McDonald’s Hash Browns Are Wildly Overpriced. Buy This Frozen Dupe Instead.

It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that McDonald’s hash browns are the best fast food hash browns in the game. It is also a truth, universally ignored, that McDonald’s hash browns are WAY overpriced to a point that feels almost offensive. McDonald’s knows what it has, and it’s using that power exploitively. 

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McDonald’s hash browns are priced individually, which already feels like nonsense. But how much are they really? 

McDonald’s menu prices vary by location. (Hooray, capitalism.) My local McDonald’s prices a single hash brown at $2.99. That’s a little higher than the national average, which was around $2.38 back in 2025. But they can go up to as high as almost $4 a hash brown in some cities. (San Francisco sits at a comfortable $3.99 per hash brown. Criminal!!) 

It’s worth noting that McDonald’s has these on their value menu for a slightly better deal. If you buy one for the regular price listed, you can get another one for only $1. Sure, that cuts the cost a bit, but c’mon. These should be 75 cents, max. MAX, people. 

Luckily, grocery store brands have duped McDonald’s famous puck-shaped hash browns extensively over the years. We have one we love more than the rest. 

You probably saw this coming, but yes, our dupe of choice is Trader Joe’s Hash Browns. They are absolutely a dupe for McDonald’s, and the most affordable one we’ve seen at that. These come in packs of ten—TEN—and only cost $2.99. That’s 29 cents a hash brown. One 10-pack of TJ’s hash browns essentially costs the same as one individual McDonald’s hash brown. Like, you’re good, McDonald’s.

But you’re not that good. 

Are they an exact flavor match? No, but it’s close. And they’re still delicious. 

My trick to getting them greasier, like a true McDonald’s hash brown, is just frying them on the stove with some oil instead of throwing them in the toaster oven. You have to be careful, because they do tend to fall apart, but I love the flavor no matter the state they are in. 

Of course, the existence of a good Trader Joe’s dupe doesn’t erase the crimes of McDonald’s overpriced breakfast menu. Ronald McDonald, I come to you with a plea: Slash your hash brown prices in half… and bring back Free Fry Fridays. Please. You’d get so much more of my business if you did!