Gone but Still Missed: 15 Discontinued Fast Food Favorites You Can Make at Home Tonight

Some of the best fast food ever sold lasted only a year or two. You cannot order these discontinued fast food favorites anymore, but you can make every one of them at home this weekend. We checked each item against recent menu news in October 2026, and all of them are still off the regular menu (the fried apple pie made a 2026 comeback, so it did not make our list). The brand names are here only as history. The recipes are our own homemade takes, so nothing comes in a wrapper. Which one do you miss the most..

Discontinued Fast Food Copycat: The Waffle Breakfast Taco

Taco Bell sold its waffle taco from 2014 to 2015: a waffle folded like a taco shell and filled with egg, cheese and sausage or bacon, with syrup on the side. It was messy, sweet and salty, and it vanished fast. A mini waffle maker or frozen waffles let you rebuild it at home in 10 minutes. Sausage or bacon, what is your pick?

You will need: 4 round waffles (homemade or frozen), 6 eggs (scrambled with a splash of milk), 4 sausage patties or 8 strips bacon (cooked), 1 cup shredded cheddar, maple syrup, butter.

How to make it: 1. Toast or cook the waffles until crisp outside but still bendable. 2. While warm, fold each one in half and hold it in a taco holder or between two cups for 1 minute. 3. Scramble the eggs softly in butter. 4. Fill each waffle with eggs, crumbled sausage or bacon and cheese. 5. Drizzle with warm syrup and eat right away.

Discontinued Fast Food Copycat: Onion Nuggets

Before onion rings took over, McDonald’s tested onion nuggets in the late 1970s: chopped onion pieces battered and fried into crunchy little bites. Fans still talk about them in comment sections today. Our version uses a light, crisp batter and chunky onion pieces so every bite is sweet inside and crunchy outside. Ranch, barbecue sauce or honey mustard for dipping?

You will need: 2 large sweet onions (cut into 1 inch chunks), 1 cup flour, 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 cup cold sparkling water, oil for frying.

How to make it: 1. Heat 2 inches of oil to 360 F. 2. Separate the onion chunks into 2 or 3 layer pieces and pat dry. 3. Whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt and garlic powder, then whisk in the cold sparkling water. 4. Dip the onion pieces in the batter. 5. Fry in small batches 2 to 3 minutes until golden. 6. Drain and salt right away.

Classic Chicken Salad Sandwich

Chick-fil-A dropped its chicken salad sandwich in 2017, and it still shows up on every list of discontinued fast food people miss. You can make a creamy, chunky chicken salad at home that is perfect for lunches all week. The trick is using chopped chicken with a little crunch from celery and a sweet tang from pickle relish. It keeps for 3 days in the fridge.

You will need: 3 cups cooked chicken breast (finely chopped), 1/2 cup mayonnaise, 2 tbsp sweet pickle relish, 1 celery rib (finely chopped), 1 hard-boiled egg (chopped), 1 tsp lemon juice, salt and pepper, 4 soft buns or 8 slices wheat bread, lettuce.

How to make it: 1. Mix the chicken, mayonnaise, relish, celery, egg and lemon juice in a bowl. 2. Season with salt and pepper. 3. Chill for at least 30 minutes so the flavors blend. 4. Toast the buns lightly if you like. 5. Add lettuce and a big scoop of chicken salad to each bun and serve cold.

The Stuffed Pizza Pie That Pizza Hut Retired

From 1985 to 1993, Pizza Hut sold the Priazzo, a deep pie with two crusts, cheese and toppings sealed inside, and sauce on top. It was more like a savory pie than a pizza, and it took a long time to bake, which is one reason it disappeared. Yours can bake in a springform pan or a deep cast iron skillet.

You will need: 2 lb pizza dough (store-bought is fine), 3 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/2 lb Italian sausage (cooked and crumbled), 3 oz pepperoni, 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms, 1 1/2 cups pizza sauce, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, 1 tbsp olive oil.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 425 F and oil a 10 inch deep skillet. 2. Press two thirds of the dough into the pan and up the sides. 3. Layer half the mozzarella, the sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, then the rest of the mozzarella. 4. Roll the rest of the dough into a lid, set it on top and pinch the edges. 5. Spread the sauce on top and add Parmesan. 6. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. Rest 10 minutes before cutting.

Discontinued Fast Food Copycat: The Arch Deluxe

McDonald’s launched the Arch Deluxe in 1996 as a burger for grown ups, with peppered bacon, a special mustard mayo sauce and a bakery style roll. It was gone by 2000 and is often called one of the most expensive flops in fast food history. Funny thing is, the burger itself had real fans. Here is a homemade take.

You will need: 4 beef patties (1/4 lb each), 4 slices American cheese, 8 slices thick bacon (sprinkled with cracked black pepper before cooking), 4 potato or brioche rolls, lettuce, tomato, red onion. Sauce: 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp stone-ground mustard, 1 tsp Dijon mustard.

