The origin story of the McDonald’s Chicken McNugget is one of the more fascinating fast food tales.
Back in the 1970s, the company hadn’t aimed to create Chicken McNuggets as we know them today. Instead, their early experiments didn’t involve chicken at all.
We uncovered some interesting tidbits about the origins of McDonald’s chicken nuggets, including their original plan for these popular menu items, as well as some fun facts related to them.
Do you know the original four sauces?
Any idea which states supply the chicken?
How many times has McDonald’s introduced a new McNugget flavor?
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Discover even more intriguing details about McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets by exploring these 13 fascinating, yet unrelated, facts.
13 Totally Random Facts About McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets
1. They Were Supposed To Be Onion Nuggets
Based on McNugget folklore, it’s interesting to note that even though they were not using chicken at the time, McDonald’s claims one of their iconic menu items was accidentally invented in the 1970s. The team was initially experimenting with Onion Nuggets, but a casual discussion in 1979 sparked the idea to try making them with chicken instead.
2. It Took Several More Years For The McNugget’s Debut
In 1979, a unique idea emerged – substituting chicken for onions in one of their dishes. This transition wasn’t an instant change from idea to menu item at McDonald’s. They took time to consult with the team behind the filet-o-fish sandwich, refine the recipe, and prepare the restaurants before introducing the Chicken McNugget, which eventually debuted in 1983.
3. McNuggets Come In Four Different Shapes
If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “Wow, my McNugget looks like a boot,” you’re spot on! McDonald’s has confirmed that their McNuggets come in four distinct shapes. So the next time you unwrap a box, keep an eye out for a boot, a bone or bow tie shape, a bell, or a ball.
4. McNuggets Quickly Spread Across The World
It took just a year for Chicken McNuggets to become available internationally, as they were introduced on menus in Canada, Japan, France, and Germany in 1984. The United Kingdom tried McNuggets for the first time in 1985, while Poland joined the list of McNugget countries in 1997.
5. More Sauces Than You Probably Remember
Ever since I first sunk my teeth into those iconic Chicken McNuggets back in the ’80s, McDonald’s has been expanding their dipping sauce offerings, and boy, have they come a long way! Originally, we had just four choices – Honey, Sweet and Sour, Hot Mustard, and Barbecue. But as time went by, the fast food giant started rolling out new options to keep things exciting.
In the U.S. alone, more than 25 unique sauces have been introduced since 1983! Can you remember some of them? How about Green Chili Salsa, Habanero Ranch, or Cranberry Orange? The variety has truly made every bite a delicious adventure!
6. Szechuan Sauce Just Keeps Coming Back
In recent years, there’s been quite a lot of chatter about the McNugget sauce known as Szechuan Sauce. This sauce, blended with soy, garlic, and ginger, generated quite a stir online when it was reintroduced exclusively for app users in 2022.
However, this wasn’t its first comeback. Over the past 24 years, McDonald’s has actually resurrected the unique blend of savory and sweet sauce on four separate occasions.
7. The McNugget Amounts Have Changed Through The Years
Visit the McDonald’s drive-thru menu today and discover choices for 4-, 6-, 10-, and 20-piece Chicken McNugget meals. Back in 1983, the options were more limited, with only 6, 9, or 20 McNuggets available. On special occasions, the chain has even offered a massive 50-piece meal.
This version maintains the original’s structure while using simpler language and making the text easier to read for a broader audience.
8. The Chickens Are Mostly From These Four States
It’s likely that when you savor a Chicken McNugget, it originates from one of just four states. McDonald’s confirms they partner with three distinct providers for their Chicken McNuggets, who operate facilities in Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia.
9. When The McNugget Got Hot
2020 saw the arrival of a zesty twist to my beloved McNuggets – a spicy variant boasting a tempura coating infused with cayenne pepper. This was quite a shift from the original McNugget flavor, which had graced the menu since 1983!
In celebration of this fiery debut, McDonald’s unveiled Spicesurance. On that special day, restaurants offered a complimentary 6-piece McNugget as a backup, just in case the heat proved too much to handle!
