McDonald’s Unveils New Grinch Meal for the Holiday Season
McDonald’s is leaning into the season with a playful twist, releasing a new menu inspired by one of the most famous holiday characters of all time.
The McDonald’s Grinch Meal of 2025 will arrive in early December, serving up a mix of classic items and Grinch-style extras designed to bring a little mischief to the holiday rush.
The collaboration with Dr. Seuss Enterprises will use the character’s signature humor to shape the entire experience, from the food to the packaging.
What Comes in the Grinch Meal
The new Dr. Seuss holiday menu option includes a choice of two familiar McDonald’s staples. We can either order a Big Mac or a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets, plus a medium drink.
The standout addition is a portion of McShaker Fries, paired with a packet of dill pickle seasoning that’s being branded as “Grinch Salt.”
We can shake the seasoning over their fries using a themed McShaker bag, which will give the meal a festive, slightly chaotic edge.
A Grinchy Bonus Item
Here comes the fun part: each order will come with a pair of holiday socks that have Grinch-inspired designs.
We can choose between four festive colors that will have playful messages on them. Of course, they’ll reflect The Grinch’s famously grumpy persona.
The socks can work as cozy winter wear or an improvised pair of stockings if you’re decorating on a whim this year.
The meal will be available on December 2nd at participating McDonald’s locations around the U.S.
A Playful Holiday Tie-In
To support the launch, McDonald’s created a tongue-in-cheek message written from the perspective of the Grinch.
The note leans into the character’s usual attitude, positioning the meal as an invitation to embrace a bit of holiday mischief.
This lighthearted promotional approach mirrors similar holiday fast food promotions that are tapping into nostalgia and pop culture while keeping the focus on fun, limited-time menu items.
More Limited Edition Items Return
McDonald’s has confirmed that two other seasonal favorites will return this year, building out a small lineup of limited-edition McDonald’s items for December.
Details about those items are expected to roll out as the holiday season gets closer.
The Grinch’s Place in Holiday Pop Culture
This Grinch-themed fast food launch is arriving nearly seven decades after the character’s creation.
The Grinch first appeared in a 1955 magazine poem by Dr. Seuss before becoming widely known through the 1957 book How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
The character’s place in holiday culture was cemented in 1966 with the animated television special narrated by Boris Karloff.
Since then, the story has been retold through two major film adaptations, including the 2000 live-action version starring Jim Carrey and a 2018 animated film with Benedict Cumberbatch.
As the Grinch Returns Once Again
Dr. Seuss’s legacy lives on through more than sixty bestselling books and decades of stories that continue to shape seasonal media and family traditions.
The Grinch shows up in new formats every year, and this McDonald’s collaboration is simply the latest reminder of how deeply he’s woven into December pop culture.
Whether you plan on celebrating the season with a new pair of socks or a festive McFlurry, we hope you ring in the holiday season with a merry bit of mischief.
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