McDonald’s has something big coming to its menu in March: the Big Arch.
The Big Arch burger, which has already available in other international markets, becomes available in the United States for a limited time starting Tuesday, March 3. The burger has gotten a lot of attention for its size – it has two quarter pound beef patties, surrounded by three slices of melted white cheddar cheese.
Touted as McDonald’s “biggest and boldest burger yet,” the Big Arch also differs from other McDonald’s burgers with its toppings: in addition to lettuce and pickles, the burger has crispy and slivered onions, and is dressed with Big Arch Sauce, described by McDonald’s on its online Menu Spotter page as “a tangy, creamy sauce with a perfect balance of mustard, pickle and sweet tomato flavors.”
The burger comes on a toasted sesame and poppy seed bun. “It’s truly the ‘most McDonald’s, McDonald’s burger’ yet,” the company says.
The Big Arch is big in terms of calories, too
McDonald’s new burger, the Big Arch, also weighs in as its heftiest burger at 1,057 calories, according to the McDonald’s menu in the U.K., where the burger has become a permanent menu fixture.
If you’re counting that nearly doubles the calories in two Big Macs (580 calories each).
The fast-food giant developed the sandwich – it has also been on the menu in Canada, Germany, Portugal, France and Switzerland – in response to consumer demand for a larger beef offering that satisfies appetites while representing value for the price, the company said in a statement.
“We began to pilot Big Arch about a year and a half ago, and it’s shown strong traction across several markets,” said Jill McDonald, the company’s global chief restaurant experience officer, during the fourth quarter earnings call. “Customers are responding to this more satisfying burger that meets demand for something heartier while still feeling distinctly McDonald’s. Its performance helped it earn a permanent spot on the U.K. menu, and we see potential to continue scaling this platform as we strengthen our position within this tier of the beef category.”
McDonald’s didn’t release a price for the burger, instead saying individual restaurants will determine pricing and that it may vary based on location. However, compared to its price in international markets, it could cost $10-$11 for the burger, based on McDonald’s pricing in the U.K. and Ireland.
McDonald’s isn’t the only burger restaurant pitching big burgers. Burger King has its Maple Bourbon BBQ Whopper currently returning to its menu. In November 2025, Shake Shack added the Big Shack burger to its menu for a limited time, while Carl’s Jr. debuted its Cali XL Burger.
The Big Arch could become a big enough hit to join McDonald’s permanent menu, too, fast-food analyst Mark Kalinowski told MarketWatch earlier this month. “This should do very well for them,” he said.
Mike Snider is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, X and email him at mikegsnider & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: McDonald’s biggest burger, the Big Arch burger, is coming in March
Reporting by Mike Snider, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
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