10. It Wasn’t Always White Meat
Today, if you take a bite of a Chicken McNugget, you’ll find that it’s made from white chicken meat. This wasn’t the case in the past. McDonald’s didn’t start using only white chicken meat until 2003 when they modified their recipe.
11. McDonald’s Tested McNuggets Made From Peas
McDonald’s experimented with a meatless version of their McNugget, called Veggie McPlant Nuggets, which were made from pea and wheat protein. These nuggets were available at every McDonald’s in France, but have not yet been widely launched in the U.S.
(Note: “experimented with” is used instead of “once tested”, as it sounds more natural and less formal.)
12. McDonald’s Once Created a Whole New McNugget Style For The U.K.
In the year 2020, McDonald’s sought to jump on the bandwagon of the popular food trend sweeping across the U.K., which involved people enjoying katsu curry. As reported by HypeBeast.com, this dish consists of a breaded piece of either pork or chicken served with Japanese curry sauce and rice. With katsu curry gaining traction, McDonald’s aimed to join the craze.
In response, McDonald’s U.K. outlets launched katsu curry Chicken McNuggets in December 2020. The chicken pieces were coated with Japanese-style panko breadcrumbs and served with a curry dipping sauce.
13. A Single McNugget Once Sold For $8,100
In 2012, a woman from Nebraska successfully auctioned off one of the most costly McDonald’s McNuggets for a staggering $8,100 on eBay. The reason behind this high price? The three-year-old chicken piece was said to resemble George Washington. Initially listed for only $100, the bidding skyrocketed due to its unique appearance.
28 Vintage McDonald’s Items Hidden In Super Secret Archive at Corporate Headquarters
Grimace Costume
Aren’t you fond of Grimace? The one from McDonald’s keeps two pairs of eyes in storage, which he uses to switch between expressions for commercial productions.
Collector’s Cups
A significant number of these cups were given out during promotional events for newly released films and toy collections. The glasses displayed here showcase characters from McDonald’s that aren’t often seen in their current marketing strategies anymore.
Styrofoam Big Mac Container
At one point, almost all sandwiches from McDonald’s were packed in a container similar to this one for the Big Mac, made of styrofoam. However, the fast-food chain declared in 1990 that they would cease using these containers altogether due to environmental issues.
Ronald McDonald Doll
Even Creepier Ronald McDonald Doll
Hamburglar Costume
Debris, debris. The Burger King was a recurring figure in McDonald’s advertisements during the 1970s and 80s.
Barbie Loves McDonald’s
A significant portion of McDonald’s records is dedicated to toys, not just those included in Happy Meals. For instance, a Barbie playset has been designed to resemble a McDonald’s restaurant, with the packaging describing it as “the gathering spot for Barbie doll and her companions.
Onion Nuggets Box
McDonald’s introduced a blend of Chicken McNuggets and onion rings in 1975, but these didn’t quite resonate with customers. The onion-flavored nuggets were removed from the menu by the early 1980s.
Mac Tonight Head
In 1986, McDonald’s introduced Mac Tonight in their advertisements. This character had a crescent-moon head and frequently played the piano within these commercials. However, Mac Tonight was eventually discontinued following a lawsuit alleging that his name bore too close a resemblance to the 1950s hit song “Mack The Knife.
Vintage Shake Machine
Vintage Ad From Big Mac Debut
The original Big Mac was served at a McDonald’s located in Pennsylvania back in 1967. This innovative meal option was marketed as an exceptional sandwich, and a complimentary pie was given away with each purchase of the Big Mac.
Ronald McDonald’s Red Shoes
McDonald’s Fried Chicken Box
Indeed, McDonald’s did offer fried chicken in the past, and it is still served at certain restaurants beyond the United States. Specifically, as of September 2024, their fried chicken can be found on menus in the Dominican Republic.
Wine
McDonald’s has not historically offered wine as part of its menu. Instead, the bottles you see in their archives were gathered for various corporate events and celebrations. Interestingly, it seems that their archive room also functions as a wine cellar on occasion.
Russian McDonald’s Sign
McNugget Sauces
Since 1983, I’ve been thrilled to see McDonald’s roll out over two dozen McNugget sauces across the U.S.! A good number of these delicious dips can be found in the McDonald’s archive, but unfortunately, they aren’t meant for consumption.
