There's a method to the madness!
Here’s Why the Filet-O-Fish Comes with Only a Half Slice of Cheese
Published on May 07, 2025
Out of all of the items on McDonald’s menu, none is the subject of as much speculation, debate and plain old mystery as the Filet-O-Fish. The sandwich, which is the only pescatarian sandwich option at McDonald’s, is a permanent menu item that doesn’t seem to follow any of usual McDonald’s sandwich protocol. For starters, it comes in a box instead of a wrapper, and the tartar sauce is always oddly off-center. And then there’s the cheese. While every other McDonald’s sandwich comes with a full slice of cheese, the Filet-O-Fish comes with only a half slice of cheese. Weird, right? Well, if you’re wondering why McDonald’s does this, you’re most definitely not alone.
Keep reading to find out why the Filet-O-Fish sandwich seems to skimp on the cheese—and how to customize your order so that it hits the spot every single time.
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Has McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish always had cheese?
The Filet-O-Fish as we know it may have a half slice of cheese, but that hasn’t always been the case. The original recipe for McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish sandwich—developed by McDonald’s franchisee Lou Groen in the early ’60s, about 20 years after McDonald’s first opened—had no cheese at all. Instead, the sandwich contained just fried halibut and tartar sauce on a bun. However, McDonald’s headquarters pushed back and convinced him to switch to more affordable Atlantic cod and add cheese … but only half a slice.
While cheese is certainly delicious, the addition of cheese to the Filet-O-Fish is somewhat surprising, considering fish sandwiches, not to mention other fish dishes, typically don’t have cheese at all. Fish is known for having a delicate flavor that can easily be overpowered by strong-tasting cheese. But McDonald’s insisted on adding the element, and the recipe has remained the same since 1961.
What are the theories as to why the Filet-O-Fish has only a half slice of cheese?
While McDonald’s fans have a few theories as to why this is, one tends to be the most popular: It all comes down to money. “I’m pretty sure the real reason is because 1/2 a slice of cheese costs 1/2 as much as a whole slice of cheese,” wrote one Reddit user. “Nice try though.”
And this theory doesn’t seem all that far-fetched, since McDonald’s is a big corporation that: A) likes to save money, and B) often charges extra for, well, extras. According to another Reddit user who also happens to be former McDonald’s employee, restaurant locations in the U.K. charge extra for a full slice of cheese. “If you ask the staff they can put it through as an ‘Ask Me [request]’ and get you a full slice (most likely a small extra charge),” they wrote.
What’s the real reason the Filet-O-Fish doesn’t have a whole slice of cheese?
Despite what the people of Reddit might believe, the real reason the Filet-O-Fish doesn’t have a whole slice of cheese is so the cheese doesn’t overwhelm the fish. In a 2012 Reddit post, a representative from McDonald’s Canada said: “We only use half a slice of cheese because that’s exactly the perfect balance for the tangy tartar sauce and crispness of the Filet-o-Fish coating. We use a whole slice on our Double Filet-o-Fish. Anything more than that would throw off the mojo of the sandwich and overshadow the delicate flavour of the pollock.”
Of course, 2012 was a while ago, and it’s been radio silence ever since from our favorite fast-food chain. Plus, this wasn’t quite an official statement. McDonald’s has been pretty tight-lipped about the whole thing, which sounds pretty (ahem) fishy to us! We reached out to them for comment but haven’t yet heard back.
Why is the cheese always off-center?
If you’ve ever ordered a Filet-O-Fish sandwich, chances are you’ve noticed that the half slice of cheese is always off-center. Even though this odd placement has become a hallmark of the sandwich, it’s not exactly done on purpose. The truth is, the box that the Filet-O-Fish sandwich comes in is larger than the sandwich itself, which leaves room for it to slide around a little bit. The end result? A slightly off-center half slice of cheese.
Can you get more cheese on your Filet-O-Fish?
If you want more cheese on your Filet-O-Fish, all you have to do is ask! As the McDonald’s website notes: “We go by the same Filet-O-Fish recipe one of our franchisees came up with way back when in 1961. Who knew, right? Of course, you can always ask for ‘extra’ cheese the next time you order a tasty Filet-O-Fish at your local McDonald’s. It’s the 21st Century, after all.”
While you’re at it, use the three magic words to ensure your Filet-O-Fish hasn’t been left sitting around for a few hours. The trick to ordering a Filet-O-Fish right out of the oven? Simply order your Filet-O-Fish sandwich “cooked-to-order” so it’s made fresh and served hot—and delightfully crispy—every single time.
Related
- Here’s Why McDonald’s Almost Didn’t Add the Egg McMuffin to Its Menu
- Good News! McDonald’s Will Now Offer This Breakfast Item Nationwide
- McDonald’s Gold Cards Really Do Exist—Here’s Everything to Know
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Sources
- Nexstar News Wire: “Why does the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish have only a half-slice of cheese?”
- McDonald’s: “Why does Filet-o-Fish only have a half-slice of cheese?”
- Reddit: “Why does the McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish have only a half-slice of cheese?”
