Close your eyes and imagine the perfect biscuit sandwich – fluffy, buttery biscuit halves enclosing salty, savory slices of country ham. This delightful downhome classic used to grace the McDonald’s breakfast menu, delighting patrons across the South. But one day, the Country Ham Biscuit suddenly vanished without a trace. Why did McDonald’s discontinue this beloved breakfast offering? Let’s explore the mysterious case of the disappeared ham biscuit.
The Country Ham Biscuit first appeared on McDonald’s menus back in 2013 in select test markets. Feedback was positive, so McDonald’s eventually expanded the tasty biscuit sandwich to over 1,000 locations. Customers loved the combination of salty country ham, creamy butter, and McDonald’s signature baked biscuits. But sadly, it was not meant to last. By 2015, the Country Ham Biscuit had disappeared from most locations.
Potential Reasons Why the Ham Biscuit Got the Axe
So what caused McDonald’s to scrap this local legend of a breakfast sandwich? There are a few leading theories behind the biscuit’s untimely demise:
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Lack of broad appeal – As a regional southern favorite, the biscuit likely didn’t gain enough nationwide popularity to stay.
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Ingredient costs – Country ham is more expensive than regular breakfast meats like sausage. Keeping costs down is always a priority.
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Menu simplification – McDonald’s was likely looking to streamline offerings and stick to top sellers,
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Health trends – Customers want fresher, lighter options these days over heavy biscuits.
While McDonald’s never publicly gave a reason, looking at the bigger picture provides clues. The company frequently tests products regionally and trims menus based on profitability and changing tastes. The humble Country Ham Biscuit appears to have been a casualty of these business priorities.
The History and Significance of the Country Ham Biscuit
To understand the significance this unassuming biscuit sandwich held, we need to trace its roots. The country ham biscuit has long been a staple of southern breakfasts, combining two quintessential regional foods.
Country ham is an Appalachian tradition, with curing methods passed down through generations. Biscuits have been a pillar of southern cooking since the days of plantation kitchens. Together, they formed a hearty, delicious breakfast combination.
McDonald’s likely drew inspiration from these traditions when it added country ham biscuits to select southern locations. The biscuit sandwiches quickly gained a cult following, earning a permanent spot in many McDonald’s markets. Patrons even petitioned to bring the biscuits to more locations.
So for a brief, beautiful time, McDonald’s gave the South a taste of history with this beloved regional breakfast. The biscuit’s disappearance left many fans desolate and dreaming of bygone sandwiches.
The Life and Death of the McDonald’s Country Ham Biscuit
The country ham biscuit first emerged at McDonald’s locations in test markets like Knoxville and Louisville around 2013. It soon expanded across the South to over 1,000 locations. McDonald’s even created a special “Ham Biscuit” sign for franchises serving the sandwich.
For a few glorious years, biscuit lovers could savor salty ham, creamy butter, and a freshly baked biscuit to start their day. But by 2015, McDonald’s began scrubbing the Country Ham Biscuit from menus. Only a few holdout locations kept serving it.
On social media, fans mourned the loss of their beloved biscuit sandwich. Photos of the “Ham Biscuit” signs became a meme representing discontinued menu items. To this day, traces of the sandwich still appear, causing excitement when spotted in the wild.
While short-lived, the McDonald’s Country Ham Biscuit made its mark by bringing a cherished southern tradition to the masses. For those lucky enough to have tasted one, the memory will live on like the ghost of a long lost friend.
Could the Ham Biscuit Rise Again?
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, some hold out hope that the Country Ham Biscuit could make a triumphant return to McDonald’s one day. Is there a chance this fallen breakfast hero could be resurrected?
Never say never. McDonald’s does sometimes bring back popular limited-time and regional items for short promotional runs. Just recently, they briefly revived McRib sandwiches after years off the menu.
A few factors could tip the scales in favor of a Country Ham Biscuit comeback:
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Continued social media and fan demand – McDonald’s does listen to customers
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Lower ingredient costs – Pork and grain prices fluctuate over time
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Popularity with millennials – Younger generations get nostalgic for old menu items
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Healthier options – The biscuit could be tweaked to fit modern tastes
So don’t abandon hope completely if you crave those salty ham biscuits. With enough support, we may once again see “Ham Biscuit” signs lighting up McDonald’s across the South. A perfect fluffy biscuit enveloping cool, creamy cheese and savory country ham could be in our future.
The Bittersweet History of a Breakfast Gone By
Like a shooting star flashing brilliantly but briefly across the sky, the McDonald’s Country Ham Biscuit dazzled biscuit aficionados during its short lifespan. While business realities dictated its destiny, the sandwich made its mark showcasing the delicious possibilities of southern breakfast traditions to the wider world.
So let’s fondly remember this delightful marriage of country ham and biscuit while it graced McDonald’s menus. And who knows – with sufficient longing and lady luck, we may just taste its glory again someday. For now, the memory of its hammy, buttery goodness will have to suffice.
McDonald’s Country Ham Biscuit Review
FAQ
Does McDonald’s sell country ham biscuits?
Why did McDonald’s remove items from their menu?
McDonald’s, like many other chains, removed items from their menu to streamline operations and focus on items that perform well among customers. Customers have expressed outrage over these menu changes, and while some removed items have made their return, many have not.
Why did McDonald’s discontinue menu items?
Over the past 68 years, McDonald’s has discontinued plenty of menu items for various reasons, such as low popularity or operational issues. No matter the cause, menu item cuts hit some customers harder than others, with loyal fans even creating fan pages or petitions in an attempt to revive their favorite fast-food options.
Does McDonald’s still have sausage biscuits?
They came with Southern-style ham or a pork sausage patty. And notably, they came without cheese. Bacon later joined the menu as a McDonald’s biscuit meat. To this day, both sausage and bacon biscuit sandwiches can still be found on the menu. By 1987, McDonald’s attempted to do something with its biscuits outside of the sandwich realm.
Does McDonald’s sell cinnamon rolls?
Apple pie and the discontinued cinnamon roll weren’t the only cinnamon-y menu items sold at McDonald’s. In 2007, the chain released its Cinnamon Melts, also called “Cinnamelts,” which were pieces of dough covered in cinnamon, sugar, and cream cheese icing.