Which McDonald's product became the chain's first nationally available chicken nugget in 1983?

Chicken McNuggets became McDonald's first nationally available chicken nugget product in 1983.

McDonald's introduced Chicken McNuggets nationally in the United States in 1983 after test marketing and development work involving the company and food scientists. The bite-sized pieces were designed to make chicken convenient to eat in the same way that hamburgers were convenient.

The product used formed, breaded chicken pieces rather than a whole chicken fillet. Its familiar four-, six-, and larger-piece meals helped establish chicken nuggets as a major fast-food category.

The McChicken is a separate sandwich, while later products such as Chicken Selects and McCrispy used different formats and recipes. The McNuggets name became one of McDonald's most recognizable product brands.