McDonald's launches its spiciest burger with first UK food collaboration

The fast-food chain is releasing an even spicier McSpicy with Frank’s RedHot sauce.

Ikran Dahir
·3 min read
McDonald's is releasing the McSpicy x Frank’s RedHot on the 7th of February for a limited time (Credit: McDonald's)
McDonald's is releasing the McSpicy x Frank’s RedHot on the 7 February for a limited time. (McDonald's)

McDonald has announced the release of its spiciest ever burger, the McSpicy featuring Frank’s RedHot, in the fast food company’s first-ever UK collaboration with an outside food company.

The burger is made up of a hot and spicy fried chicken breast fillet with lettuce, cheese, jalapenos, onions and Frank’s RedHot Mayo.

The McSpicy was initially only seasonal, but gained a cult following over the years and made its return permanently to the McDonald’s menu in February 2023, following demand from customers. Despite its popularity, some people did think the McSpicy could be even spicier.

Now, the McSpicy has been taken to a whole new level, with a spice McDonald’s is promising will ‘blow your mind’. Superfans have been given the chance to have a sneak peek of the burger and could get a free hot-sauce key ring by heading to GetMeAMcSpicyFranksRedHotTastingBox.net and entering a password obtained by deciphering a teaser on Instagram. Winners will also get the McSpicy x Frank’s RedHot for free through their McDonald’s accounts.

McDonald's is giving away a miniature hot sauce for fans of the brand.
McDonald's is giving away a miniature hot sauce for fans of the brand.

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Thomas O’Neil, head of menu at McDonald’s UK and Ireland, said: “We know how much our customers love spice, and were blown away by the reaction to the McSpicy since it first launched as a limited-edition back in July 2021, growing to a permanent resident on our main menu.” The collaboration will only be in McDonald’s for six weeks.

The McSpicy x Frank’s RedHot will be available from the 7 February for £7.29 for a meal and £5.59 for a standalone burger.

On the same day, McDonald’s also announced there would be additional items on the menu that they’re calling Pink Desserts, just in time for Valentine’s Day — the KitKat Ruby Chocolate McFlurry and Raspberry and White Chocolate Pie.

Frank’s RedHot sauce measures 450 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) on the Scoville Scale (Credit: McDonald's)
Frank’s RedHot sauce measures 450 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) on the Scoville Scale (Credit: McDonald's)

How hot is the new McDonald's McSpicy?

Frank’s RedHot sauce was first introduced in 1920, and its signature flavour comes from red cayenne peppers grown in New Mexico.

Since then, it has become one of the most popular hot sauces in the US. The hot sauce measures 450 Scoville heat units (SHU) on the Scoville ccale.

This scale measures the heat of hot sauces, curries, and other spicy food items and was invented by US pharmacist Walter Scoville in 1912. Tabasco sauce ranks 3,750 SHUs, Sriracha measures 2,200 SHUs, and a jalapeno pepper measures 5,000 SHUs.