Last updated: 1 October 2026
McDonald’s no longer offers the original £5 Meal Deal in the same form in the UK. It was replaced in January 2026 by Meal Deal Plus, which has a headline price of £5.59 at participating restaurants and gives customers more choice over the additional side.
The current medium Meal Deal Plus includes a Cheeseburger or Mayo Chicken, a medium side and drink, plus a bonus side chosen from four Chicken McNuggets, a Mini McFlurry, an Apple Pie, another Cheeseburger or another Mayo Chicken.
McDonald’s confirms that the deal is served from 11am, is not available for delivery, and that price and participation can vary by restaurant.
| Detail | Current Position |
|---|---|
| Original £5 Meal Deal | Replaced |
| Current offer | Meal Deal Plus |
| Advertised medium price | £5.59 |
| Burger | Cheeseburger or Mayo Chicken |
| Main side | Medium fries, with alternative sides reported by MSE |
| Bonus side | 4 McNuggets, Mini McFlurry, Apple Pie, Cheeseburger or Mayo Chicken |
| Start time | From 11am |
| Delivery | Not available |
| Large version | Yes, but local price should be checked |
| No voucher needed | Yes |
Does McDonald’s Still Do the £5 Meal Deal?
No. If someone searches for the McDonald’s £5 Meal Deal in 2026, the important point is that the original offer has been replaced.
McDonald’s launched its first UK and Ireland £5 Meal Deal on Wednesday 9 October 2024. At launch, it included a Cheeseburger or Mayo Chicken, medium fries, a medium soft drink and four Chicken McNuggets.
McDonald’s said at the time that the bundle could save almost £2.50 compared with buying the items separately.
That version did not continue unchanged into 2026. McDonald’s introduced Meal Deal Plus in January 2026, raising the advertised medium price by 59p but expanding the choice of bonus side.
McDonald’s later told investors that the revised UK offer was designed to give customers greater flexibility.
As of now, McDonald’s is still actively promoting Meal Deal Plus for £5.59 on its UK website.
How Did the McDonald’s Meal Deal Change?
The difference is not simply a 59p price increase. The structure of the offer changed as well.
| Date | Deal | Price | Main Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 October 2024 | Original Meal Deal | £5 | Nuggets fixed as the additional side |
| January 2026 | Meal Deal Plus introduced | £5.59 | Choice of five bonus sides |
| 1 October 2026 | Meal Deal Plus remains available | £5.59 advertised | Price and participation may vary locally |
The original £5 version offered less choice but had a clear fixed combination. Meal Deal Plus lets customers decide whether the extra part of the meal should be savoury, sweet or another burger.
That flexibility is the main benefit customers receive for the additional 59p.
What Is Included in the £5.59 Meal Deal Plus?
The standard medium version starts with either a Cheeseburger or Mayo Chicken.
Customers then receive medium fries and an eligible drink before choosing one bonus side from:
- Four Chicken McNuggets
- Mini McFlurry
- Apple Pie
- Cheeseburger
- Mayo Chicken
McDonald’s says eligible drinks can include a regular hot drink, medium carbonated soft drink or bottled drink.
The standard terms exclude Toffee Latte, Latte, Cappuccino and Flat White from the included hot-drink selection. Extra charges may apply for upgrades.
MoneySavingExpert also reports that customers can currently switch the medium fries for a side salad, pineapple stick or carrot sticks, depending on the ordering options available at the restaurant.
That makes Meal Deal Plus considerably more flexible than the original £5 combination.
Which Meal Deal Plus Bonus Side Gives the Most Value?
There is no objective “best” choice for taste, but the options can be compared using their approximate standalone menu values.
MoneySavingExpert currently lists the relevant starting prices as £1.49 for a Cheeseburger or Mayo Chicken, £1.89 for medium fries, £1.89 for a medium drink, £1.49 for a Mini McFlurry and £2.09 for an Apple Pie.
McDonald’s told MSE that four Chicken McNuggets would have a value of approximately £2.79.
However, four nuggets are not normally sold as a standalone portion, so that figure should be understood as an estimated pro-rata value rather than a normal till price.
| Bonus Side | Approx. Individual Value | Approx. Basket Value* | Approx. Saving vs £5.59 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Chicken McNuggets | £2.79 estimated | £8.06 | £2.47 |
| Apple Pie | £2.09 | £7.36 | £1.77 |
| Cheeseburger | From £1.49 | £6.76 | £1.17 |
| Mayo Chicken | From £1.49 | £6.76 | £1.17 |
| Mini McFlurry | From £1.49 | £6.76 | £1.17 |
*Using a £1.49 burger, £1.89 fries and a £1.89 drink before adding the bonus item.
On pure menu-price maths, the four McNuggets produce the largest nominal saving. However, that saving is partly notional because customers cannot normally buy exactly four nuggets separately.
The Apple Pie comes next on stated menu value.
Choosing a second burger may be more useful for someone wanting a more substantial savoury meal, even though its individual menu price is lower.
