I tried McDonald's spicy chicken nuggets and think they should be added permanently to the menu
Fast-food chains have responded to Gen-Z tastes by introducing spicy dishes on their menus, from Popeyes' and Subway's ghost-pepper sandwiches to Burger King's "fiery" menu.
McDonald's joined the trend earlier this week by bringing back its spicy chicken nuggets. When the spicy twist on the brand's original nuggets were first introduced in 2020, they were a major hit, selling out within two weeks of their launch, Business Insider reported at the time.
They returned to some menus briefly in February 2021, April 2022, and April 2023, with McDonald's acknowledging they were a "fan favorite." Over the years, fans have demanded the item be given permanent status on the chain's menus, with some even petitioning on change.org .
I first tried the brand's spicy chicken nuggets while living in Dubai in 2022, and they were so good I realized I could never enjoy the original nuggets — my mall comfort meal since childhood — the same way again.
So when I heard they were back in New York, where I now live, I was curious to see if they matched up to the ones I'd previously had.
Here's what I thought about the Spicy Chicken McNuggets from McDonald's.
On November 4, McDonald's reintroduced its Spicy Chicken McNuggets for a limited time in select stores.Fast-food chains are known to tease customers on social media with the prospect of bringing back favorite menu items, and McDonald's is no different.
Labeling some items as limited-time-only creates a feeling of FOMO among fans and keeps them hungry for the next release. The brand also applied this tactic to the McRib , another limited-time offering.
This year, the spicy nuggets will be available in select local markets, including Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, New York, San Antonio, and Memphis, Tennessee. Customers are encouraged to check the McDonald's app to confirm if their closest location offers the nuggets.
I chose to order my nuggets through Uber Eats and found it to be a seamless process.Since my home address was pre-recorded on my Uber Eats app, I simply searched for " spicy chicken nuggets " in the app's search bar. This led me to the closest McDonald's store serving the nuggets.
I found Uber Eats easier than the McDonald's app since I didn't have to manually check individual store locations to see if they had stocked up on the nuggets. Instead, I was just directed to the one closest to my home.
However, the two apps charged slightly different prices for the same order.Whether you order from the McDonald's app or through Uber Eats, your food is eventually delivered by Uber Eats.
Still, a 10-piece box of spicy chicken nuggets from my local store in New York on the McDonald's app cost $9.49, without tips, taxes, or fees. (With tax, a 15% tip, and fees, including a delivery fee and a $3.75 "small order fee," it cost $22.22.)
The same order on Uber Eats — without an UberOne membership — cost me $9.39. (With tax, delivery fees, and tip, I paid $20.10. Uber Eats did not charge me a small order fee.)
I received my box within 11 minutes of placing the order, and when it arrived, it was warm.Even before I removed the box of nuggets from the paper bags, the familiar — and mouthwatering — smell of McDonald's had spread throughout my living room.
I was very happy that my delivery arrived in record time, and when I held the box and opened it, the nuggets were still warm despite the chilly weather outside.
I noticed the spicy nuggets had a slight red tinge, unlike the original version's golden hue.The nuggets had a crispy exterior with spots of black dots — possibly pepper — spread all over. They were made with a crispy coating spiced with cayenne and chili pepper.
Even before I took a bite, I could tell these were going to have a nice crunch because of the crusty exterior.
I ordered a box of 10 pieces, but you could also choose from four, six, 20, or 40 pieces.
The nuggets were still fresh and hot, and I instantly wanted more.The crispy, spicy coating and lingering smell made these nuggets hard to resist .
Upon taking my first bite, I thought the nugget had a nice crunch, which perfectly complemented the chicken's juiciness.
After that first bite, I gobbled up a whole box and happily forgot to save some for my friend.
I loved that the nugget wasn't too spicy. Instead, it had a subtle kick that lingered.At first, the color made it look like it was going to be very spicy. But as soon as I tried the first nugget, I found that the heat was subtle and slowly built up rather than making me sweat from the very first bite.
I thought the recipe was quite mild, but I still enjoyed it and, in fact, preferred it that way. However, if you're looking for extra heat, you could pair the fried chicken with hot picante sauce or Buffalo sauce.
Another element that stood out was that the hot seasoning wasn't limited to the chicken's coating. When I tried the chicken and breading separately, I found that I could still consistently feel the heat.
While I'd previously switched to Chick-fil-A for my chicken nugget fix, I think these spicy nuggets might bring me back to McDonald's a few more times while they're still on the menu.I love a good spicy and crispy chicken, whether sandwiched between a bun or on its own. So when I moved to the US, Chick-fil-A quickly became my go-to fast-food restaurant .
But now that I've tasted McDonald's spicy chicken nuggets, I have a feeling my loyalties might shift — at least until these disappear again.
And next time, I'm going for the 20-piece box.
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