Which McDonald’s product gave the company the trademarked branding term “McNuggets”?

Chicken McNuggets gave McDonald’s the trademarked branding term “McNuggets.”

McDonald’s introduced Chicken McNuggets nationally in the United States in 1983. The bite-sized chicken pieces used the company’s established “Mc” naming pattern, extending its branding system from hamburgers and restaurant names to a new category of food.

The product had been tested earlier in selected markets, and its national rollout made the word “McNuggets” a central part of McDonald’s advertising and packaging. The name emphasized both the small size of the pieces and their connection to the McDonald’s brand.

Chicken McNuggets are sometimes confused with later chicken products such as Chicken Selects or McChicken sandwiches. Those products have separate names and formats. McNuggets specifically refers to the breaded, bite-sized chicken pieces sold with dipping sauces.