McDonalds' Secret Menu Items You Need To Know About

"I'm lovin' it" are 3 simple words that conjure up the image of the biggest fast-food chain: McDonald's. Ronald, the Hamburglar, and Grimace have all cemented themselves into the lives of anyone who loves pulling up to those golden arches and grabbing some quick, delicious food. What would the world be without the king of all fast-food burgers, the Big Mac? When Ray Kroc launched McDonald's System, Inc. in 1955, he had no idea the company would grow into the unstoppable behemoth it is today. However, it didn't take long before he realized he was onto something that people would love. His philosophy was simple: create a chain that served delicious food the same way everywhere, and that philosophy succeeded.

Over the decades, McDonald's has added and subtracted foods from their menu based on customers' wants, but there have always been the staple options that have never — and will never — see themselves off the menu. But, leave it up to the millions of dedicated McDonald's fanatics who have actually created their own unique menu options by combining certain items to deliver flavor-packed punches. Thanks to the internet, the McDonald's secret menu items aren't so secretive anymore, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try these incredibly unique (and sometimes baffling) concoctions yourself.

There's a reason the Big Mac has the name it does. It's not a Medium-Sized Mac, and it certainly isn't a Small Mac. This burger looms large with 3 buns, 2 patties, cheese, shredded lettuce, and one of the greatest condiments of all time: Mac sauce. It's called the "Big Mac" for a good reason, but you could also argue the word "big" in its name also indicates the size damage it does to your wallet if you're on a tight budget. The burger certainly isn't cheap compared to the rest of the items on the McDonald's menu. If you're craving the flavors of a Big Mac but don't want shell out the money for one, you can get creative with your order and get the Poor Man's Big Mac, according to Serious Eats.

This secret menu item all starts with a McDouble, which can be found on the dollar menu (There's your first indication you'll be saving some loot). The McDouble has 2 beef patties, cheese, pickles, ketchup, and mustard, so all you're going to need to do is customize it. Politely ask for a McDouble without the ketchup or mustard, then add shredded lettuce and Mac sauce. There you have it — all the flavors of the Big Mac for only one dollar (keep in mind some places might charge extra for the Mac sauce).

You should approach any food item with the word "monster" in its name with extreme caution. The regular Big Mac is big — it's a sandwich large enough to satisfy most people looking for something to fill their bellies for the next several hours. But, what about those hunger-laden people who stare at a Big Mac and think they need something larger? Luckily, they can tempt fate and order a secret menu item known as the Monster Mac, and it's every bit as frightening as it sounds.

The sandwich is likely way more frightening to your cholesterol than your mouth, and for very good reason. While your standard Big Mac contains 2 beef patties, the Monster Mac takes the beef patty game to an entirely new level with 8 beef patties, according to The Sun. In order to create this monstrosity, you have to order 1 Big Mac and 3 double cheeseburgers. Then, simply take the patties from the cheeseburgers and stuff them into the Big Mac. Now, prepare for a culinary journey that'll have your mouth saying, "Yes!" but your arteries screaming, "No!"

A grilled cheese sandwich is simple, and yet so often, it hits the spot when you're hungry. Plus, you can add many different ingredients to make them even better. So, what happens when you pull into a McDonald's and suddenly crave a grilled cheese instead of a burger or nuggets? Your first instinct might be to leave and head somewhere else, but luckily, there's an inventive hack to get a grilled cheese sandwich from McDonald's, per Hack The Menu.

All you have to do is order a cheeseburger and ask the workers to hold the beef patty — that's it, there's nothing fancy going on here at all. Make sure you still ask for a toasted bun, as a grilled cheese without a toasted bun simply isn't a grilled cheese at all. You can also ask them to double-down on the cheese if you want it extra gooey. Who knew a hack so simple could yield everyone's favorite childhood sandwich? McDonald's has nostalgia covered! You can also order a Big Mac without the beef patties for a secret menu item known as the Big Mac 'n' Cheese, according to Hack The Menu.

One thing you notice when you travel abroad and visit the same chain restaurants we have here in the states is there are sometimes slight differences to the menus. While there are still the staple items like nuggets and Big Macs, often a country will add items that cater more to the region's specific tastes. For example, some McDonald's in Asia offer Filet-o-Shrimp sandwiches, and if you travel to our neighbors up north, you can order up Poutine. Two other countries that offer an item America's Golden Arches don't are Australia and New Zealand. But, luckily, the Chicken Big Macs on their menus can easily be assembled here.

A Chicken Big Mac is exactly what you think it is: all the deliciousness of a Big Mac but using two crispy chicken patties instead of beef patties. Maybe you're trying to avoid red meat, or maybe you just want to see what this secret menu item is all about. Either way, the end goal is easy to accomplish. You can try asking at the register if they can create this item for you, but if they won't, simply order one Big Mac and two McChicken sandwiches. Then, swap out the beef and swap in the chicken. Two simple swaps result in one unique and delicious sandwich.

The word "creamsicle" has the incredible ability to send images of sweet desserts prancing through our minds. It sends us into a sugar-laden dream state where cavities don't exist and ice cream is situated on the base of the Food Pyramid as one of the most vital ingredients to a healthy human diet. Unfortunately, ice cream will never find itself there, but that doesn't mean you can't indulge from time to time. One of the greatest post-dinner treats of all time is the Orange Creamsicle, and even though it's not technically on the McDonald's menu, you can whip one up yourself with a creative hack, per Totally The Bomb.

Here's all you need to know: McDonald's sells vanilla ice cream and Hi-C Orange. There you have it, the only 2 ingredients you need to leave the McDonald's parking lot with an Orange Creamsicle in your hand and a smile on your face. Simply dump the sweet orange Hi-C into the plastic cup of vanilla ice cream. Grab your spoon, harness your inner ice cream-obsessed child, and shovel that creation into your mouth like your life depends on it. The operation is then complete, and although it isn't brain surgery, it's certainly something to feel proud about.

Sometimes you surf, and sometimes you turf, but sometimes you surf and turf. Thanks to the lovely people who carefully created the secret menu at McDonald's, you now have the chance to dive into a 3-way mixture of flavors. It's not a bird, and it's not a plane, but it's the Land, Sea, and Air Burger, and it's every bit as intriguing (and somewhat confusing) as it sounds, per Good Mythical MORE.

The confusing part of this creation isn't in the actual assembling but more in the choice to combine chicken, beef, and fish into one sandwich. Adding in a fish filet to chicken and beef might throw your taste buds into a tailspin they won't be able to pull out of. When Rhett and Link of Good Mythical MORE tasted the item, they were thrown off by the fish taste that seemingly overwhelmed the rest of the sandwich — but hey, those are just 2 opinions. You'll have to order it yourself to truly see if you can handle the 2 turfs and single surf McDonald's has to offer.