McDonald’s introduced the McNugget in 1983 after testing it in selected U.S. markets.
Chicken McNuggets were developed as small pieces of formed, breaded chicken designed for convenient eating and dipping. McDonald’s tested the product before adding it to the national menu, allowing the company to refine production and distribution at scale.
The product became one of the chain’s best-known menu items and helped expand fast food’s chicken category beyond bone-in fried chicken. It is commonly served with dipping sauces, although the available sauces have varied by market and period.
The McNugget was not created by KFC, despite KFC’s association with chicken. KFC’s traditional identity centers on fried chicken pieces, while McNuggets established a separate, bite-sized chicken format for McDonald’s.