Sophie Bennett
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets are a menu staple today, but they weren't always available at the fast-food chain. In fact, they were only introduced in 1983, almost 30 years after the first McDonald's opened in 1955. The Chicken McNuggets were conceived in the late 1970s by Keystone Foods founder Herb Lotman and created by McDonald's former executive chef, René Arend, in 1979. They were first introduced in select markets in 1981 and made available worldwide by 1983.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year Chicken McNuggets were introduced | 1983 |
| Year Chicken McNuggets were conceived | Late 1970s |
| Creator of Chicken McNuggets | Keystone Foods |
| Number of sauces at launch | 4 |
| Original sauces | Barbecue, Honey, Hot Mustard, Sweet and Sour |
| Number of sauces currently | 8 |
| Current sauces | Creamy ranch, honey mustard, hot picante, ketchup, mild picante, spicy buffalo, sweet and sour, tangy barbecue |
| Number of shapes | 4 |
| Shapes | Bell, Bow-tie, Ball, Boot |
| Reason for 4 shapes | Consistent cooking times, dipability and fun |
| Year Spicy Chicken McNuggets were introduced | 2020 |
| Country Spicy Chicken McNuggets were introduced | United States |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken McNuggets were conceived in the 1970s
Chicken McNuggets were not a McDonald's invention. That distinction goes to Robert C. Baker, a poultry and food science professor at Cornell University. Baker is credited with creating the chicken nugget in 1963. During World War II, the U.S. government instituted rationing, and Americans ate a lot of chicken. When rations were lifted, people were tired of eating chicken, so chicken scientists went to work to come up with a big idea to get people excited about chicken again.
In the 1970s, people became concerned about cardiovascular disease. In 1977, Congress released "Dietary Goals for the United States," which encouraged people to eat less red meat and more lean protein like poultry. This caused red meat sales to plummet, hitting burger-focused fast-food restaurants hard. McDonald's, which had previously struggled to get fried chicken items to catch on, saw an opportunity to adapt to this shift in consumer behaviour.
René Arend created the Chicken McNuggets recipe in 1979. They were added to US menus in 1983, with four sauce options: Honey, Sweet and Sour, Hot Mustard, and Barbecue. They were an immediate hit with kids and their parents. Since 1983, more than 25 different sauces have been introduced to the US market.
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McDonald's didn't invent chicken nuggets
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets have become a staple on the menu of the fast-food giant. However, the origin of chicken nuggets, like many food inventions, is disputed, and McDonald's did not invent them.
Chicken nuggets were invented by agricultural scientist Robert C. Baker in a laboratory at Cornell University in the 1960s. Baker is credited with creating dozens of poultry products, including turkey ham and chicken hot dogs, and revolutionising the way breading is bound to chicken. He also co-invented the machine that debones chicken. However, Baker did not patent his chicken nugget invention, instead mailing the recipe to hundreds of American companies.
The chicken nugget was born out of the 'Broiler Depression', which saw an oversupply of chicken in the US and a drop in prices. Chicken was only available in three forms: cut up, halved, or whole, and there were no convenience foods that could be quickly heated up. Baker's invention helped to reinvigorate the American appetite for chicken.
Chicken McNuggets were added to McDonald's menus in 1983, almost 30 years after the first McDonald's opened. They were inspired by owner Ray Kroc's desire to develop a menu item that appealed to the American desire for an alternative to red meat. McDonald's Chairman Fred Turner decided this product should be "a boneless piece of chicken", sold "almost like French fries".
McDonald's former executive chef René Arend, who had cooked for Queen Elizabeth II, was hired to create the recipe in 1979. He initially produced a fried chicken breast in sauce, but this could not be reproduced on a large enough scale. Arend had been recipe-testing Onion Nuggets and adapted this to create Chicken McNuggets in the 1970s.
Chicken McNuggets were first introduced in select markets in 1981, and supply issues were resolved by 1983, when they became available nationwide in the US.
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They were added to US menus in 1983
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets were added to US menus in 1983, almost 30 years after the first McDonald's opened in 1955. The iconic menu item was the brainchild of McDonald's former executive chef, René Arend, who first developed the recipe in the 1970s while recipe-testing Onion Nuggets.
Upon their debut in 1983, Chicken McNuggets were available in six-, nine-, and 20-piece servings. Customers could choose from four sauces: Honey, Sweet and Sour, Hot Mustard, and Barbecue. The nuggets were an instant hit, not just with kids but also with their parents.
