Which McDonald's product brand launched in 1983 after restaurant testing in the United States?

Chicken McNuggets launched as a McDonald's product brand in 1983 after testing in the United States.

The bite-sized, breaded chicken pieces were developed to give McDonald's a standardized chicken product that could be prepared consistently across its restaurants. Their compact shape, dipping sauces, and branded name helped establish them as a menu identity rather than simply another fried chicken item.

McDonald's introduced the product nationally in 1983 after earlier market testing. The launch expanded the chain's chicken offering at a time when customers were seeking alternatives to hamburgers and fries.

Chicken McNuggets are sometimes mixed up with the McChicken, which is a chicken sandwich, or with later regional chicken products. The “McNuggets” name specifically identifies the small breaded pieces. Their branding became especially important in children's marketing and in later dipping-sauce promotions.