REVIEW: McDonald’s Buffalo Ranch Sauce and Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy

/ / Reviews / 1 Comment

McDonald's Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy with sauce container

McDonald’s pulled a little Buffalo Ranch stealth drop – no press release, no fanfare. It just quietly slid it into the app and let social media do the rest.

If the name sounds familiar, you’re not imagining things. There was a Buffalo Ranch McChicken nearly 12 years ago, but this 2025 version is different.

It’s a fully blended sauce, available in several forms: in the Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy, in a Snack Wrap, or as a dipping sauce for McNuggets or McCrispy Strips.

Buffalo Ranch sauce up close

The first thing that hits you is the color. The bright shade of orange somehow scratches a nostalgic itch – the same one left over from drinking Squeezits and squeezing purple ketchup as a kid.

The dip packaging even gives me Selena Gomez Oreo energy for some reason. It’s the same size sauce container, but with a shiny maroon-ish lid—western-coded, complete with a little horseshoe.

And the more I think about it, the less I understand why Buffalo Ranch is western-coded.

I also noticed that McDonald’s felt the need to write THE new Buffalo Ranch on the lid – taking a page straight from The Ohio State. So maybe, from now on, I should refer to it as The New Buffalo Ranch. Yeehaw.

Buffalo Ranch sauce with McCrispy Strips

Flavor-wise, buffalo leads the charge, distinctly in the Frank’s RedHot family: tangy, vinegary, and familiar in the best way. The ranch isn’t overpowering but shows up in the creaminess, adding just enough body and cooling balance to round things out. The heat is fairly mild to me, but builds pleasantly.

McDonald's Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy with bacon sticking out

McDonald's Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy with top bun off

I tried The New Buffalo Ranch in two ways, as a dip and in the McCrispy sandwich. The dip was solid, especially with McCrispy Strips, but the sandwich is where it really shines. I initially thought there wasn’t enough sauce, but it turned out to be plenty. The combo of tangy pickles, smoky bacon, and that creamy-spicy sauce hits every note: salt, heat, fat, acid!

It might’ve dropped without fanfare, but it doesn’t deserve to stay under the radar. The New Buffalo Ranch is a delicious and bold way to switch up your Mickey D’s order!

Purchased Price: $7.29 (Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy), $5.99 (McCrispy Strips with Buffalo Ranch Sauce Cup)
Rating: 9 out of 10 (Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy), 8 out of 10 (McCrispy Strips with Buffalo Ranch Sauce Cup)
Nutrition Facts: Bacon Buffalo Ranch McCrispy – 650 calories, 37 grams of fat, 8 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 90 milligrams of cholesterol, 1730 milligrams of sodium, 49 grams of carbohydrates, 2 grams of fiber, 10 grams of sugar, and 32 grams of protein.

SPOTTED (SEASONAL EDITION): 10/29/2025

/ / Spotted on Shelves / 2 Comments

Here are some interesting new products found on store shelves by your fellow readers. If you’ve tried any of them, share your thoughts in the comments.

Spooky Cheese Ghost Shaped Pizza
Spooky Cheese Ghost Shaped Pizza
Jack-O'-Lantern Pepperoni Pumpkin Shaped Pizza
Jack-O’-Lantern Pepperoni Pumpkin Shaped Pizza
(Spotted by DJ at Target.)
Smart Sweets Merry Mix
Smart Sweets Merry Mix
(Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)
John Derian Company Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies
John Derian Company Vanilla Bean Shortbread Cookies
John Derian Company Dark & White Chocolate Peppermint Bark Wreaths
John Derian Company Dark & White Chocolate Peppermint Bark Wreaths
(Spotted by Robbie at Target.)
Signature Select Peppermint Bark Single Serve Cups
Signature Select Peppermint Bark Single Serve Cups
Signature Select Peppermint Bark Ground Coffee
Signature Select Peppermint Bark Ground Coffee
Signature Select Sugar Cookie Ground Coffee
Signature Select Sugar Cookie Ground Coffee
Overjoyed Chocolate Flavored Peppermint S'mores Cluster Mix
Overjoyed Chocolate Flavored Peppermint S’mores Cluster Mix
(Spotted by Robbie at Randalls.)
Thoughtfully Gourmet Foods Birthday Cake Baking Kit
Thoughtfully Gourmet Foods Birthday Cake Baking Kit
Thoughtfully Gourmet Foods Brownie Skillet Baking Kit
Thoughtfully Gourmet Foods Brownie Skillet Baking Kit
Thoughtfully Gourmet Foods Cookie Skillet Baking Kit
Thoughtfully Gourmet Foods Cookie Skillet Baking Kit
(Spotted by Robbie at Five Below.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

SPOTTED: Hershey’s Kisses Snickerdoodle Cookie

/ / Spotted on Shelves / 2 Comments

Hershey's Kisses Snickerdoodle Cookie.