A Mini McFlurry may make more sense for someone who would otherwise buy dessert separately.
Local prices can also change the calculation.
Can You Swap the Fries for Salad or Fruit?
MoneySavingExpert reports that Meal Deal Plus customers can choose medium fries, side salad, a pineapple stick or carrot sticks as the regular side.
This matters for both price comparison and nutrition.
A side salad, pineapple stick or carrot sticks has a lower normal selling price than medium fries, so the apparent monetary saving from Meal Deal Plus becomes smaller when one of these alternatives is selected.
However, someone choosing the deal for flexibility rather than maximum theoretical savings may prefer those options.
McDonald’s provides current nutritional information for individual products through its nutrition tools, and its Side Salad page confirms that the salad contains lettuce, cucumber, tomato and crispy onion.
Customers with allergies should check the individual items rather than assuming that a substitution automatically makes the whole meal suitable for a particular dietary requirement.
Why Were Some Customers Unhappy About the 59p Increase?
The January change generated criticism because customers who still wanted exactly the old combination were effectively being asked to pay an additional 59p.
Some social media users joked that the new product should have been called the “£5 Meal Deal Plus 59p”, while other customers argued that the expanded side choices made the increase easier to justify.
The Sun also reported customers saying they would consider alternatives such as KFC after the change.
McDonald’s response focused on choice. A company spokesperson said the new version reflected customer demand for greater flexibility while maintaining a value-focused price.
Both points can be true.
For someone who always chose nuggets, the change means paying 59p more for broadly the same combination. For someone who wants an Apple Pie, Mini McFlurry or second burger instead, Meal Deal Plus provides choices the £5 version did not.
Is Meal Deal Plus Actually the Cheapest Way to Eat at McDonald’s?
Not necessarily.
McDonald’s still operates a Saver Menu, and its current UK page advertises Saver Menu food from £1.19.
That means customers who only want one or two items may spend less by ordering individually rather than buying Meal Deal Plus.
MoneySavingExpert also lists a medium Mayo Chicken Saver Meal at around £4.49, depending on location. That includes a burger, fries and drink but not the additional bonus side.
The decision therefore depends on what the customer actually intends to eat.
Someone who wants a burger, fries, drink and another substantial side can get considerably more from the £5.59 bundle than from a £4.49 three-item meal.
Someone who only wants a burger and drink may be better off ignoring the bundle entirely.
McDonald’s also runs changing app promotions and MyMcDonald’s Rewards offers.
Customers checking promotions should remember that McDonald’s generally allows only one offer per transaction, and individual promotional terms can prevent an app voucher from being combined with another offer.
Live Business Blog has also covered how McDonald’s promotions can differ from viral claims, including its look at McDonald’s Valentine’s Day offers.
How Does Meal Deal Plus Compare With KFC, Burger King and Wendy’s?
Fast-food comparisons need to be treated carefully because the food quantities are different and app promotions change frequently.
As checked around the start of October 2026, several alternatives are available.
| Chain | Example Current Value Offer | Advertised Price | What It Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDonald’s | Meal Deal Plus | £5.59 | Burger, medium side, drink, bonus side |
| KFC | Mini Variety Meal | £5 | Mini burger or wrap, chicken side, fries and drink |
| Burger King | Lunch Club | Around £4.99 at participating locations | Selected burger, side and regular drink |
| Wendy’s | JBC Biggie Deal | £3.99 | Jr Bacon Cheeseburger, small fries and regular drink |
| Tesco | Standard Meal Deal with Clubcard | £3.85 | Main, snack and drink |
KFC currently advertises its Mini Variety meals for £5 on its UK deals page.
Wendy’s officially lists its JBC Biggie Deal at £3.99, consisting of a Jr Bacon Cheeseburger with fries and a drink.
Burger King’s current offers page continues to list value promotions including the Melts King Box and regular meal offers, while the Lunch Club has been advertised at £4.99 at participating restaurants.
Because Burger King offers can be account-, location- or time-specific, customers should check the current app price before travelling.
Supermarket lunch bundles remain cheaper in headline terms. For example, the current Tesco Meal Deal price with Clubcard is £3.85 for a main, snack and drink.
These are not like-for-like meals. McDonald’s Meal Deal Plus includes four components and hot food, while some cheaper alternatives include fewer items or smaller portions.
How Do You Order the McDonald’s Meal Deal Plus?
No voucher code is required for the standard Meal Deal Plus.
MoneySavingExpert says customers can ask staff for the £5.59 deal, select it at a self-service kiosk or order through the McDonald’s app.
The main ordering conditions are:
- Available from 11am
- Participating restaurants only
- Subject to availability
- Not available through delivery
- Upgrades may cost extra
- Local prices can vary
The fact that the deal appears inside the McDonald’s app does not make it an app-exclusive voucher. That distinction is important because separate app promotions can have their own eligibility and redemption rules.
Is Meal Deal Plus Available for Delivery?
No.
McDonald’s official Meal Deal Plus terms explicitly state that the offer is not available on delivery.
