Claire Thompson
Chicken McNuggets are a type of chicken nuggets sold by the international fast-food chain McDonald's. They were conceived by Keystone Foods in the late 1970s and introduced in select markets in 1981. However, it is commonly accepted that agricultural scientist Robert C. Baker invented chicken nuggets in a laboratory at Cornell University in 1963. Baker never made any money from his invention, and by the time he died in 2006, his connection to chicken nuggets had mostly been forgotten.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inventor | Agricultural scientist Robert C. Baker |
| Place of invention | Cornell University |
| Year of invention | 1963 |
| Inspiration | World War II meat rationing, which made chicken many Americans' primary source of protein |
| McDonald's debut | 1981 |
| McDonald's chef | René Arend |
| McDonald's chairman | Fred Turner |
| McDonald's co-founder | Ray Kroc |
| Number of sauces at launch | 4 |
| Original sauces | Honey, Sweet and Sour, Hot Mustard, and Barbecue |
| Year added to US menus | 1983 |
| Year introduced internationally | 1984 |
| Countries introduced in 1984 | Canada, Japan, France, and Germany |
| Number of shapes | 4 |
| Shapes | Bone or Bow Tie, Ball, Bell, and Boot |
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What You'll Learn
Robert C. Baker invented chicken nuggets in 1963
Although McDonald's is often credited with the invention of the chicken nugget, it was, in fact, agricultural scientist and Cornell University professor Robert C. Baker who invented the chicken nugget in 1963. Baker is said to have created a prototype "chicken stick" that year, which was a frozen, breaded piece of ground-up, skinless chicken.
Baker was a professor of poultry science and a chicken savant. He and his graduate students created the first versions of products such as chicken hot dogs, chicken meatballs, and more than 50 other edible items made from eggs and chicken but fashioned to look like something else. The foods they invented were detailed in widely distributed bulletins for anyone to copy and refine, kickstarting what the industry now calls “further processed” poultry.
Baker's prototype nugget, developed with student Joseph Marshall, solved two food-engineering challenges. The first was keeping ground meat together without putting a skin around it, and the second was keeping batter attached to the meat despite the shrinkage caused by freezing and the heat of frying.
Baker did not patent his chicken nugget invention. Instead, he mailed the recipe to hundreds of American companies that would later profit from it. McDonald's popularized the chicken nugget, debuting its Chicken McNuggets in select markets in 1981. They were inspired by owner Ray Kroc’s determination to develop a new menu item that appealed to the American desire for a convenient alternative to red meat.
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McDonald's popularized chicken nuggets in the 1980s
Although McDonald's did not invent the chicken nugget, it was the fast-food chain that popularised it in the 1980s. The story of the McDonald's Chicken McNugget began in the 1970s when McDonald's was working on a recipe for Onion Nuggets. These were nugget-sized pieces of onions coated in batter and deep-fried. However, they proved unpopular and were eventually scrapped.
Chairman Fred Turner then suggested that the company's executive chef, René Arend, modify the existing recipe by swapping the onions for chicken. Arend had previously worked as a chef for Queen Elizabeth II of England and was hired by McDonald's owner Ray Kroc, who was impressed with his skills. Arend's early attempts at a chicken nugget recipe used cut-up chicken, but this proved difficult to accomplish on a large scale.
To solve this problem, McDonald's turned to Keystone Foods, who deboned and processed the chicken to streamline the production process. Keystone Foods founder Herb Lotman conceived the Chicken McNuggets recipe in the late 1970s, and the nuggets were introduced in select markets in 1981. They were inspired by Kroc's determination to develop a new menu item that appealed to the American desire for a convenient alternative to red meat.
By 1983, supply problems were solved, and Chicken McNuggets became available nationwide in the United States. They were sold in six, nine, and 20-piece servings and accompanied by four sauces: honey, sweet and sour, hot mustard, and barbecue. The nationwide release of Chicken McNuggets caused a frenzy, with long lines and stores running out of chicken. The product was so popular that McDonald's introduced it internationally soon after, with releases in Canada in 1984, and England in 1985.
Chicken McNuggets have since become one of McDonald's most iconic menu items, with the chain selling billions of them worldwide. They have also undergone several changes since their debut, including a recipe tweak in the early 2000s to use white meat chicken and the removal of artificial preservatives in 2016.
