The Only Addition You Need For A Superior McDonald's Filet-O-Fish

The history of McDonald's Filet-O-Fish starts in the mid-1960s, when the classic sandwich was initially introduced as a way of picking up declining sales during the annual Catholic season of Lent. It's remained a menu staple at the fast food joint ever since, and a favorite of many patrons, but these days, there are tons of clever hacks and tricks out there to bring even more flavor to the Filet-O-Fish. In fact, if you want an instant burst of tanginess, just ask for added pickles.

The Filet-O-Fish is nothing complicated — just a crispy Alaskan cod fillet, tartar sauce, and a slice of cheese between a couple of buns. The addition of pickles keeps things simple, but it works so well with the established ingredients. The pickles are a bright, acidic addition that perfectly complements the rich cheese and heavier breaded patty, plus tartar sauce often contains pickles or relish, so sliced pickles are a seamless addition. There won't be any extra charge for this kind of add-on, either, as it's a simple request available in the McDonald's app for free.

The easiest way is simply to ask for pickles, but if you love flavor, then you can try something else: Order a "Filet-O-Mac." This is a blend of two sandwiches, where you essentially replace Big Mac burger patties with cod fillets. The result is all the flavors of a Big Mac, including pickles, but housed in a fish sandwich. It's not available as a customization in the app, so you'll have to go to the drive-thru or walk up to the counter to get it.

If you want to stick with the classic Filet-O-Fish but build even more flavor, you can add just about anything depending on your local McDonald's. You can even build a tangy, BLT-style fish sandwich with pickles by requesting bacon, lettuce, and tomato on the sandwich too. Or, sub out the tartar sauce to create a spicy, zesty fish sandwich by adding pickles and a little Buffalo sauce, or go for less spice with the iconic Big Mac sauce.