McRib enthusiasts, your time has almost come. The beloved McRib sandwich will make its return to McDonald’s menu across the country for a short period, beginning on December 3.

The announcement of the sandwich’s return was anticipated, as McDonald’s USA president Joe Erlinger mentioned during an appearance on The Today Show in June that the McRib would make a return sometime in 2024. “It will be back,” he confirmed.

Last month, several local McDonald’s outlets in the Topeka, Kansas, Springfield, Illinois, and Springfield, Missouri areas informed multiple YSL News Network local stations that the sandwich was expected to reappear the week of November 25 and remain available through January 2025.

Yes, there will be McRib sauce.

In addition to the McRib’s comeback, there’s an exciting surprise. McDonald’s will also launch A Whole Lotta McRib Sauce, which will be available in limited-edition half-gallon containers for $19.99. This sauce will be on sale starting November 25 at 10 a.m. ET, exclusively online at www.wholelottamcribsauce.com, making it a great gift option for any die-hard McRib fan.

Tariq Hassan, McDonald’s chief marketing and customer experience officer, stated in a press release, “The McRib is not just a sandwich – it’s a cultural phenomenon, a legend, a celebrated event. McRib SZN has become its own holiday, and we want to enhance that spirit by giving fans a more exciting way to enjoy it with A Whole Lotta McRib Sauce this year.”

What exactly is the McRib?

The McRib consists of a pork patty made from pork, water, salt, dextrose, and – if your taste buds are up for the challenge – rosemary extract. This patty mimics the shape of a rack of ribs, served in a bun and topped with barbecue sauce, pickles, and onions.

This sandwich first rolled out on a national scale in 1982 after its initial introduction in Kansas City, Kansas in 1981. McDonald’s executive chef Rene Arend designed it, having previously developed Chicken McNuggets in 1979, building upon restructured meat innovations from Roger Mandigo, a professor at the University of Nebraska, aimed for military use.

Throughout the years, the McRib has made various limited-time returns to the menu after being removed as a permanent offering in 2005, including a nationwide back on the menu in 2020, and despite a supposed “farewell tour” in 2022, it still ended up being available at several U.S. locations last fall.

Just last month, the McRib was reintroduced in British locations for a limited time – marking its first comeback since 2016.

The McRib sandwich is set to launch nationwide at participating restaurants on December 3 for a limited duration.

McDonald’s has even composed a holiday tune titled “It Could Only Mean One Thing (McRib is Here),” which will soon be a hit on various social media platforms.

Nutritional information for the McRib

Here are the nutritional details for McDonald’s McRib, according to the restaurant chain (percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet).

• Calories: 520 (26% of daily value)
• Total fat: 28 g (35%)
• Total carbohydrates: 46 g (17%)
• Protein: 24 g (48%)