The seasonal pork sandwich at McDonald’s is the McRib.
Introduced in 1981, the McRib is made with a restructured, boneless pork patty shaped to resemble a miniature rack of ribs. It is typically served with barbecue sauce, onions, and pickles on a long roll. Despite its name and rib-like shape, it does not contain a bone or a conventional rack of ribs.
The sandwich was developed by McDonald’s executive chef René Arend, who also helped create Chicken McNuggets. The McRib was initially introduced as a limited-time product after McDonald’s needed another popular menu item while chicken supplies were strained. Its restructured pork design was influenced by meat-processing techniques developed for military food production.
The McRib’s limited availability became part of its appeal. After weak sales led McDonald’s to remove it in 1985, the sandwich returned in 1989 and later became a recurring seasonal promotion, often appearing in autumn. Availability differs by country: it has generally been temporary in the United States but has been a permanent menu item in Germany and Luxembourg.