What name did McDonald’s give its bite-sized fried chicken pieces introduced nationally in 1983?

McDonald’s named its bite-sized fried chicken pieces Chicken McNuggets when they were introduced nationally in 1983.

McDonald’s had tested the product in selected markets before expanding it across the United States. The pieces were designed to be easy to eat, share, and dip, making them especially important to the chain’s family-oriented product branding.

The product was developed with help from food scientists, including René Arend, who worked to create a consistent chicken item suitable for large-scale restaurant production. Its recognizable shapes also became part of the product’s visual identity.

Chicken McNuggets are not the same product as the McChicken sandwich. The McChicken is a breaded chicken patty served as a sandwich, while McNuggets are small pieces intended to be eaten individually with dipping sauce.