Fast food chains are always adjusting menus to give fans a reason to come back to the drive-thru, from new releases to returning classics to freebies to collectibles. And while the return of the iconic Snack Wrap (and the copycats) has been the biggest fast food news this year, we’ve also noticed another trend: beverages.
Chains across the country have seriously prioritized drinks this year, from Sonic coming for Starbucks to Taco Bell dropping an entire new lineup of Aqua Refrescas. And it’s been a banner year for soda fans, too, as many new and rare flavors from both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have been drive-thru exclusives.
But now a classic flavor is heading to select McDonald’s locations. It’s a soda that, sure, you can find at the grocery store. But now, you can get it straight from the fountain and pair it with a side of fries.
Dr Pepper is heading back to the drive-thru in a brand-new way.
Dr Pepper Zero Sugar Now Available at Select McDonald’s
I spotted the McDonald’s billboard in downtown Seattle and had to share it with the other Allrecipes editors immediately. “First order of fizziness,” it read, complete with a giant cup of Dr Pepper and those iconic, sometimes squishy, sometimes hard-as-a-rock McDonald’s fries.
But not just any Dr Pepper—Dr Pepper Zero Sugar. It’s now at McDonald’s. Well, some McDonald’s. Here’s what we know.
Earlier this month, TikTok star @olivia.ohno posted a video about the ultimate late-night snack while opening a McD’s delivery on their kitchen counter. “Name something better than a McDonald’s crispy Dr Pepper,” they said. “I’ll go first: How about a crispy zero sugar Dr Pepper?”
This, of course, was a revelation for many Dr Pepper fans. “They have DP Zero now?” someone asked in the comments. “OMG. I’m getting breakfast tomorrow.”
The video was marked #AD and tagged a specific franchise account for McDonald’s of Western Washington. On Instagram, the same franchise posted about the new release. “Swag recognize swag,” the caption reads. “Get a Dr Pepper Zero Sugar, now at McDonald’s.”
“Finally!” someone commented in all caps.
Why is this a big deal for soda fans? Because typically you only find Diet Dr Pepper at the drive-thru—if at all. And Dr Pepper Zero Sugar tastes so much better. Unlike the Diet variety, which relies solely on aspartame, Dr Pepper Zero Sugar cuts that awful fake taste (Diet Coke girlies, please don’t come for me. I just don’t get it.) with a second artificial sweetener: acesulfame potassium. It’s still not the real thing—whatever Dr Pepper actually is—but it’s close. And it definitely doesn’t taste like Diet.
And because soda somehow just tastes better at McDonald’s, from Coke to Sprite, we have a feeling this will taste even better, too. However, you may have to book a flight to the Pacific Northwest to get your fix, as we haven’t seen other regional franchises share the same great news. When we reached out to Dr Pepper’s parent company, Keurig Dr Pepper, we did not get an immediate reply.
If you can’t make it up to western Washington right now and are feeling left out, perhaps you live in one of the lucky test markets for Taco Bell instead. The chain has been not-so-secretly testing various new items in select regions across the country.
