Which McDonald’s product name was modeled on the word “McDonald’s” and introduced in 1983?

Chicken McNuggets were introduced nationally by McDonald’s in 1983.

The name combines “chicken” with McDonald’s familiar “Mc” naming style. That naming pattern became a major part of the company’s product branding, appearing in names such as McChicken, McRib and Egg McMuffin. The McNuggets name made the bite-sized format sound like a distinct branded product rather than ordinary fried chicken pieces.

McDonald’s introduced Chicken McNuggets after developing a standardized breaded chicken item suitable for large-scale restaurant service. The product was designed to be easy to portion, cook and serve, helping it fit the chain’s highly consistent operating model.

The 1983 national introduction is different from earlier test-market activity. As with many McDonald’s menu items, a product could appear in selected restaurants before becoming a broadly available national offering.