Foam Burger Head
Ceremonial Spatula
As a movie critic peering back into the annals of fast-food history, I must say that the grand opening of the 10,000th McDonald’s in Dale City, Virginia, in 1988 was no ordinary affair. Instead of the usual ribbon-cutting ceremony with oversized scissors, they opted for something much more fitting – a colossal spatula! Now that’s what I call making an impact!
International McDonald’s Toys
Not just in stores all over the United States, but also in various countries, McDonald’s offered toys and items as well.
Autographed Basketballs
Since the late 1970s, the fast-food chain has been putting together its McDonald’s All-American high school basketball teams. This initiative brings together the top basketball players from across the nation for an annual matchup. Stacks of memorabilia in their archives are filled with signed basketballs from each year’s event.
Hamburglar’s Hat
Ray Kroc Birthday Cup
For the man who turned McDonald’s into a global sensation on his 70th birthday, how about a grand trophy named the “Joyful Mug” as a gift?
McDonald’s Pizza
Once upon a time, McDonald’s offered pizza in numerous outlets across the United States. However, over time, pizza was removed from almost all the restaurants’ menus. Presently, there remains a single McDonald’s in Orlando, Florida that continues to serve the McPizza.
McDonald’s Commercial Reels
Birdie Costume
Cookie Molds
In the 1980s, McDonald’s offered children a delightful snack resembling animal crackers. The dough was molded into different character shapes and then baked to create these cookie treats.
McDonald’s First Annual Report
The inaugural yearly report produced for McDonald’s illustrates its financial performance during a period of rapid growth across the United States.
McD.L.T. Specialty Container
Apart from launching a novel McDLT burger, McDonald’s also unveiled an innovative container specifically for this menu item. This unique container was engineered to maintain the freshness of the lettuce and tomato (L&T) compartment separately while keeping the burger warm on the other side.
7 Wild Facts About McDonald’s Chicken Big Mac Sandwich
That Center Bun Part Has A Name
Each component of the Big Mac and Chicken Big Mac’s bun has its own name. Specifically, the top piece is referred to as the “crown”, the middle part that holds the sandwich together is called the “club”, and lastly, the bottom part is known as the “heel”.
Big Mac Has Been Around For A Long Time
The classic Big Mac sandwich has long been a signature dish for McDonald’s, having been introduced to their menu back in 1968. For now, the Chicken Big Mac is merely a temporary option on their menu.
It’s Called ‘Fast Food’ For A Reason
In most McDonald’s kitchens, the layout is designed for efficiency, which includes testing how long it takes to prepare new menu items. As for the Chicken Big Mac, it can typically be put together in under 25 seconds once the chicken patties are removed from the fryer.
Does That Chicken Look Familiar?
As a dedicated cinephile savoring each bite of fast food, let me share my thoughts on the unique twist McDonald’s has introduced with their Chicken Big Mac. Instead of traditional burger patties, they’ve swapped them out for two tempura-battered chicken patties, similar to those found in their iconic Chicken McNuggets. However, it’s crucial not to confuse the sandwich filling with a supersized McNugget.
According to Yue Ji, the culinary manager at McDonald’s, the flavor is indeed reminiscent of a McNugget. Yet, despite sharing the same components, the overall dining experience is remarkably distinct.
It’s Supposed To Have A LOT of Sauce
There Was A Secret Chicken Big Mac Test
McDonald’s has been quietly preparing the debut of their Chicken Big Mac since early 2024. Instead of a grand launch, they’ve been refining the sandwich and testing it out in select markets. To gauge customer feedback on new items, McDonald’s often introduces products to restaurants without extensive advertising. This time around, customers in the U.K., Australia, and Miami got a sneak peek at the Chicken Big Mac before its nationwide rollout in the U.S.
Two-Pickle Limit
In case you’ve observed, McDonald’s tends to be quite precise when it comes to the number of toppings they add to their sandwiches. Specifically, for a Chicken Big Mac, each sandwich is supposed to have exactly two pickles.
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2025-02-21 23:25