Chicken McNuggets were not a McDonald's invention. The credit for creating chicken nuggets goes to Robert C. Baker, a poultry and food science professor at Cornell University. Baker invented chicken nuggets in 1963 and is known for about 40 different poultry and cold-cut innovations. However, McDonald's popularized chicken nuggets and turned them into a menu staple.
Since their introduction in 1983, Chicken McNuggets have undergone several upgrades. McDonald's has introduced new dipping sauces, and in 2016, the formula was changed to remove artificial preservatives and improve nutritional value. Today, Chicken McNuggets are sold in various portion sizes worldwide, and McDonald's continues to innovate with limited-edition flavours like Spicy Chicken McNuggets.
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Four sauces were available initially
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets were introduced in 1983, almost 30 years after the first McDonald's opened in 1955. They were created in the 1970s by McDonald's former executive chef, René Arend, who was recipe-testing Onion Nuggets at the time. They were first made available in select markets in 1981.
Upon their debut in 1983, customers could enjoy nuggets in various sizes, including six, nine, and 20-piece orders. Four sauces were available initially: barbecue, honey, hot mustard, and sweet and sour. Since then, more than 25 different sauces have been introduced to the US market, including Green Chili Salsa, Cranberry Orange, Teriyaki, and Habanero Ranch.
Today, McDonald's typically offers eight sauces to accompany McNuggets, including creamy ranch, honey mustard, hot picante, ketchup, mild picante, spicy buffalo, sweet and sour, and tangy barbecue. The availability of sauces may vary depending on location.
Chicken McNuggets are a popular item on the McDonald's menu, and the company has continued to innovate by introducing new flavours such as Spicy Chicken McNuggets, served with Mighty Hot Sauce. In 2016, McDonald's also improved the nutritional value of its Chicken McNuggets by removing artificial preservatives, colours, and flavours.
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They're sold in various portion sizes
Chicken McNuggets are sold in various portion sizes, with the available options depending on the country of purchase. In the United States, they come in packs of 4, 6, 10, 20 and 50 (in selected stores). In some markets, including the United Kingdom, they are sold in packs of 4 (as part of a Happy Meal), 6, 9 or 20 (as a "ShareBox"). In Canada, Chicken McNuggets are sold in packs of 4 (as part of a Happy Meal), 6, 10, and 20. A 50-piece McNuggets meal deal has also been promoted at times for special events such as the NFL's Super Bowl. In New Zealand and Australia, they are also available in 3-packs in Happy Meals and Heart Foundation-approved "Tick healthy" meals.
The portion sizes available upon the Chicken McNuggets' debut in 1983 included 6, 9, and 20-piece servings. The nuggets were an immediate hit, particularly with children and their parents. The popularity of the Chicken McNuggets can be attributed to their unique selling point of four distinct shapes: the bell, the bow-tie, the ball, and the boot. This was a strategic decision by McDonald's, as it ensured consistent cooking times for food safety, and it also added an element of fun for customers.
The availability of Chicken McNuggets in various portion sizes caters to different customer needs, whether it's an individual looking for a snack or a larger group wanting a shareable option. The ability to offer flexibility and customization in serving sizes has likely contributed to the product's enduring popularity.
Over the years, McDonald's has introduced limited-time variations of the classic Chicken McNuggets, including Spicy Chicken McNuggets in the United States, which were accompanied by Mighty Hot Sauce. These limited-edition nuggets were first introduced in 2020 and have made multiple returns to the menu due to their popularity.
While McDonald's popularized Chicken McNuggets and made them a staple on their menu, it is important to note that they did not invent chicken nuggets. The credit for creating chicken nuggets goes to Robert C. Baker, a poultry and food science professor at Cornell University, who invented them in 1963.
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Frequently asked questions
McDonald's started selling Chicken McNuggets in 1983.
No, McDonald's did not invent chicken nuggets. Chicken nuggets were invented by Robert C. Baker, a poultry and food science professor at Cornell University, in 1963.
No, Chicken McNuggets were only available in the United States in 1983. They were introduced in Canada, Japan, France, and Germany in 1984.
McDonald's offered four sauces with Chicken McNuggets in 1983: Honey, Sweet and Sour, Hot Mustard, and Barbecue.
