McDonald’s Is Debuting a Ready-to-Serve Half-Gallon Jug of McRib Sauce

McDonald’s is in the business of giving its customers what they want, when they want it — unless those customers are demanding the McRib. McDonald’s tends to withhold its ultra-popular McRib sandwich all year long and plans the rollout for late in the year, perhaps in an attempt to connect boneless pork patties and holiday cheer in the mind of the American consumer. Whatever the reason, the McRib officially has a 2024 return date, and for the first time ever, fans can also purchase a half-gallon jug of McDonald’s signature McRib sauce for a limited time. 

The McRib, described by McDonald’s as “seasoned boneless pork dipped in a tangy BBQ sauce, topped with slivered onions and tangy pickles, all served on a toasted homestyle bun,” will be available at participating locations nationwide starting November 27, so, yes, you can order a McRib for Thanksgiving dinner if you feel so inclined. It’ll only stick around for a limited time (typically a few weeks), so fans should make a point to go sometime before mid-December if they want to catch it. 

Meanwhile, the jug of McRib sauce, aptly dubbed “A Whole Lotta McRib Sauce,” is “perfect for holiday parties, festive recipes or the ultimate stocking stuffer for McRib lovers,” according to the McDonald’s press release, though now I’m wondering just how big a stocking would have to be to accommodate such a jug. 

The sauce will drop even earlier than the sandwich itself, on November 25 at 10 a.m. ET, and each jug can be purchased for $19.99 by heading to www.wholelottamcribsauce.com. (Do you think they had to outbid anyone for that URL?) 

McDonald’s always makes a big deal out of the McRib’s return, but this year might be its most festive rollout yet. Along with the sandwich itself and the jug of sauce for the diehards, there will also be an official holiday jingle titled “It Could Only Mean One Thing (McRib is Here).”

“The McRib is more than a sandwich — it’s a part of culture, it’s a legend, it’s an event,” Tariq Hassan, chief marketing and customer experience officer at McDonald’s, said in a statement. “McRib SZN is a holiday unto itself, so we wanted to embrace that spirit and give fans an even bigger way to celebrate this year with A Whole Lotta McRib Sauce.” 

Because it’s barbecue-adjacent, this jug of sauce is more than just a stunt; according to this Reddit thread, there are plenty of ways to use it in one’s cooking. It can be used as a braising liquid for meat, it can be added to a meatloaf, it can dress up pulled chicken sandwiches — heck, you can even make imitation McRibs at home with some ground pork and the proper silicone mold — and then you won’t have to wait until McDonald’s says it’s McRib season.