Remember when the Big Mac was the pinnacle of McDonald's "grownup" burgers? Meet the Big Arch, the new heavyweight contender on the menu. This massive sandwich is nearly twice the size of the Big Mac and packs significantly more calories than the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. Currently being tested in Canada, Portugal, and Germany, the Big Arch boasts a staggering 1,030 calories, according to McDonald's Canada.
Why so caloric? The Big Arch is essentially a supercharged Double Quarter Pounder loaded with extra cheese and toppings. McDonald’s describes it as: “Two quarter-pound 100% Canadian beef patties, layered with three slices of white processed cheese, and topped with crispy onions, slivered onions, pickles, lettuce, and our delicious Big Arch sauce, all served on a toasted sesame and poppy seed bun."
The Big Arch is no lightweight, clocking in at 377 g with 66 g of fat, 57 g of carbohydrates, 52 g of protein, 14 g of sugar, and a hefty 1,980 mg of sodium. By comparison, the Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese—the most caloric sandwich currently on McDonald’s U.S. menu—contains 740 calories, making the Big Arch a clear contender for the title of the brand's most indulgent burger.
"We have heard our guests loud and clear and understand they are looking for a bigger burger on our menu, and we are excited to bring this new global menu item to Canadians," said Alyssa Buetikofer, Chief Marketing Officer at McDonald’s Canada. "This satisfying burger combines the familiar McDonald’s flavors our fans know and love with unique new ingredients, including a tangy burger sauce created exclusively for the Big Arch."
The Big Arch isn’t available in U.S. restaurants just yet, so if you’re eager to try it, you’ll need to head north to Canada. Meanwhile, some fans are already attempting to recreate the colossal burger themselves. Among them is Top Chef star Richard Blais, who commented, "Please describe 🙌" on McDonald's Canada’s Instagram post.
McDonald’s teased in response: "A lot of delicious ingredients like 2 beef patties, slivered and crispy onions, and even a new sauce, need I say more?" Blais cheekily fired back, "Well, since you asked, what's in the sauce 👏👏👏." McDonald’s playfully replied, "I can't give away all my secrets just yet, Richard!"
There’s hope for U.S. fans, though, as signs suggest the Big Arch could debut stateside soon. "We're encouraged by the results showing the Big Arch has universal appeal with sizable opportunity across markets," McDonald's CFO Ian Borden shared during an Oct. 29 earnings call, according to Cincinnati.com. "Thanks to the success of the pilot, we’re accelerating plans and will work with franchisees and partners to deploy the Big Arch faster to more international markets in 2025."