How to make it: 1. Bake the peppered bacon at 400 F for 15 to 18 minutes until crisp. 2. Stir the sauce together. 3. Season the patties and sear them in a hot skillet 3 to 4 minutes per side, adding cheese at the end. 4. Toast the rolls. 5. Spread sauce on both halves and stack lettuce, tomato, onion, the patty and 2 slices of bacon.

The McDLT: Keep the Hot Side Hot

The McDLT came in a two-sided foam box so the hot beef stayed hot and the lettuce and tomato stayed cool until you put them together. McDonald’s ended it in 1991 as concern grew over foam packaging. Of all the discontinued fast food on this list, it had the cleverest idea. At home you can recreate the idea with no foam at all: grill the burger, keep the cold toppings chilled, and build it right at the table.

You will need: 4 beef patties (1/4 lb each), 4 slices American cheese, 4 sesame seed buns, 4 lettuce leaves (chilled), 1 tomato (sliced and chilled), 4 slices pickle, 1/4 onion (sliced), ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise.

How to make it: 1. Put the lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles in the fridge until serving. 2. Season and cook the patties in a hot skillet 3 to 4 minutes per side. 3. Melt the cheese on top and toast the buns. 4. Set out the hot side (patty on the bottom bun) and the cold side (toppings on the top bun). 5. Let everyone put the two halves together and take the first bite while it is hot and cold at once.

Wendy’s SuperBar Night at Home

Wendy’s SuperBar was an all-you-can-eat buffet with salads, pasta and a taco bar, and it ran from the late 1980s until 1998. Kids loved building their own plates. That idea is perfect for a family dinner: cook one pot of pasta, one pan of taco meat, chop some toppings and let everyone go wild. Cheap, fun and no arguing over dinner.

You will need: 1 lb pasta, 2 cups marinara, 1 cup Alfredo sauce, 1 lb ground beef, 1 packet or 2 tbsp homemade taco seasoning, 8 small tortillas or taco shells, shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa, a bagged salad mix.

How to make it: 1. Cook the pasta and toss it with a little oil. 2. Warm the marinara and Alfredo in two small pots. 3. Brown the beef, add the taco seasoning and a splash of water, and simmer 5 minutes. 4. Warm the tortillas. 5. Set everything out in bowls with the toppings and salad. 6. Let everyone build a pasta plate, a taco plate or both.

Discontinued Fast Food Copycat: The Frescata Deli Sandwich

In 2006 Wendy’s tried deli sandwiches called Frescata, such as black forest ham and Swiss on toasted bread. They were gone by 2007. If you like a lighter lunch, a homemade deli sandwich hits the same spot. The key is good bread, thin sliced meat folded loosely, and a quick toast so the cheese just softens. Want more lunch ideas? Try our breakfast sandwiches that beat the drive-thru.

You will need: 8 slices crusty bakery bread or 4 small sub rolls, 1/2 lb thin sliced black forest ham, 4 slices Swiss cheese, 2 tomatoes (sliced), lettuce, thin red onion slices, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp honey mustard.

How to make it: 1. Mix the mayonnaise and honey mustard. 2. Spread it on the bread. 3. Fold the ham loosely onto half the slices and top with Swiss. 4. Toast open faced in a 400 F oven for 4 to 5 minutes until the cheese softens. 5. Add tomato, lettuce and onion. 6. Close, slice in half and serve.

Stuffed Pita Sandwiches

From 1997 to 2000, Wendy’s sold fresh stuffed pitas filled with chicken or veggies, sold as a lighter fast food choice. Copycat recipes for the dressing still float around online. Our version stuffs warm pita pockets with grilled chicken, crisp vegetables and a tangy Caesar style dressing. It is a fast, healthy lunch that does not feel like diet food.

You will need: 4 pita pockets, 2 cups grilled chicken strips, 2 cups chopped romaine, 1 tomato (diced), 1/2 cucumber (diced), 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan. Dressing: 1/4 cup Greek yogurt, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 small garlic clove (grated), salt and pepper.

How to make it: 1. Whisk the dressing ingredients together. 2. Warm the pitas in a dry skillet 30 seconds per side. 3. Toss the chicken, romaine, tomato, cucumber and Parmesan with the dressing. 4. Cut the pitas open and stuff them generously. 5. Serve right away so the pita stays soft.

The Hula Burger: Pineapple Instead of Beef

In the 1960s, McDonald’s tried the Hula Burger, a grilled pineapple slice with cheese on a bun, meant for customers who skipped meat on Fridays. It is one of the oldest discontinued fast food items around, and it lost the battle to the Filet-O-Fish. Today, grilled pineapple is a favorite burger topping, so we kept the pineapple and added it to a juicy beef patty. Would you try the original meatless version?

You will need: 4 beef patties (1/4 lb each), 4 pineapple rings (fresh or canned, patted dry), 4 slices Swiss or pepper jack cheese, 4 buns, 2 tbsp teriyaki sauce, lettuce, red onion, mayonnaise.

