Does McDonald’s Still Have the Bacon Clubhouse Burger?

The Bacon Clubhouse Burger was introduced by McDonald’s back in 2014 to much fanfare Featuring a quarter pound beef patty, thick cut applewood smoked bacon, grilled onions, white cheddar cheese, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, and their famous Big Mac sauce served on an artisan bun, this burger aimed to deliver big on flavor But it’s been over 7 years now since its debut – does McDonald’s still offer the indulgent Bacon Clubhouse Burger on their menu today?

A Look Back at the Bacon Clubhouse Burger

When the Bacon Clubhouse Burger first launched, it was promoted by McDonald’s as a premium burger experience featuring high quality ingredients. The applewood smoked bacon promised crispiness and smoky depth of flavor. The caramelized grilled onions added sweetness and complexity. The artisan bun was supposed to elevate the experience beyond a standard fast food burger. On paper, it sounded like a Bacon Clubhouse Burger could rival burgers from more gourmet chains.

Food critics at the time gave the Bacon Clubhouse Burger mixed reviews. While they praised highlights like the Applewood smoked bacon and special sauce, the dry artisan bun and bland beef patty fell flat. Overall impressions seemed to be that it was a good concept and better than your average McDonald’s burger, but didn’t fully deliver on its promise of premium ingredients and culinary innovation.

The Fate of the Bacon Clubhouse Burger

The Bacon Clubhouse Burger appeared on McDonald’s menus across America in late 2014 with lots of promotion and fanfare However, by 2015 it was already disappearing from many locations Though it remained available at some restaurants for several more years, it never achieved nationwide status as a permanent menu item.

By 2018 McDonald’s had removed any mention of the Bacon Clubhouse Burger from its website. Occasional regional sightings popped up but the burger largely faded into fast food history by this point. It failed to achieve the sustained popularity and longevity of McDonald’s classics like the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder.

Does McDonald’s Sell the Bacon Clubhouse Burger Today?

In 2022, the Bacon Clubhouse Burger is no longer featured on McDonald’s menus, advertising, or website. It has been phased out nationwide without an official cancellation announcement from the company. Locating a McDonald’s that still offers the Bacon Clubhouse Burger has become nearly impossible.

However, hope is not completely lost for Bacon Clubhouse fans. Though extremely rare, there have been a couple 2019 reports of people ordering a Bacon Clubhouse Burger by special request. It seems some locations may still sporadically offer it as a “secret menu” item. But don’t get your hopes up too high – verified sightings of the Bacon Clubhouse are few and far between nowadays. Your best bet is to stick to the regular menu.

Why Did McDonald’s Get Rid of the Bacon Clubhouse Burger?

It’s not entirely clear why McDonald’s pulled the Bacon Clubhouse Burger from its menus. The company never provided an official reason for its quiet discontinuation. However, some likely factors played a role in the burger’s downfall:

• Underwhelming Reviews: As mentioned earlier, food critics found the Bacon Clubhouse Burger somewhat mediocre despite its premium marketing. This lackluster reception didn’t build enough excitement and loyalty for the new menu item.

• Competition from Other Burgers: The Bacon Clubhouse Burger entered a crowded field of burgers at McDonald’s, including the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, and Archie’s Burger. It failed to stand out enough from McDonald’s existing burgers.

• Higher Costs: With thick cut bacon, caramelized onions, white cheddar, and an artisan bun, the Bacon Clubhouse Burger’s ingredients cost more than a standard McDonald’s burger. The added expenses of a low-demand menu item may not have made financial sense.

• Shift Away From Bacon-Focused Menu: McDonald’s trimmed multiple bacon-heavy menu items around 2015 like the Bacon Clubhouse and Bacon Habanero Ranch Quarter Pounder. This indicated a change in their bacon strategy.

What Has Replaced the Bacon Clubhouse Burger?

Since eliminating the Bacon Clubhouse Burger, McDonald’s has introduced multiple new premium burgers:

• 2017: The Signature Crafted Recipes burgers, featuring burgers with ingredients like sweet BBQ bacon, pico guacamole, and maple bacon dijon.

• 2018: The fresh beef Quarter Pounder burgers.

• 2021: The newer Crispy Chicken Sandwich line made with a new chicken fillet.

These new launches show McDonald’s is still innovating to offer greater variety and higher quality in its burger selection. The company is even trialing fresh-baked buns in 2022. However, the nostalgia for the Bacon Clubhouse Burger persists among some customers.

Will the Bacon Clubhouse Burger Ever Come Back?

Given McDonald’s constant menu rotations, it’s not impossible that the Bacon Clubhouse Burger could return someday. If customer requests and food trends create enough demand, McDonald’s has been known to revive menu items. After all, they brought back their McRib sandwich in 2020 after 8 long years.

For now, though, the Bacon Clubhouse Burger remains relegated to fast food history. Your best bet for satisfying a craving is trying one of McDonald’s new premium burgers or ordering a special request Quarter Pounder with bacon and Mac sauce. With McDonald’s constant innovation, menu items come and go. But bacon-loaded burgers never truly go out of style. So we can hope the Bacon Clubhouse Burgers primal appeal leads it to rise again like a phoenix. Stay tuned to see if this lost gem of McDonald’s past makes a future comeback.