The McRib is back (again), and so is the curiosity. Here's what's actually inside McDonald's cult-favorite sandwich.
Few fast-food items inspire the level of devotion and collective suspense as the McRib. When it disappears, fans mourn. When it returns, people descend on the Golden Arches as if delays could be dire.
The McRib first appeared on McDonald’s menus in 1981 and has lived a famously on-again, off-again life ever since. Unlike permanent menu items, it only returns in limited runs—sometimes years apart—which has turned it into something of a cult favorite. Each comeback feels like an event fueled by nostalgia, social media buzz and long drive-thru lines.
Its most recent return made plenty of noise, proof that the McRib’s hold on fans hasn’t faded. But beneath the tangy barbecue sauce and that unmistakable rib-shaped patty, one question keeps resurfacing for those brave enough to wonder: What exactly is in a McRib, anyway?
So what’s actually in a McRib?
According to the McDonald’s website, a McRib consists of:
- Seasoned boneless pork patty
- Tangy barbecue sauce
- Slivered onions
- Pickles
- Homestyle bun
McDonald’s doesn’t disclose which cut of pork is used to form the pork patty, but it’s not a slab of rib meat. Rather than being cut from a rack of ribs, the McRib patty is made from boneless pork that’s formed into a distinctly rib-like shape. It’s sauced and dressed to deliver a rib-reminiscent flavor and texture.
Why is everyone talking about the McRib ingredients right now?
In December 2025, a class-action lawsuit filed in Illinois claimed that the McRib’s name and rib-like appearance could mislead customers into thinking the sandwich contains actual pork rib meat. The complaint argues that rib meat is traditionally considered a premium cut, and the McRib costs more than other menu items, so some customers might not assume they’re getting a formed pork patty made from lower-quality meat.
McDonald’s has denied these claims, saying the lawsuit misrepresents the facts. In a statement, the company emphasized that the McRib is made with 100% pork sourced from U.S. farmers and suppliers and noted that it has always described the sandwich as a “pork patty”—not rib meat—so customers can make informed choices.
Why the McRib Still Works
For longtime fans, that distinction is unlikely to come as a surprise. The McRib’s appeal has always been about flavor, nostalgia and timing, not butcher shop precision. Whether it’s a formed pork patty or a rack of actual ribs has never been the point for faithful fans.
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