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McDonald's executive chef René Arend created the Chicken McNugget recipe
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets were created by the company's executive chef, René Arend, in 1979. Arend, a classically trained French chef, was hired by McDonald's chairman and founder Ray Kroc, who was impressed by his culinary skills.
Arend initially joined McDonald's in 1976 and was tasked with developing Onion Nuggets. However, the product failed to take off, and in a passing conversation in 1979, Chairman Fred Turner suggested that Arend switch to working with chicken instead. Arend's early attempts at creating a chicken product for McDonald's, such as a fried chicken breast in sauce and a chicken pot pie, were well-received in the corporate office but could not be reproduced on a large enough scale.
Arend then created the Chicken McNuggets recipe, which was introduced in select markets in 1981. The Chicken McNuggets were a huge success, and McDonald's soon faced the challenge of meeting the high demand for the product. To solve this issue, McDonald's hired Keystone Foods, a maker of frozen hamburgers, to automate the chicken-chopping process. They also brought on Gorton's, known for their frozen fish sticks, to create a batter for the fried chicken that could be reproduced en masse.
By 1983, supply problems were resolved, and Chicken McNuggets became available nationwide in the United States, marking the beginning of their journey to becoming a fast-food icon.
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Chicken McNuggets were an instant success
Although McDonald's did not invent the chicken nugget, it certainly popularized it. Chicken McNuggets were conceived by Keystone Foods in the late 1970s and introduced in select markets in 1981, before becoming available worldwide by 1983.
The story of McNugget mania in the early 1980s is one of instant success. Long lines formed, and stores ran out of chicken. The McNuggets were so well-received that every franchise wanted them, said McDonald's Executive Chef René Arend in a 2009 interview. "There wasn't a system to supply enough chicken," he added.
Indeed, McDonald's encountered supply problems due to the overwhelming demand for Chicken McNuggets. The company initially turned to Keystone Foods to automate the chicken-chopping process and create a batter for the fried chicken that could be reproduced en masse. However, even Keystone struggled to keep up with the demand, and Tyson Foods eventually got involved, developing a new breed of chicken that was nearly twice as large as the standard supermarket chicken at the time.
By 1983, supply issues were resolved, and Chicken McNuggets became available nationwide in the United States. They were introduced in Canada in 1984, and in Japan, France, and Germany the same year and in England in 1985. The rest, as they say, is history. Chicken McNuggets took America and eventually the world by storm, changing how we consume chicken in our homes and becoming a staple of fast-food restaurants and grocery freezer aisles.
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McDonald's patented the Chicken McNugget recipe in 1979
While McDonald's did not invent chicken nuggets, they certainly played a significant role in popularising them. The origin of chicken nuggets is disputed, but it is commonly accepted that agricultural scientist Robert C. Baker invented them in a laboratory at Cornell University in 1963. Baker did not patent his creation, instead sharing his recipe with hundreds of American companies.
In the late 1970s, McDonald's began developing a new menu item to appeal to the American desire for a convenient alternative to red meat. This was partly inspired by the 1977 "Dietary Goals for the United States", which encouraged Americans to consume less red meat and more lean protein like poultry.
McDonald's Chairman Fred Turner envisioned "a boneless piece of chicken", sold "almost like French fries". The company hired chef René Arend, who had cooked for Queen Elizabeth II of England, to create this new dish. Arend initially worked on Onion Nuggets, but in 1979, Turner suggested he switch to chicken. Thus, the Chicken McNugget was born.
The road to the McNugget's success was not without challenges. Initially, McDonald's struggled to supply enough chicken to meet the high demand. They partnered with Keystone Foods, who built a $13 million plant in just over three months to ramp up production. Despite these efforts, supply issues persisted until 1983, when the Chicken McNugget finally secured its spot as one of McDonald's most iconic menu items.
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Frequently asked questions
While McDonald's is often credited with the invention of the Chicken McNugget, it was actually agricultural scientist Robert C. Baker who invented the chicken nugget in 1963.
Yes, Chicken McNuggets were conceived by Keystone Foods in the late 1970s and introduced in select markets in 1981. They became available worldwide by 1983 and became a cultural phenomenon.
Chicken McNuggets consist of small pieces of reconstituted boneless chicken meat that have been battered and deep-fried. The formula was changed in 2016 to remove artificial preservatives and improve nutritional value.
No, Baker did not patent his invention. Instead, he mailed the recipe to hundreds of American companies. Baker never made any money from the billions of nuggets sold, and by the time he died in 2006, his connection to them had mostly been forgotten.
