McDonald’s brings McRib back to restaurants nationwide starting Monday

The moment that McRib lovers across the nation have been waiting for has arrived.

McDonald’s barbecue sandwich returns to participating restaurants nationwide Monday for a limited time. Some locations welcomed the McRib back early.

The fast-food chain calls it “the sauciest moment of the year.” This year the McRib returns days before National Sandwich Day, which is Wednesday.

The McRib – seasoned boneless pork, tangy barbecue sauce, onions and pickles on a hoagie-style bun – first launched regionally in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1981 before its national debut the next year.

Credit its return to its cult status. Followers will drive long distances to get one. Haters, not so much.

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Coincidentally, Monday also is World Vegan Day.

McDonald’s said the “internet boom and emergence of social media solidified the McRib’s icon status” and “hype around its annual return even gave birth to the phrase ‘McRib Season.’”

Mike Bullington, McDonald’s senior archives manager, said the sandwich was made to be “enjoyed during the colder seasons.”

“Whether you’re a McRib loyalist or first timer, there is no denying that the McRib is one of the most iconic sandwiches of the last four decades and we have thousands of emails and tweets from fans to prove it,” Bullington said.

McRib’s 40th anniversary NFT contest

To celebrate the sandwich’s 40th anniversary, McDonald’s announced a contest Thursday where it will give away “digital versions of the fan favorite sandwich – almost as saucy as the McRib itself.”

The contest for McDonald’s first-ever NFTs or non-fungible tokens – unique pieces of virtual art that can’t be duplicated – starts Monday on Twitter. There will be 10 winners.

NFTs are created and recorded using blockchain technology and are essential pieces of data that verify you maintain ownership of a digital item, be it artwork, a clip of a game-winning shot in a basketball game or a sound.

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To enter the contest, you need to follow @McDonalds on Twitter and retweet the “Sweepstakes Invitation tweet” between Nov. 1 through Nov. 7 from a public account.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Kelly Tyko on Twitter: @KellyTyko. For shopping news, tips and deals, join us on our Shopping Ninjas Facebook group.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: McRib 2021: McDonald’s barbecue sandwich returns makes limited return