Chicken McNuggets were introduced nationally in 1983 and became central to McDonald's chicken branding.
The bite-sized, breaded chicken pieces were developed after McDonald's sought a chicken product that could fit its fast-food preparation system. Their uniform shape, dipping sauces, and shareable presentation made them especially suitable for advertising and children-oriented promotions.
Chicken McNuggets are sometimes confused with the McChicken, a chicken sandwich that McDonald's introduced earlier in the 1980s. The two products helped expand McDonald's beyond its hamburger-centered image, but McNuggets became the more distinctive branded chicken item.
Their national launch also gave McDonald's a durable product name built around the “Mc” naming style. Over time, packaging, sauces, character promotions, and limited-time variations reinforced McNuggets as a major part of the company's visual and commercial identity.