs in at 1,057 calories, making it the heaviest burger, according to McDonald’s UK menu, making the burger a permanent menu item in the UK.
If you do the math, that’s almost double the calories of two Big Macs (580 calories each).
The company said in a statement that it developed the sandwich, which is also on menus in Canada, Germany, Portugal, France and Switzerland, in response to consumer demand for hearty beef that satisfies appetites and is value for money.
“We began piloting Big Arch about a year and a half ago and have seen strong traction in several markets,” Jill McDonald, the company’s global chief restaurant experience officer, said on the company’s fourth quarter earnings call. “Customers are responding to this more satisfying burger, which feels McDonald’s but meets the demand for more heartiness. Its performance has helped us earn a permanent spot on UK menus. We see the potential to continue to grow this platform as we strengthen our position within this echelon of the beef category.”
McDonald’s did not release prices for its burgers, instead saying that individual restaurants determine prices and may vary by location. However, based on McDonald’s pricing in the UK and Ireland, a burger can cost between $10 and $11 when compared to prices in international markets.
McDonald’s isn’t the only burger restaurant touting big burgers. Burger King is now putting the Maple Bourbon BBQ Whopper back on the menu. In November 2025, Shake Shack added the Big Shack Burger to its menu for a limited time, and Carl’s Jr. debuted the Cali XL Burger.
Fast food analyst Mark Kalinowski told MarketWatch earlier this month that the Big Arch could become a big hit and become a permanent part of McDonald’s menu. “This should be very good for them,” he said.
This story has been updated with new information.
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com.