Customers can still use McDelivery for normal menu items, but should not expect the £5.59 Meal Deal Plus price when ordering through McDelivery, Uber Eats, Just Eat or Deliveroo.
This replaces the previous article’s speculative explanation about delivery commissions. The important factual point is simply that McDonald’s excludes Meal Deal Plus from delivery.
Can You Get a Large Meal Deal Plus?
Yes.
McDonald’s has a separate official page for the Large Meal Deal Plus, with large fries and a large eligible drink alongside the same burger and bonus-side choices.
However, the official page does not currently state one universal large price.
Some January coverage cited customers seeing £6.49 locally, but McDonald’s itself says pricing and participation can vary.
It is therefore safer to tell readers to check their selected restaurant in the McDonald’s app or kiosk rather than publishing £6.49 as a guaranteed national price.
What About Nutrition and Allergens?
There is no single calorie figure for Meal Deal Plus because customers can build several different combinations.
A Cheeseburger with fries, a full-sugar soft drink and Apple Pie will have a different nutritional profile from a Mayo Chicken, side salad, zero-sugar drink and fruit-based side.
Customers who are comparing options should therefore use McDonald’s nutritional information for the exact items selected rather than relying on one headline number.
McDonald’s also warns that its kitchens handle multiple allergens and use equipment and utensils across different menu items.
The company says it cannot guarantee that food will be completely allergen-free even when ingredients are removed.
That makes McDonald’s own current allergen and nutrition information a much more appropriate reference than unrelated third-party diet articles.
Why Might the Price Be Different at Your Local McDonald’s?
The £5.59 figure is the headline Meal Deal Plus price, but McDonald’s itself states that price and participation may vary.
Local variation is not unique to this offer.
Getplace analysed McDonald’s UK pricing between April and July 2026 and found that different products moved in different ways.
In its sample, 83% of monitored Medium Big Mac Meal prices stayed unchanged, while other products were repriced much more widely.
That research should not be treated as a census of every McDonald’s restaurant, but it illustrates why one menu price should not automatically be assumed to apply identically across every branch.
The safest approach is to select the actual restaurant in the McDonald’s app and check the displayed price before ordering.
Is McDonald’s Meal Deal Plus Worth £5.59?
For someone who wants all four components, Meal Deal Plus can still provide a meaningful saving against buying the same or comparable items separately.
Using current starting prices reported by MoneySavingExpert, the theoretical individual value ranges from roughly £6.76 to £8.06 when medium fries are selected.
That means the apparent saving can range from around £1.17 to £2.47, depending mainly on the bonus side.
The four-nugget comparison gives the largest headline saving, although the £2.79 value assigned to four nuggets is an estimate rather than an actual standalone selling price.
The more important difference from the old deal is therefore choice.
The £5 version was cheaper but fixed. The £5.59 Meal Deal Plus costs 59p more but lets the customer choose between nuggets, dessert or another burger.
Whether that extra flexibility is useful depends on what the customer would have ordered anyway.
FAQs About the McDonald’s £5 Meal Deal
Does McDonald’s still do the £5 Meal Deal?
No. The original £5 Meal Deal was replaced in January 2026 by Meal Deal Plus, currently advertised at £5.59 for the medium version at participating restaurants.
What is the difference between the £5 Meal Deal and Meal Deal Plus?
The old £5 deal included four McNuggets as the fixed extra side. Meal Deal Plus costs 59p more but lets customers choose nuggets, an Apple Pie, Mini McFlurry, Cheeseburger or Mayo Chicken.
Can you swap McDonald’s fries for a salad?
MoneySavingExpert reports that the medium side can currently be changed to a side salad, pineapple stick or carrot sticks. Availability should be checked at the selected restaurant.
Is Meal Deal Plus available on delivery?
No. McDonald’s explicitly states that Meal Deal Plus is not available for delivery.
Can you get a large Meal Deal Plus?
Yes. McDonald’s officially offers a large version with large fries and an eligible large drink. The company does not currently publish one universal large price, so check the local restaurant before ordering.
Can you use an app voucher with Meal Deal Plus?
Do not assume that an app promotion can be stacked with it. McDonald’s general offer terms state that only one offer can normally be used per transaction, and individual vouchers can contain additional restrictions.
Do you need a voucher for Meal Deal Plus?
No. The standard £5.59 Meal Deal Plus does not require a promotional code or voucher. It can be ordered through staff, a kiosk or the McDonald’s app.
Which Meal Deal Plus bonus side gives the biggest saving?
Based on current menu values reported by MoneySavingExpert, four Chicken McNuggets give the highest nominal value, followed by the Apple Pie. The nugget saving is partly theoretical because four nuggets are not normally sold separately.
What time does the Meal Deal Plus start?
McDonald’s states that Meal Deal Plus is served from 11am at participating restaurants.
Is Meal Deal Plus available at every McDonald’s?
No. McDonald’s says price and participation may vary, and all elements remain subject to availability.
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