McDonald’s first introduced the Pico Guacamole as a limited time offering in 2020. The creamy avocado spread was served as an option to customize sandwiches and wraps on the McDonald’s menu. Since it was a temporary menu item, McDonald’s no longer offers the Pico Guacamole.
When did McDonald’s have Pico Guacamole?
McDonald’s launched the Pico Guacamole in September 2020. It was available for a limited time through November 2020 at participating McDonald’s locations in the United States.
What sandwiches could you get Pico Guacamole on at McDonald’s?
During the limited time it was available, the Pico Guacamole could be added to any of the following sandwiches and wraps on the McDonald’s menu:
- Big Mac
- Quarter Pounder with Cheese
- Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese
- Bacon McDouble
- Cheeseburger
- Double Cheeseburger
- McChicken
- Filet-O-Fish
- Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich
- Artisan Grilled Chicken Sandwich
- Premium Ranch Salad with Grilled or Crispy Chicken
- Bacon Ranch Salad with Grilled or Crispy Chicken
- Southwest Salad with Grilled or Crispy Chicken
- Bacon Smokehouse Burger
- Double Bacon Smokehouse Burger
- Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Burger
- Double Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Burger
The Pico Guacamole added a creamy, fresh avocado flavor to any sandwich or wrap. It gave customers a way to add some extra flavor and texture to their meal.
What was in McDonald’s Pico Guacamole?
According to McDonald’s, the Pico Guacamole was made with the following ingredients:
- Avocado
- Tomatillo
- Jalapeño
- Cilantro
- Red Onion
- Garlic
- Lime Juice
- Sea Salt
So it contained a blend of avocado and spicy and tangy ingredients like jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice. The combination created a flavorful guacamole with a brighter, piquant taste compared to traditional guacamoles.
Why was McDonald’s Pico Guacamole only available for a limited time?
There are a few potential reasons why McDonald’s only had the Pico Guacamole for a limited time:
- It was designed to be a seasonal menu item to take advantage of peak avocado production in the fall.
- Offering it temporarily created hype and social media buzz as customers flocked to try it before it was gone.
- Limiting its availability made it feel more special and exclusive.
- The unique ingredients may have made it more expensive and complex to source and produce.
- McDonald’s wanted to test customer interest before deciding whether to add it to the permanent menu.
So while customers enjoyed the Pico Guacamole, McDonald’s likely determined the costs and effort didn’t make sense to continue offering it year-round nationwide. The limited-time offering strategy allowed them to drive customer excitement and engagement for a seasonal product.
Did the Pico Guacamole sell well for McDonald’s?
By most accounts, the Pico Guacamole was a success during its limited run at McDonald’s. When it launched, McDonald’s promoted it as their “most requested menu item.” Surveys showed guacamole was the topping customers wanted most on their burgers.
Once it hit menus, the Pico Guacamole was met with enthusiasm and positive reviews. Customers loved the fresh avocado flavor and creamy texture it added to sandwiches and wraps. Reviews praised it as elevated fast food and a tasty premium addition. On social media, fans lamented the loss when it disappeared from the menu in November.
McDonald’s didn’t release any hard sales data on the Pico Guacamole. But its positive reception from customers indicates it likely sold well, especially given its limited availability driving demand. The buzz and conversation around the product brought valuable engagement and attention to McDonald’s during its run.
Will McDonald’s bring back Pico Guacamole in the future?
McDonald’s has not announced any plans to bring back the Pico Guacamole at this time. However, due to its popularity, McDonald’s could consider reviving it for a future limited-time offering.
Some factors that may influence their decision:
- Customer demand and feedback requesting the return of Pico Guacamole
- Performance as a limited-time offering and impact on sales
- Availability and cost of ingredients
- Competitive landscape and other menu innovations
- Ability to drive excitement and engagement on social media
McDonald’s has brought back limited-time popular menu items in the past when there is enough customer enthusiasm. Fans of the Pico Guacamole can hope it makes a comeback in the future, potentially during peak seasonal times like summer or fall. McDonald’s will likely weigh the costs and supply chain factors before deciding to bring this menu item back again.
What’s the best way to order the Pico Guacamole?
Since the Pico Guacamole is currently unavailable at McDonald’s, there is no way to order it off the menu. When it was available for its limited-time run, McDonald’s recommended the best way to enjoy it was by adding it to sandwiches like the Bacon McDouble or Quarter Pounder with Cheese.
The Bacon McDouble in particular paired the creaminess of the guacamole with the crunchy bacon. The Quarter Pounder allowed you to experience it on a classic burger. Customers also recommended it highly on chicken sandwiches and wraps, where the guacamole’s flavor complemented the poultry.
