McDonald’s prepping $3 McValue 2.0 menu for budget-minded shoppers: Report

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McDonald’s is planning to add more budget-friendly items to its menu, as the company works to be seen as a place where people can still afford to eat.

Starting in April 2026, the company will introduce a new menu with items costing $3 or less. According to a memo shared with franchise owners and seen by The Wall Street Journal, they’ll also offer a $4 breakfast combo including a McMuffin, hash brown, and coffee.

McDonald’s told its restaurant owners that they’re continuing to adjust to what customers want, especially since people are being more careful with how much they spend at fast food places.

The company announced they’ve made great strides working together and will continue to focus on adapting to what customers want.

McDonald’s “McValue 2.0” plans aim to bring back budget-focused customers

These new deals are part of a company-wide effort, known as McValue 2.0, to offer more discounts and improve promotions that customers have responded to well.

McDonald’s is planning a new menu featuring items priced at $3 or less, like sausage biscuits and 4-piece Chicken McNuggets. This new menu will take the place of their current ‘buy one, get one for $1’ deal that started in 2025.

For almost two years, McDonald’s has been emphasizing deals and discounts. This shift happened because rising prices after the 2020 pandemic led some customers to feel the restaurant was becoming too expensive.

Starting in 2024, the company began offering meals for just $5. Then, in January 2025, they added even more affordable choices – a variety of items for $1 each – when customers bought something at regular price, like a double cheeseburger or sausage biscuit.

Company leaders have stated they plan to continue offering affordable menu options and remain a key player in the fast food market for budget-conscious customers.

During a February discussion with investors, CEO Chris Kempczinski stated that maintaining McDonald’s position as a leader in offering value to customers is a top priority.

Last year, McDonald’s and its restaurant owners invested about $85 million in advertising deals on value meals. The company is also setting aside approximately $35 million to support restaurant owners who may be impacted by lower prices in early 2026.

McDonald’s announced that its franchisees fully support the new McValue deals. Restaurant staff will begin training soon to prepare for the launch in April.

This happened right after McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski shared a video of himself taking tiny bites of their new Big Arch burger, which quickly went viral and sparked a playful burger competition among other fast-food chains.

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2026-03-11 22:20