Based on McDonald’s UK press announcements and UK press coverage, October 2026. Prices are approximate and vary by restaurant. Availability and end dates can change — check the McDonald’s UK app for the latest.
McDonald’s UK festive menu has a headline burger this year, and it is a chicken one. The Cheesy McCrispy lands nationwide on Friday 20 November 2026 as part of the “Merry Grinchmas” festive menu, and it takes the regular McCrispy — already one of the strongest chicken burgers on the menu — and loads it up with bacon, two slices of cheese, cheese sauce and a tangy pink pickled onion chutney.
One honest note first: McDonald’s is billing the Cheesy McCrispy as one of the festive menu’s two brand-new items, but eagle-eyed regulars may recognise it — a very similar build appeared on the June 2025 summer menu. What is new is the festive return, the confirmed 2026 price, and the fact that it headlines a Christmas menu rather than a summer one. Here is everything confirmed: the price, what is actually inside, and how long you have to try it.
What’s inside the Cheesy McCrispy?
The build starts with the standard McCrispy base and then keeps adding. According to McDonald’s UK:
- 100% chicken breast fillet in a crispy, crunchy coating — the same fillet as the regular McCrispy.
- Lettuce for crunch and freshness.
- Crispy onions — an extra savoury crunch on top of the coating.
- Pink pickled onion chutney — the tangy-sweet element that cuts through the richness.
- Bacon — smoky, salty, and the reason this is not a lighter option.
- Two slices of cheese plus cheese sauce — yes, both. This is a burger for people who think one cheese layer is a missed opportunity.
That combination is the whole point. The regular McCrispy is a relatively clean, simple chicken burger; the Cheesy McCrispy is the indulgent version, with the chutney doing the important job of stopping the double cheese and bacon from becoming one-note. If you like sweet-and-savoury contrasts — think a good burger with pickles and a rich sauce — this build is designed for you.
Cheesy McCrispy prices UK
McDonald’s has published most-common UK prices for the burger on its own and as a medium Extra Value Meal. As always, individual restaurants can charge slightly more or less.
| Option | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cheesy McCrispy (on its own) | The burger, solo | £5.99 |
| Cheesy McCrispy medium Extra Value Meal | Burger + medium fries + medium drink | £7.79 |
Prices are approximate and vary by restaurant.
For context within the same festive menu, the returning Big Tasty costs £5.79 on its own or £7.59 as a medium meal — so the Cheesy McCrispy sits 20p above the Big Tasty in both formats. That is a fair price for what is, ingredient for ingredient, the more loaded burger: bacon, two cheeses and cheese sauce on top of a premium chicken fillet. Against the regular McCrispy, you are paying a small premium for the festive toppings rather than a different chicken fillet.
McDonald’s has not published a large-meal price for the Cheesy McCrispy, so expect the usual large-meal uplift at the till or in the app if you want to supersize — and delivery prices on Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo may be slightly higher than in-store.
When does the Cheesy McCrispy launch — and when does it end?
- Launch date: Friday 20 November 2026, nationwide, alongside the full festive menu.
- End date: McDonald’s says the festive menu runs for around six weeks, which takes it into early January 2027. The chain has not named a final day for the Cheesy McCrispy specifically, so treat early January as the guide rather than a guaranteed last day — and remember that popular festive items can sell out at individual restaurants before the official end.
If you want to be safe, try it in the first few weeks rather than leaving it to the post-Christmas lull, when limited-time stock gets patchy.
What else is on the festive menu?
The Cheesy McCrispy does not arrive alone. The full festive lineup, all launching 20 November, includes the returning Big Tasty and Big Tasty with Bacon, Cheese Melt Dippers with Rich Tomato Dip (£2.49, or £6.79 as a sharing box), the brand-new Terry’s Chocolate Orange Pie (£1.99), the Terry’s Chocolate Orange McFlurry and Galaxy Caramel McFlurry (£2.19 each, £1.59 mini), and the Galaxy Caramel Latte and Hot Chocolate (£2.69 each). The Grinch also takes over the Happy Meal from 20 November to 31 December, with eight collectible toys.
For the full rundown with every price, see our McDonald’s festive menu prices 2026 guide and our Christmas menu 2026 items and prices guide.
How to order it
- In restaurant: counter, self-service kiosk or drive-thru — ask for the Cheesy McCrispy, on its own or as a medium Extra Value Meal.
- App: order ahead in the McDonald’s UK app and collect MyMcDonald’s Rewards points on every order.
- Delivery: expect it on Uber Eats, Just Eat and Deliveroo where McDonald’s delivers, though delivery prices may be slightly higher.
Is it worth it?
If you already like the McCrispy, the Cheesy McCrispy is an easy yes: same chicken fillet, more going on, and only a small premium over the standard burger. The bacon-and-double-cheese combination makes it a rich, filling burger — this is not the lightest thing on the festive menu, and the cheese sauce means it eats messier than the regular McCrispy, so it is better as a sit-down order than a one-handed drive-thru bite.
Against the Big Tasty at £5.79, the choice comes down to chicken versus beef. The Cheesy McCrispy wins on novelty and on the chutney’s tangy contrast; the Big Tasty wins if you want the classic festive return. Either way, pairing either burger with the £2.49 Cheese Melt Dippers is the festive move.
One caution: McDonald’s press materials for the festive launch did not publish a headline calorie figure for the Cheesy McCrispy, so treat any number you see on social media with caution until the nutrition panel in the McDonald’s UK app lists it. If you have allergies, check the official allergen booklet before ordering — the burger contains chicken, gluten and milk ingredients, and it is prepared in kitchens that handle other allergens.
FAQs
When does the Cheesy McCrispy launch in the UK?
Friday 20 November 2026, as part of McDonald’s UK festive menu.
How much is the Cheesy McCrispy?
£5.99 on its own, or £7.79 as a medium Extra Value Meal. Prices vary by restaurant.
What’s inside the Cheesy McCrispy?
A crispy-coated 100% chicken breast fillet with lettuce, crispy onions, pink pickled onion chutney, bacon, two slices of cheese and cheese sauce.
Is the Cheesy McCrispy brand new?
McDonald’s is billing it as one of the festive menu’s two new items, but a similar build previously appeared on the June 2025 summer menu — so it is new to the festive menu, not new to McDonald’s UK entirely.
When does the Cheesy McCrispy leave the menu?
McDonald’s has not confirmed a final day. The festive menu runs for around six weeks from 20 November, so into early January 2027 — try it before Christmas to be safe.
Is the Cheesy McCrispy spicy?
No — it is not marketed as a spicy burger. The pink pickled onion chutney adds tang, not heat.
Can I get the Cheesy McCrispy on delivery?
Yes, where McDonald’s delivers via Uber Eats, Just Eat or Deliveroo, though delivery prices may be slightly higher.
The bottom line
The Cheesy McCrispy is the festive menu’s most interesting burger: a proven chicken fillet taken fully indulgent, with bacon, double cheese, cheese sauce and a chutney that keeps it all in balance. At £5.99 on its own or £7.79 as a meal, it is priced fairly against the Big Tasty and the rest of the festive range. It lands Friday 20 November 2026 and runs for around six weeks — so if the combination sounds like your kind of burger, do not leave it until January.
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