This Is What's Actually in McDonald's Cult-Favorite Szechuan Sauce (2024)

The secret sauce returns for a fourth time.

By Men's Health Editorial
This Is What's Actually in McDonald's Cult-Favorite Szechuan Sauce (1)

Big news for McDonald's lovers and even Rick and Morty fans: the beloved Szechuan Sauce you know and love has officially returned. For a limited time, you'll be able to order the elusive sauce starting Thursday, March 31, via the McDonald's app.

In true McDonald's fashion, the fast food brand dropped the news almost unassumingly, simply dropping a tweet stating "hi from Szechuan Sauce, say it back," to nearly 3,000 retweets and over 2,000 replies glorifying the fan-favorite sauce.

If you've never had the famous, long-gone Szechuan sauce, you probably have two questions: 1.) Is it actually worth getting this sauce, and 2.) What's in it. If you scour the web, the fan reactions to the sauce's return (and ultimately running out) is enough to prove the desire for the sweet and spicy McNugget dip "highlighted by notes of ginger and garlic with a hint of sesame."

First revealed back in 1998 as a promotion for the Disney film Mulan, the Szechuan Sauce was a hit among guests as the perfect companion to a Happy Meal or adult-sized order of nuggets. The sauce made its way back into pop culture lexicon in a 2017 episode of Rick and Morty where Rick vows to find more of it, no matter what it takes. Thanks to fan pressure, McDonald's brought the sauce back again that year and 2018 for a limited time.

So is it worth getting lost in the sauce? Let's dive into the cult that is the McDonald's Szechuan Sauce.

What's in the McDonald's Szechuan Sauce?

According to the McDonald's website, the McDonald's Szechuan Sauce contains the following: Water, Sugar, Distilled Vinegar, Corn Starch, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Corn Vinegar, Contains 2% Or Less: Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger, Soybean Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Spice, Yeast Extract, Garlic, Wheat Starch, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Safflower Oil, Glutamic Acid, Potassium Sorbate And Sodium Benzoate (preservatives).

As far as nutritional information, the Szechuan Sauce contains 35 calories a pack, 0 grams of fat, 0 grams of protein, and 7 grams of sugar.

Regarding the taste, McDonald's describes the flavor as savory and soy-forward, probably akin to your favorite wonton dipping sauce. Whether you love it or hate it, this sauce won't be escaping the minds of McDonald's fans anytime soon.

Watch Next

This Is What's Actually in McDonald's Cult-Favorite Szechuan Sauce (3)

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

This Is What's Actually in McDonald's Cult-Favorite Szechuan Sauce (2024)

FAQs

This Is What's Actually in McDonald's Cult-Favorite Szechuan Sauce? ›

According to the McDonald's website, the McDonald's Szechuan Sauce contains the following: Water, Sugar, Distilled Vinegar, Corn Starch, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Corn Vinegar, Contains 2% Or Less: Apple Cider Vinegar, Ginger, Soybean Oil, Sesame Seed Oil, Xanthan Gum, Spice, Yeast Extract, Garlic, Wheat Starch, Natural ...

What does Rick say about Szechuan Sauce? ›

Rick Sanchez : If it takes nine seasons, I want my McNugget dipping sauce, Szechuan sauce, Morty.

Did McDonald's bring back Szechuan Sauce because of Rick and Morty? ›

McDonald's is bringing back a sauce that led to riots

The fast-food chain reintroduced the sauce in October, but its release was clouded by chaos at stores as fans protested over a lack of supply. McDonald's will start serving Szechuan sauce on Feb. 26.

What is the Szechuan Sauce on the McDonald's app? ›

About Szechuan Sauce

This time around, they can get Szechuan Sauce exclusively on the McDonald's App for free when selecting as a dipping sauce option for our delicious Chicken McNuggets – the perfect pairing – or they can also purchase up to five (5) sauces a la carte. Download the App here.

What episode of Rick and Morty has the Szechuan Sauce? ›

In the first episode of the third season, "The Rickshank Rickdemption", Rick tells Cornvelious Daniel about the sauce while in a brain-link simulation, and orders some from a McDonald's, as he can only eat it in his memory.

What is Rick's favorite McDonald's sauce? ›

In the first episode, "The Rickshank Redemption," one of the series' main protagonists, Rick Sanchez, revisits a memory of going to a McDonald's drive-thru and ordering Chicken McNuggets with Szechuan Sauce.

Did Rick and Morty get discontinued? ›

Rick and Morty will continue despite Mr Roiland's exit. A statement released online by Adult Swim on Tuesday said: “Adult Swim has ended its association with Justin Roiland. “Rick and Morty will continue.

How long will McDonald's have Szechuan Sauce? ›

Szechuan Sauce will make its long-awaited return on March 31 for just a few days, and while supplies last. To score some, simply select it as your free dipping sauce when ordering Chicken McNuggets. The order has to be made through the app, but anyone can purchase up to five packets at a time.

What sauce is Rick and Morty obsessed with? ›

The Hidden Meaning of Rick and Morty's Szechuan Sauce | Get smart about what Rick and Morty's obsession with McDonald's Szechuan Sauce really means...

When was the last time McDonald's sold Szechuan Sauce? ›

UPDATE: McDonald's Szechuan Sauce returned March 31 for a limited time. McDonald's is spicing things up and bringing back its viral Szechuan Sauce for a limited time. The fast-food chain announced Monday that the dipping sauce will return for a few days starting March 31, while supplies last.

Did McDonald's make Mulan sauce? ›

In 1998, McDonald's released Szechuan Sauce as part of a marketing partnership with Disney to promote Mulan. Almost 20 years later, a re-release of that sauce would cause a tremendous fuss.

Is the Rick and Morty sauce back? ›

The burger giant said on Monday that it is bringing back the cult hit sauce for a limited time starting March 31, the third reintroduction of the dipping sauce since the cartoon program Rick & Morty reminded customers of its existence in a 2017 episode—but the first return in four years.

What is the trippy episode of Rick and Morty? ›

Strange things happen when the temporal shield is compromised.

What sauce is Rick obsessed with in Rick and Morty? ›

The episode featured several long rants about Rick's love for Szechuan sauce.

What is always dripping from Rick's mouth? ›

Naturally, a common assumption is that the green stuff leaking from Rick's mouth is a result of his alcohol consumption. However, it could also be a running callback to something seeded in Rick and Morty's pilot episode. If the green stuff in Rick's mouth is a result of his alcoholism, it could be vomit or drool.

What is Szechuan Sauce supposed to taste like? ›

With unique citrus notes, schezwan sauce has a well-balanced taste of hot, pungent, tangy and mildy sweet flavors. So this flavoursome sauce also goes well as a condiment with a lot of snacks and appetizers.

What does Rick say in Big Mouth? ›

Rick mildly resembles Coach Steve. His catchphrases are "What are you gonna do?" and "You're the man."

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jonah Leffler

Last Updated:

Views: 5638

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jonah Leffler

Birthday: 1997-10-27

Address: 8987 Kieth Ports, Luettgenland, CT 54657-9808

Phone: +2611128251586

Job: Mining Supervisor

Hobby: Worldbuilding, Electronics, Amateur radio, Skiing, Cycling, Jogging, Taxidermy

Introduction: My name is Jonah Leffler, I am a determined, faithful, outstanding, inexpensive, cheerful, determined, smiling person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.