McDonald's tests high-protein burger bowls and egg bites for new menu

Fast food chain McDonald's is considering major changes to its menu in response to changing eating habits among customers. The company is working on adding high-protein options to its menu to attract customers who want more protein, smaller portions and less sugar.

According to information from the company, the dishes being tested include a Crispy Chicken Bowl with lettuce, cheese, tomato and ranch, a Grilled Chicken Snack Wrap, a Burger Bowl, and Egg Bites for breakfast. Notably, the Burger Bowl plans to serve the burger in a bowl format instead of a traditional bun or bread.

One reason behind this shift is the growing use of GLP-1 drugs. The company says some customers taking such medication are now preferring smaller, protein-rich meals over large combo meals or sugary drinks. According to McDonald's, about 84 percent of US households using GLP-1 drugs visit McDonald's, and many of these customers are currently choosing existing options such as the Happy Meal, Filet-O-Fish and McNuggets.

McDonald's has already begun clearly stating protein content for some of its dishes in the US. In April 2026, the company introduced protein callouts for 17 menu items. For example, the company has stated that an Egg McMuffin has 17 grams of protein and a 10-piece Chicken McNuggets has 23 grams.

All these dishes are currently in the testing and development stage. McDonald's has not given any fixed date on which dish will finally make it to the menu or when it will launch. This testing is primarily linked to the US market, so it cannot be said for certain that these same dishes will also come to India.

McDonald's in India already has some protein-focused options on its menu. Customers will be watching to see what impact these new global experiments eventually have on the Indian menu.