Does McDonald’s Still Have the Bacon Smokehouse Burger?

The McDonald’s bacon smokehouse burger was introduced in 2018 to much fanfare. The quarter-pound beef patty was topped with Applewood smoked bacon, crispy fried onions white cheddar, and a smoky bacon sauce. It quickly became a fan favorite for its bold craveworthy flavors. But after a relatively short run, the beloved bacon smokehouse burger mysteriously vanished from menus.

So does McDonald’s still sell the bacon smokehouse burger in 2023? Let’s investigate the history of this burger and whether it can still be found on McDonald’s menus today

The Debut of the Bacon Smokehouse Burger

In June 2018, McDonald’s added the bacon smokehouse burger to their permanent menu as part of the “Signature Crafted Recipes” lineup. It was the third recipe launched under this new collection of premium burgers made with fresh, not frozen, beef.

The smokehouse burger sought to deliver big, bold flavors. In their press release announcing the new burger, McDonald’s promoted the following ingredients:

• Thick-cut Applewood smoked bacon
• Sweet and smoky bacon-onion sauce
• Crispy fried onion strings
• White cheddar cheese
• Mild and sweet mustard sauce

Customers could order it as either a single or double patty sandwich on a toasted artisan roll. McDonald’s suggested it could also be customized with grilled or crispy chicken instead of beef.

Why the Bacon Smokehouse Burger Was So Popular

The smokehouse burger quickly emerged as a fan favorite menu item, for several reasons:

• Unique flavor profile – the combination of smoky bacon, sweet mustard sauce, and crispy onions made for a bold, craveworthy flavor not found elsewhere on the menu.

• High quality ingredients – the Applewood smoked bacon and white cheddar were noticeably better quality than typical fast food bacon.

• Signature Crafted Recipes – the burger was perceived as a more premium, chef-inspired offering thanks to this new product line.

• Fresh beef patties – like others in the Signature Crafted Recipes lineup, it was made with never-frozen beef.

For many customers, the smokehouse burger became a go-to order over the classic Quarter Pounder. Some McDonald’s franchise owners reported it quickly grew to be one of their top 5 bestselling burgers.

The Mysterious Disappearance of the Smokehouse Burger

Despite its popularity among customers, the bacon smokehouse burger suddenly disappeared from McDonald’s menus in 2020, after just 2 years on the market. McDonald’s made no formal announcement about its removal.

Some theorize that it was eliminated as part of broader menu cuts during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, when supply chain issues forced restaurants to tighten menus. The timing does line up – smokehouse burgers were still widely available in late 2019 but gone from most locations by mid-2020.

Without official word from McDonald’s corporate, the reason for the burger’s quiet retirement remains unknown. There was no shortage of disappointed fans, many of whom took to social media to protest its removal from menus.

Is the Bacon Smokehouse Burger Coming Back?

Since the discontinuation of the smokehouse burger in 2020, McDonald’s has given no indication if it will ever return to the permanent menu. However, McDonald’s does have a history of reintroducing retired fan favorite menu items for limited promotional periods.

Some examples of recently resurrected McDonald’s items include:

• McRib sandwich
• Shamrock Shake
• Halloween pails
• Szechuan dipping sauce

Given the burger’s popularity and unique flavors that set it apart on the menu, it’s certainly plausible the bacon smokehouse burger could return in the future as a limited time offering.

In fact, there are some signs it could reappear in 2023:

• Multiple fan petitions requesting the return of the smokehouse burger
• Continued customer comments on McDonald’s social media asking for its reinstatement
• 2023 will mark 5 years since its debut, a milestone McDonald’s might celebrate with a rerelease

Unfortunately, McDonald’s has shared no official plans. For now, smokehouse fans will have to continue waiting and hoping for its comeback.

Where Else to Get a Bacon Smokehouse Burger

Since it left McDonald’s, some followers of the bacon smokehouse burger have taken matters into their own hands and recreated it themselves at home. Copycat recipes abound on the internet, with most calling for ingredients like:

• Thick cut bacon, smoked if possible
• Caramelized onions
• Bacon jam or bacon onion sauce
• Smoked cheddar
• Toasted brioche buns
• Leaf lettuce
• Sliced tomato

While it requires some effort, making your own smokehouse burger allows you to customize flavors to your taste.

Another option is to check menus at other restaurants that offer similar burgers with rich bacon flavors. For example:

• Wendy’s – Baconator
• Burger King – Bacon King
• Hardee’s – Bacon Smokehouse Burger
• Steak ‘n Shake – Prime Bacon Steakburger
• Red Robin – Fire Grilled Bacon Cheeseburger

The flavors may not be an exact replica of the retired McDonald’s burger, but these provide that bacon fix for burger cravings.

Will McDonald’s Bacon Smokehouse Ever Return?

Since McDonald’s hasn’t promoted or even acknowledged the disappearance of the bacon smokehouse burger, its fate remains uncertain. Fans may need to accept that this bold burger could be gone for good.

However, there’s always hope it could make a temporary comeback or become a permanent menu item once again. McDonald’s frequently rotates limited-time offers, so be sure to check each season for the possible return of the bacon smokehouse burger.

How to Stay Updated on the Smokehouse Burger

To get notifications if and when the popular smokehouse burger returns, be sure to:

• Check McDonald’s social media accounts and website for announcements on new limited-time sandwiches

• Sign up for McDonald’s email newsletter with news of menu updates

• Follow fan groups like “Bring Back the McDonald’s Bacon Smokehouse Burger” on Facebook

• Set a Google Alert for any news articles about the bacon smokehouse burger

With dedication from loyal fans, the calls to bring back the bacon smokehouse burger continue. Maybe someday our patience will be rewarded and we’ll taste that smoky, meaty, crispy sandwich once again.