I have kissed snickerdoodles before, but these look more kissable. (Spotted by Robbie at H-E-B.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

SPOTTED: Mama Cozzi’s Apple Streusel and Blueberry Streusel Dessert Pizzas

/ / Spotted on Shelves / 1 Comment

Mama Cozzi's Apple Streusel Dessert Pizza.

Mama Cozzi's Blueberry Streusel Dessert Pizza.

There needs to be more dessert pizzas in the freezer aisle. But would they be stocked with the pizzas or the breakfast foods? (Spotted by Jarred at Aldi.)

If you’re out shopping and see new products, snap a picture of them, and send them in via an email ([email protected]) with where you found them and “Spotted” in the subject line. Also, if you want to send in photos and are wondering if we’ve already covered something or if they’re new, don’t worry about it. Let us worry about it.

REVIEW: McDonald’s Chips Ahoy Frappe

/ / Reviews / 1 Comment

McDonald's Chips Ahoy Frappe photo taken at McDonald's

While sipping on the new McDonald’s Chips Ahoy Frappe, I tried to remember the last time the chain offered a new Frappe variety. I don’t know if it was from racking my head or the brain freeze, but the pain I had prevented my memories from recalling it. So I thought it must’ve been a long time ago. But, thankfully, I know of a site that reviews McDonald’s food (this one), and I learned that I might have the brain of a goldfish because the last new Frappe wasDulce de Leche, and it came out a year ago.

But why do new Frappe drinks happen only once a year? I could use more limited time only Frappe drinks. Is it an annual notification to remind us that McDonald’s still makes the icy, sugary coffee drink? Some of you might be asking why not a Chips Ahoy McFlurry? Well, the site I know that reviews McDonald’s food (again, this one), tells me there wasone back in 2020 that came with caramel for some reason.

McDonald's Chips Ahoy Frappe look at those cookie crumble. I just want to snort them.

This cookie-enhanced Frappe features McDonald’s mocha coffee Frappe base blended with ice and chocolate chip cookie syrup. It’s also topped with whipped light cream and Chips Ahoy cookie pieces. Yes, it’s as sweet as it looks.

The Frappe base with the chocolate chip cookie syrup doesn’t remind me of Chips Ahoy cookies, but it has a flavor that’s kind of like the Coffee mate Nestle Toll House cookie creamer in stores now, but with a stronger chocolate taste. It’s almost like a chocolate milkshake with a hint of something something that makes it slightly different. I do wish the syrup had a brown butter flavor to make the cookie-ness stand out more. You have to mix the toppings into the drink so the Chips Ahoy crumbles float in the Frappe base. Oh, and the syrup negates any coffee taste.

McDonald's Chips Ahoy Frappe - However, instead of snorting them, I mixed them into the rest of the drink

When the cookie pieces get mixed in with the ice, there are two contrasting textures: the slightly soggy crumbs and the crunchy ice. When my mouth got one of those crumbs with the Chips Ahoy chocolate chips, they brought a chocolatey burst that’s recognizable as Chips Ahoy and different from what’s in the Frappe base. However, the combination of soggy and crunchy textures was a little odd to chew on. The best-tasting, texture-pleasing sips I had were the final ones at the bottom of the cup, with a whole lot of cookie crumbs and mostly melted ice, all of which had a stronger chocolate flavor than when I first started slurping.

McDonald’s Chips Ahoy Frappe is a caffeinated dessert that I enjoyed. However, the contrasting textures were odd, and I wish the base had a stronger cookie flavor. But I’ll probably forget those issues, and the Frappe as a whole, a year from now.

Purchased Price: $4.19*
Size: Small
Rating: 7 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: 540 calories, 19 grams of fat, 12 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 65 milligrams of cholesterol, 220 milligrams of sodium, 85 grams of carbohydrates, 1 gram of fiber, 64 grams of sugar (including 58 grams of added sugar), 7 grams of protein, and 90 milligrams of caffeine.

*Because I live on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, things are a bit pricier here. You’ll probably pay less than I did.

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