McDonald's Expands Hand-Breaded Chicken Pilot to 200 US-Ireland Locations

McDonald's is set to test its hand-breaded chicken offerings on a larger scale, starting with about 200 locations in the US and Ireland. The company has been selling hand-breaded wings, strips, and sandwiches at a handful of restaurants in the Chicago area as part of a pilot program.

The expansion marks a significant bet for McDonald's, which is optimized for producing large volumes of burgers, fries, and nuggets. Hand-breaded chicken requires more labor-intensive preparation, which could impact speed and efficiency.

McDonald's has been selling hand-breaded chicken at a few locations in the Chicago area since October 1, 2026, as part of its pilot program. The company plans to expand this offering to about 200 restaurants across the US and Ireland early next year.