13 Fast Food Menu Items That Disappeared During the Pandemic

Back in 2020, those poor old fast-food corporations were struggling for money too. Faced with labor shortages, supply chain delays, and a lack of customers, they were forced to slim down their menus and only sell their most popular items.

As a result, we saw items disappear and never come back. Years later, the pandemic is still lingering in our lives in some way. Here’s how it affected some of our favorite fast food menus.

McDonald’s Salads

I can hear many of you saying “Who cares?” about the thought of a McDonald’s salad. You go there for a burger after all, right? But salads did offer a healthy option for those who still wanted to hang out with their burger-loving friends or family.

When Covid hit and costs had to be cut, the salads went first. In 2022, McDonald’s gave franchises the option of selling pre-made salads, but the answers were often no.

McDonald’s Chicken Tenders

Once called “Buttermilk Crispy Tenders”, they were so delicious and loved that McDonald’s struggled to keep up with the demands. That was until 2020 when they removed them from their menus entirely.

Four years on and chicken lovers are still left disappointed by their absence. We’re hoping that they’ll come back though, as rumors suggest they’re testing new recipes.

Panera Bread’s Tuscan Chicken Sandwich

Toasted and overflowing with flavor, the Tuscan Chicken Sandwich from Panera was a hit for many. It included mozzarella, parmesan, arugula, tomato confit, pesto mayo, and… chicken!

But when Covid hit, it was on the chopping line. Fast foodie pro tip: you may still be able to order it by modifying a regular sandwich and selecting the individual ingredients.

KFC’s Potato Wedges

Who knew you could cause so much controversy with potato wedges? Not KFC. As early as June 2020 (so the peak COVID, stay inside and only eat via delivery era) it was axed from KFC menus.

Wedge lovers were not happy, but people did enjoy the Secret Recipe Fries that came instead. There was even a Twitter account that fought for the wedge return.

Taco Bell’s Triple Layer Nachos

The perfect size, just $1, and delicious. The Triple-Layer nachos were once a staple of the “Why Pay More?” menu. But now, they’re long gone.

As much as Covid was to blame for their August 2020 removal, Taco Bell also stated it would “leave room for new fan favorites”. I’m not sure they were right.

Panera Bread’s Cheese Brittany

Panera’s refined pastry was a savory favorite to many Americans. But in 2020 they had to remove it to eliminate some single-use items from their pantry (the Brittany dough was only used for that item).

It was originally based on the Kouign-Amann French pastry, from the Douarnenez of Bretagne, Northwest France.

Taco Bell’s Spicy Tostada

Some people consider the removal of the Spicy Tostada simply unforgivable. Back in 2020 when Taco Bell’s menu was changed, it was removed.

In recent times, Taco Bell has released a Big Cheez-It Tostada, featuring a large Cheez-It cracker, diced tomatoes, lettuce, cheese, sour cream, and seasoned beef. But that’s not spicy, is it?

McDonald’s Snack Wraps

Sorry America, but the Snack Wrap is still on sale in the UK, France, and Canada. Sadly for the United States, it was removed entirely in 2020 during Covid. The soft flour tortilla wraps featured chicken breast, lettuce, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack Cheese, and a choice of sauce.

It was officially discontinued way back in 2016, but individual franchises would still choose to sell them – so if you still saw them, you’re not going crazy.

McDonald’s Grilled Chicken Sandwiches

Although some employees say it tasted like “rubber,” the Grilled Chicken sandwich is highly missed by many fast-food lovers. As the menu had to be streamlined, it faced the cut. It is still on sale in some parts of the world, including France and Canada.

It featured tender, juicy grilled chicken with shredded lettuce, creamy mayo-style sauce, and a unique soft potato bun. Now I’m hungry!

Taco Bell’s Quesarito

Sold from 2014 to 2020, here rests the memory of the Taco Bell Quesarito. A delicious combination of beef burrito and quesadilla, it was a consumer favorite.

For a time, it was still available via Taco Bell’s app for delivery or pickup. But sadly, even that is now a thing of the past.

McDonald’s All-Day Breakfast

From 2015 to 2020, McDonald’s offered a morning treat that was a comforting treat to many Americans. But, during COVID it was removed to streamline the kitchen demands and costs.

It used to contain hotcakes, sausages, sausage burritos, fruit ‘n yogurt parfait, Fruit & Maple Oatmeal, and a many other items. You can still order these during breakfast hours, but if you’re hungry for a sausage burrito at 2 p.m., you’re out of luck.

IHOP Simple and’ Fit Omelet

IHOP has a huge breakfast menu, but in 2020 the chain was faced with making some tough decisions. One of the first to go was the classic Simple & Fit menu. It was one of the healthy options, featuring more than 30 items at less than 600 calories.

Apparently, you can still build it by customizing a regular omelet.

Burger King Maple Oatmeal

The chain’s morning menus faced a drastic slashing back in 2020, so we end our list with one more breakfast item: the long-gone Burger King Maple Oatmeal. Featuring Quaker oats, it was sweet, hearty and wholesome.

Honestly, I doubt this is one anyone really misses. It’s a lot easier to make your bowl of maple oatmeal than it is to make a McDonald’s Chicken Tender!