McDonald's Bets $8.5 Billion on Remodels and a Protein-Heavy Menu

Hand-breaded chicken, grilled chicken wraps and test egg bites are in the plan, pitched at 60 million Americans chasing protein.

McDonald's is betting $8.5 billion that the next fight at the drive-thru is over protein. Hand-breaded chicken and grilled chicken wraps are on the way, and egg bites are on the test list.

The company laid out the plan at its investor day in Chicago on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the Associated Press reported. By Thursday, McDonald's was one of the searches trending across California.

The pitch is aimed at people who are eating less. Skye Anderson, president of McDonald's USA, told the AP that about 30 million Americans now take GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and want smaller meals with more protein in them. She added that the company's research shows 60 million Americans are actively looking for more protein.

"This is an opportunity," Anderson said. "We need to keep giving them more reasons to make McDonald's their first choice."

What's on the way

The headliner is hand-breaded chicken. It's already served at 10,000 McDonald's in Asia and at a handful of restaurants near Chicago, and the company says it's pushed up both sales and quality ratings there, the AP reported. Testing spreads to more U.S. markets and to Ireland in 2027. McDonald's didn't say which U.S. markets, so there's no word yet on whether an L.A. location is in the first wave.

Grilled chicken sandwiches and wraps are coming to the U.S. and other markets. The chain also plans to experiment with egg bites and bowls for customers who want more protein and different portion sizes.

Then there's the fried side of the menu. American Bazaar reported more McNuggets flavors and sauces, more McCrispy options and McWings.

Where the money goes

The $8.5 billion isn't a single check. It's support for franchisees through 2036, about $5 billion of it by 2030, paid out as rent relief and capital contributions for restaurant upgrades, QSR Web reported, citing the company's release. McDonald's hasn't announced when the first of that money flows.

The number I'd circle is the chicken goal. McDonald's wants to gain 1.5 percentage points of market share in chicken by 2030, and another 1.5 in drinks, while holding onto its lead in beef.

That's a burger company naming chicken as the prize.

And the grilled wraps and egg bites say more than the new sauces do. A chain that built its name on the value meal is now designing food for someone who orders half as much, and it's spending real money to keep that person pulling in.

The next checkpoint is 2027, when the hand-breaded chicken test reaches more U.S. markets.