The menu item introduced nationally as “McNuggets” in 1983 was Chicken McNuggets.
McDonald's had tested the bite-sized breaded chicken pieces before their national launch. The product gave the chain a new branded menu category beyond hamburgers and helped establish the “Mc” naming pattern as a recognizable part of McDonald's product identity.
Chicken McNuggets are sometimes confused with the later McChicken sandwich or with temporary chicken products sold under other names. The original McNugget branding referred specifically to small, shaped pieces of coated chicken served in portions with dipping sauces.