McDonald's and Taco Bell expanded their U.S. value offers in 2025 through different combinations of meal bundles, add-on pricing and local promotions. The advertised price alone did not describe the offer: the included food, portion sizes, ordering channel and promotional period also differed.
This historical guide was updated on September 16, 2026. The 2024 and 2025 offers below describe what the chains announced at the time, rather than prices guaranteed today.
When did McDonald's launch its $5 Meal Deal?#
McDonald's introduced its U.S. $5 Meal Deal on June 25, 2024, following a June 20 announcement. The limited-time offer at participating restaurants included a McDouble or McChicken, small fries, four Chicken McNuggets and a small soft drink. The announcement allowed a $6 McDouble option at select restaurants. It also described separate local deals and app offers, so the national bundle was one part of the chain's value program. McDonald's launch announcement
What changed with McValue in January 2025?#
McValue launched on January 7, 2025. It brought together the $5 Meal Deal, local offers, app deals and a new Buy One, Add One for $1 offer. The add-on required buying an eligible item at full price before adding a second eligible item for $1. It was not a menu on which every item cost $1.
Breakfast choices included the Sausage McMuffin, Sausage Biscuit, Sausage Burrito and hash browns. Lunch and dinner choices included six-piece Chicken McNuggets, a Double Cheeseburger, a McChicken and small fries. The second item had to be of equal or lesser value. McDonald's McValue announcement
Did Taco Bell compete at $5?#
Yes. Taco Bell announced $5, $7 and $9 Luxe Cravings Boxes for a January 16, 2025 launch. Its announced promotional period ran through early June, with prices and participation varying by location.
The $5 Classic box combined a Beefy 5-Layer Burrito, Crunchy Taco, Cinnamon Twists and a medium fountain drink. The $7 Supreme and $9 Discovery boxes offered different assortments; the Discovery tier incorporated a rotating limited-time item. Taco Bell also retained its separate Cravings Value Menu of items priced under $3 at participating locations. The boxes sat alongside the individual-item menu. Taco Bell's January announcement
How did Extra Value Meals differ?#
McDonald's brought back Extra Value Meals starting September 8, 2025, advertising a 15% saving on eight specified meals compared with ordering their components separately. It also promoted a $5 Sausage McMuffin with Egg meal and an $8 Big Mac meal for a limited time. Prices and participation could vary.
That introduced another way to express value: a saving relative to individual menu prices, alongside selected fixed-price promotions. The $8 Big Mac meal included medium fries and a medium soft drink, compared with the small sides and drink in the original $5 Meal Deal. Extra Value Meals announcement
Are those offers the current menu?#
The historical offers should not be treated as a current price list. McDonald's subsequently announced an Under $3 Menu and a $4 breakfast meal for April 21, 2026. That announcement listed the McChicken Meal Deal at $5 and the McDouble version at $6, with higher prices possible at some restaurants and delivery excluded. Local availability and the ordering channel remain part of the offer terms. McDonald's April 2026 announcement
QSR Pro Staff
The QSR Pro editorial team covers the quick service restaurant industry with in-depth analysis, data-driven reporting, and operator-first perspective.
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