If McDonald’s ever questioned the demand for its Snack Wrap, nine years of persistent fan pleas have made the answer loud and clear.
On Tuesday, the fast-food giant confirmed that Snack Wraps are making their long-awaited U.S. return on July 10. Originally launched nearly two decades ago as a portable way to enjoy chicken on the go, the Snack Wrap — a flour tortilla filled with chicken, lettuce, shredded cheese, and sauce — was pulled from U.S. menus in 2016 due to the complexity of preparing it in McDonald’s kitchens.
But that didn’t stop fans from asking for it. Some, like Alicia Force, a musician and high school admin in Missouri, tried recreating it at home and even started a Facebook group urging McDonald’s to bring it back. A Change.org petition garnered nearly 19,000 signatures, and viral TikTok videos reviewing Irish Snack Wraps gained millions of views. 
“We listen to our fans,” said McDonald’s U.S. President Joe Erlinger. “The Snack Wrap’s return is a testament to that.”
However, there’s more to the story than fan service. The Snack Wrap’s lower price and smaller size align with what McDonald’s needs right now: value-driven items to win back customers deterred by inflation and shifting dining habits. U.S. fast-food visits dropped 1% in early 2025 compared to the same time in 2024, and McDonald’s same-store sales fell 3.6% in the first quarter.
Snack-sized meals also suit modern consumers who increasingly skip traditional mealtimes in favor of flexible snacking throughout the day.
Why now?
The revival took years of planning. McDonald’s first improved its chicken with the new peppery McCrispy Strips, launched in May. Then came updates to tools, streamlined prep processes, and training for 13,500 U.S. locations.
To keep it simple, McDonald’s will offer only fried chicken Snack Wraps in two flavors: Ranch and Spicy. Previous options like grilled chicken, honey mustard, and sweet chili won’t be available — at least for now. That may disappoint longtime fans like Force, who preferred the honey mustard version, or Steve Davis, a Florida counselor who used to stockpile grilled Snack Wraps for healthier snacking.
Globally, markets like Canada still offer a broader variety, including grilled and fried chicken, fish, and breakfast wraps. McDonald’s hasn’t confirmed if more options will roll out in the U.S., but said it “will continue listening to our fans.”
With competitors like Burger King, Wendy’s, Popeyes, and even Wawa jumping into the chicken wrap game, McDonald’s is making a strategic move to reclaim space in a fast-growing category. According to Erlinger, chicken is now outselling beef in fast food and expanding faster worldwide.
Snack Wrap prices will vary by location, but expect something close to Burger King’s $2.99 Royal Crispy Wrap, a comparable offering with 310 calories — nearly half the calories of their larger sandwich version.
Ultimately, McDonald’s is hoping the return of the Snack Wrap will bring not just nostalgia, but also much-needed traffic and loyalty.
For Force, the comeback is personal. “Hopefully, they come back and they taste the same,” she said. “And they don’t break my heart again, quite frankly.”