When Pico Guacamole eventually makes its hopeful return, be sure to try it on some of McDonald’s iconic burgers and chicken sandwiches to get the full experience.
What are some guacamole options at McDonald’s now?
Since the Pico Guacamole is not currently available, customers have limited guacamole options at McDonald’s:
- Southwest Salad – Features a guacamole ranch dressing
- Fiesta Veggie – Has guacamole sauce
- Bacon Guacamole Chicken Sandwich – Part of McDonald’s Spain menu
So guacamole fans have a couple ways to get their fix currently. But none quite match the experience of adding fresh, creamy guacamole as a sandwich topping like the Pico Guacamole allowed.
Does McDonald’s sell guacamole dip?
No, at this time McDonald’s does not offer any guacamole dipping sauce or side of guacamole on their standard US menu. The only guacamole options are integrated into a salad dressing or sandwich sauce.
Some international McDonald’s locations have previously sold guacamole dip cups with items like Chicken Fingers or French fries. But the US menus currently lack a straight guacamole dip option to add to an order.
Guacamole lovers will have to look to other restaurants like Chipotle, Qdoba, or Subway if they want a side of guac for dipping.
What are some hacks for getting guacamole at McDonald’s?
With no current guacamole dipping sauce or Pico Guacamole available, McDonald’s customers have to get creative if they want to enjoy guac with their meal. Here are some potential hacks:
- Order a Southwest Salad and request extra dressing on the side for dipping.
- Add guacamole from a grocery store as a topping to burgers and sandwiches.
- Use guacamole spreads or mashed avocado as a sandwich condiment.
- Bring your own guacamole side made fresh at home.
- Mix ranch dressing and salsa for a quick guacamole substitute.
- If available, order a Bacon Guacamole Chicken Sandwich sans chicken for guac on a bun.
While not as ideal as fresh Pico Guacamole, these hacks can help customers get their guac fix from McDonald’s. The salad dressing side also allows you to dip fries, nuggets, or other items into that guacamole flavor.
Will McDonald’s add guacamole to its breakfast menu?
Currently McDonald’s has not indicated any plans to offer guacamole options on its breakfast menu. The current breakfast menu is focused heavily on traditional morning items like sandwiches with sausage, bacon, and eggs.
However, McDonald’s has expanded its breakfast offerings over the years to adapt to consumer tastes. In 2020 it added a Chicken McGriddles and Chicken McMuffin to appeal to poultry lovers in the morning.
Adding guacamole could be a way to create more unique and customized breakfast sandwiches. Some ideas for potential guacamole breakfast items include:
- Guacamole Breakfast Wrap
- Bacon, Egg, and Guac McMuffin
- Guacamole Frito Burrito
- Breakfast Bowl with Guacamole
The timing would also fit with consumers wanting healthier and more natural options with avocado’s popularity. If customer surveys show interest in guacamole for breakfast, McDonald’s would likely consider testing some menu concepts.
How does McDonald’s Pico Guacamole compare to competitors?
| Brand | Guacamole Product |
|---|---|
| McDonald’s | Pico Guacamole (Limited Time) |
| Chipotle | Freshly Made Guacamole |
| Subway | Guacamole |
| Taco Bell | Guacamole (Limited Time) |
McDonald’s short-lived Pico Guacamole holds up well compared to competitors’ offerings:
- Chipotle’s guacamole is freshly made in restaurant with good reviews. But it is an extra charge of around $2-$3.
- Subway’s guacamole is pre-made, not as fresh tasting, and an extra charge.
- Taco Bell has occasionally had limited guacamole but usually charges extra.
The Pico Guacamole was free to add to any sandwich during its run. Its fresh ingredients and creamy texture made it one of the tastiest quick service guacamoles available. While competitors offer it, McDonald’s execution of the Pico Guacamole was a standout on taste, value, and uniqueness.
Conclusion
McDonald’s Pico Guacamole was a hugely popular limited-time condiment whenever it hit menus. Its bright, creamy flavors added a tasty punch to sandwiches and wraps that customers loved. While McDonald’s hasn’t announced plans to bring it back, the Pico Guacamole’s success indicates it could return in the future as a seasonal promotion.
For now, guacamole fans will have to settle for hacked solutions to get their fix at McDonald’s. But the Pico Guacamole’s impressive run showed the potential for guacamole’s place on the McDonald’s menu. Whenever it returns, hungry customers will surely be ready to guac and roll.
