McDonald’s has formally announced a renewed value push, unveiling a new line of menu items priced at $3 or less that will begin rolling out across the United States on April 21. The chain said the revamped “McValue” offerings — reportedly referred to internally as “McValue 2.0” — will cover breakfast, lunch and dinner items and include limited-time price promotions intended to bring more low-cost choices back to the drive-thru amid rising food costs.
The under-$3 roster for breakfast includes the Sausage Biscuit, Sausage Burrito, hash browns and a medium McCafé coffee. For lunch and dinner, the value list expands to the McChicken, McDouble, a 4‑piece Chicken McNuggets, a small fries and a medium soft drink. McDonald’s also announced a new $4 breakfast combo that pairs either a Sausage McMuffin or Sausage Biscuit with a hash brown and a small coffee. As an early incentive, the company said the Sausage McMuffin will be offered for a limited time at $1.50, and the McDouble will be available for $2.50.
The launch is McDonald’s latest attempt to respond to customer complaints about affordability after years of price increases. The move follows a separate price-cut effort last fall, when McDonald’s trimmed prices on eight signature meals through an “Extra Value Meals” program in September 2025. The new McValue lineup signals the company plans to continue layering in more promotions throughout the year, with periodic deeper discounts on fan-favorite items.
Industry observers say the timing reflects broader pressures on quick-service chains as menu prices climbed in many markets. Some high-profile examples have fed customer frustration: social-media posts and local reports have circulated showing regionally expensive combos, such as a Big Arch Burger costing roughly $10 in New York City and other orders topping $15 to $18, prompting calls for more consistent low-cost options across the system.
McDonald’s framed the McValue announcement as an effort to “ensure customers can enjoy the Golden Arches without emptying their wallets,” according to the company release. The rollout will include both a-la-carte under-$3 items and the new $4 breakfast combo, with restaurants expected to add the offers to menus beginning April 21. The chain said it will “pepper in” additional deals during the year, but did not provide a detailed schedule of future discounts.
Analysts and customers will be watching whether the value push is coupled with adjustments to portioning, franchised restaurant participation, or regional pricing variations that have complicated past promotions. For now, the McValue lineup provides clearly priced choices for budget-conscious diners and marks another step in McDonald’s ongoing balancing act: maintaining margins while keeping core customers who are sensitive to menu price changes.
The new menu comes as fast-food rivals continue to introduce both premium and value offerings; in recent months other chains have rolled out new specialty sandwiches while also experimenting with promotional pricing. McDonald’s move to refresh and spotlight an explicit under-$3 menu underscores how value perception remains central to competition in the quick-service sector.