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I think I just found my new fast-food obsession.
Growing up, my mom used to take my brother and I to McDonald’s after doctor appointments. It was a brilliant parenting move, because we never associated any fear or anxiety with a visit to the doctor’s office. All we cared about was the fact that we were an hour away from a Happy Meal. As an adult, now I have a Pavlovian response: Whenever I pull out of the parking lot at my doctor’s office, I drive to the nearest McDonald’s.
So I have deep ties to the Golden Arches. While the breakfast menu is my favorite thing to order off of, I do have a soft spot for Mickey D’s french fries. I mean, don’t we all? They’re pretty much the S-tier french fry option for fast-food restaurants. So when I heard about the new McDonald’s Grinch Meal featuring Dill Pickle McShaker Fries, I immediately drove to McDonald’s—no doctor’s appointment necessary.
What comes in the McDonald’s Grinch Meal?
I invited my parents to join me for a lunch outing to try the McDonald’s Grinch Meal. First, I wanted multiple opinions on the McShaker Fries. Second, we all really love the Grinch. I know that this is a divisive opinion, but my family is staunchly in the original animated movie camp, as opposed to the 2000 live-action version.
But whichever version of the Grinch you love, I guarantee you will love this meal. The box that it comes in is so cute that my mom kept them all to use as boxes for the holidays. Here’s what comes with the Grinch Meal:
- Choice of a Big Mac or 10-piece McNugget
- Medium drink
- McShaker bag of french fries
- Packet of Dill Pickle Salt
- Pair of limited-edition Grinch socks
While there are four variations of the Grinch socks, you can’t actually choose what color you want. The mystery aspect of the socks was kind of like an adult version of wondering which toy you’d get in your Happy Meal. I liked the novelty of that—it made me feel like a kid again. My parents and I agreed that having a grown-up meal come in a festive box with a “toy” was really fun.
I ordered a Big Mac and Diet Coke, which are always good. And to be perfectly honest: I was very skeptical of the Dill Pickle McShaker Fries. I’m not quite a dill pickle fanatic like I know some people are. I like pickles a normal amount! Plus, I was worried that they would be too salty. I also didn’t know if the McShaker bag would do a good job of evenly coating the fries. It all felt very gimmicky to me. Thus, I entered this meal cautiously optimistic.
What does the McDonald’s Grinch Meal taste like?
Well, guess who needs to eat crow? Preferably Dill Pickle McShaker crow. These fries are fantastic. I was in complete awe of every aspect. The dill pickle seasoning was amazing—tart and tangy and perfectly pickled. I was happily surprised to see that real dill weed was included in the packet, along with vinegar powder and salt.
And guess what, the McShaker bag works really well! There are instructions on the back of the bag, but it isn’t exactly rocket science. Dump the seasoning packet into the bag (I started with half of the packet, which turned out to be plenty), then fold down the top and shake to mix. A light shake was all we needed to ensure that the fries were evenly coated. My mom said it’s the best thing she’s eaten at McDonald’s in years—and I have to agree.
After we finished our food, we decided to open up our Grinch socks together. It felt a little bit like opening a fortune cookie at the end of a meal. Surprisingly, we all ended up with green Grinch socks! It made us wonder if every McDonald’s location gets a different color of socks, or if the socks change every week. As someone who really enjoys food merch, I’m compelled to keep ordering the Grinch Meal until I get all four colors.
Final Thoughts
It’s safe to say that my heart grew three sizes after eating this meal. First of all, it was really fun to go sit inside McDonald’s with my parents. I can’t remember the last time I ordered dine-in McDonald’s. Sitting in McDonald’s while Christmas music played and snow swirled around outside felt really festive. A wave of nostalgia washed over me while we ate.
The Grinch Meal is available now while supplies last. These Dill Pickle McShaker Fries are an absolute must-try. Whether you’re a dill pickle fiend or simply like bold and inventive new menu items, you’ll enjoy them. I want to try more flavors of the McShaker Fries, so I hope different versions pop up on the menu now and then. And if you happen to find a McDonald’s location that has the blue socks in stock, you need to tell me ASAP.
Related:
- These Are the 7 Best Fast-Food Holiday Drinks, Ranked
- I Tried Burger King’s SpongeBob Menu, and I Want to Eat It Every Day
- 13 Types of Pickles You Should Know (and Try!)