How to make it: 1. Grill or pan sear the pineapple rings 2 minutes per side until caramelized. 2. Cook the patties 3 to 4 minutes per side and brush with teriyaki in the last minute. 3. Add cheese to melt. 4. Toast the buns and spread with mayonnaise. 5. Stack lettuce, patty, pineapple and onion. For the meatless original, use just pineapple and cheese.

McSalad Shakers: Salad in a Cup

In the early 2000s, McDonald’s sold McSalad Shakers: salad greens and toppings packed in a tall cup. You poured in the dressing, snapped on the lid and shook. They lasted about three years, and like a lot of discontinued fast food, they were ahead of their time. The idea is great for meal prep. Pack the dressing on the bottom and the greens on top, and lunch is ready to shake.

You will need: For 4 cups: 4 tall jars or cups with lids, 1/2 cup ranch or Caesar dressing, 1 cup diced cucumber, 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved), 1 cup shredded cheddar, 2 cups diced cooked chicken, 4 cups chopped romaine, 1/2 cup croutons.

How to make it: 1. Spoon 2 tbsp dressing into the bottom of each cup. 2. Add cucumber and tomatoes next so they sit in the dressing. 3. Layer chicken and cheese. 4. Fill to the top with romaine. 5. Keep croutons in a small bag on the side. 6. When ready to eat, add croutons, close the lid and shake.

Chick-fil-A Cinnamon Cluster Style Pull Apart Bread

From 2005 to 2016, the Chick-fil-A cinnamon cluster was a sweet breakfast treat made with egg, butter, cinnamon and vanilla and topped with icing. A pull apart cinnamon bread made from canned biscuits gives you the same gooey, iced bites. This discontinued fast food breakfast is the easiest to copy at home, and it is the easiest weekend breakfast in this whole list.

You will need: 2 cans (16 oz each) refrigerated biscuits, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tbsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla. Icing: 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 tbsp milk, 1/2 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F and grease a loaf pan or small Bundt pan. 2. Cut each biscuit into quarters. 3. Toss the pieces in the sugar and cinnamon. 4. Pile them into the pan. 5. Mix the butter, brown sugar and vanilla and pour over the top. 6. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, cool 10 minutes, turn out and drizzle with icing.

Discontinued Fast Food Copycat: Arby’s Pizza Slider

From 2017 to 2021, Arby’s sold a 1 dollar pizza slider with pepperoni, salami, melted cheese and garlic marinara on a small bun. It was the kind of cheap snack you ordered on a whim and then thought about all week. Slider buns make a whole tray of them in 15 minutes. Perfect for game day or movie night.

You will need: 12 slider buns (in one sheet), 1 cup marinara mixed with 1 grated garlic clove, 24 slices pepperoni, 12 slices Genoa salami, 2 cups shredded mozzarella, 3 tbsp melted butter, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, grated Parmesan.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 350 F. 2. Slice the whole sheet of buns in half without separating them. 3. Spread the garlic marinara on the bottom half. 4. Layer half the cheese, the salami, pepperoni and the rest of the cheese. 5. Put the top on and brush with butter, Italian seasoning and Parmesan. 6. Bake covered 10 minutes, then uncovered 5 minutes.

McDonald’s Chopped Beefsteak Sandwich

Here is a deep cut. In 1979, some McDonald’s locations sold a chopped beefsteak sandwich after 4 p.m.: chopped beef with onions and steak sauce on a French roll. Very few people remember it, which makes it a fun one to bring back. It cooks in one skillet in about 15 minutes, a lot like a quick cheesesteak.

You will need: 1 lb thin sliced sirloin or shaved steak, 1 large onion (thinly sliced), 2 tbsp butter, 3 tbsp steak sauce, 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper, 4 French rolls.

How to make it: 1. Melt half the butter in a large skillet and cook the onion 8 minutes until soft and golden. 2. Push it aside, add the rest of the butter and the beef, and season. 3. Cook 3 to 4 minutes, chopping the meat with a spatula. 4. Stir in the steak sauce, Worcestershire and onions. 5. Toast the rolls and pile in the filling.

Domino’s Baked Apple Oven Dip With Bread Twists

The newest item on our list: in 2021 Domino’s sold a baked apple dip with bread twists for dunking, and it was gone in about a year. Warm cinnamon apples with a buttery crumble are made for chilly fall nights. Serve them with soft breadsticks dusted in cinnamon sugar. Which of these discontinued fast food favorites will you make first..

You will need: 4 apples (peeled and diced), 3 tbsp butter, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 1/4 cup water. Crumble: 1/2 cup oats, 1/4 cup flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 3 tbsp cold butter. Twists: 1 can refrigerated breadstick dough, 2 tbsp melted butter, 3 tbsp cinnamon sugar.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 375 F. 2. Cook the apples in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon 6 minutes, then stir in the cornstarch mixed with water. 3. Pour into a small baking dish. 4. Rub the crumble ingredients together and scatter on top. 5. Twist the breadsticks onto a sheet pan. 6. Bake both 15 to 18 minutes, brush the twists with butter and roll in cinnamon sugar.