Which McDonald’s menu item, introduced nationally in 1983, gave chicken pieces a branded name?

Chicken McNuggets were the McDonald’s menu item introduced nationally in 1983 that gave bite-sized chicken pieces a branded name.

McDonald’s developed the product to expand beyond hamburgers and to offer a portion that was easy to share, dip, and eat without utensils. The pieces were shaped into a small set of recognizable forms, helping make the product visually distinctive as well as easy to market.

The item was created with input from food scientists, including René Arend, and had been tested in selected markets before its national launch. Its name followed McDonald’s established “Mc” naming pattern while emphasizing the small size of the pieces.

Chicken McNuggets are sometimes confused with the McChicken, which is a sandwich. The two products belong to different menu categories and have different branding histories.