McDonald's gets a lot of credit for inventing the Chicken McNugget, which joined its menu globally in 1983.
The chain did not invent chicken nuggets; those were available in the frozen-food aisle years before the McNugget appeared. But McDonald's brought the format to the fast-food space.
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Now, 40 years later, you could argue that neither Wendy's nor Restaurant Brands International's (QSR) -) Burger King has caught up to McDonald's.
Wendy's (WEN) -) might be the closest while Burger King's nuggets have never really been a major focus for the chain.
You could argue that even Yum Brands' KFC (YUM) -) and RBI's Popeyes have struggled to offer chicken nuggets that challenge the standard McDonald's (MCD) -) has set. And while the home of the Big Mac is widely lauded for making chicken nuggets a fast-food burger-chain staple, it does not receive credit for the second piece of the equation that made Chicken McNuggets work so well — dipping sauces.
Prior to the launch of the McNugget, fast-food chains offered ketchup as a condiment for dipping fries. Some menu items used mayonnaise and mustard, but the only self-serve option in the 1970s and '80s at McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King was ketchup.
That changed when McDonald's rolled out Chicken McNuggets nationwide, as the new treat was served with a choice of dipping sauces offered in a single-serve container. Back in those early days customers could pick from honey, sweet and sour, hot mustard, and barbecue sauces.
Over the years, McDonald's has expanded its sauce lineup, and now it is launching two new sauces nationwide.
Image source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
McDonald's adds 2 new sauces
While it seems like a small thing, McDonald's has shown that new sauce offerings can create viral sensations. Szechuan Chicken McNugget Sauce, for example, has been brought back multiple times for limited offerings because it was mentioned on the popular cartoon "Rick and Morty."
Earlier this year, the chain also had a viral hit when it sold its Big Mac "Special Sauce" in its trademark single-serve containers. Now, the chain is adding two new dipping sauces to its menu, beginning Oct. 9.
- McDonald’s Sweet & Spicy Jam Sauce: A jammy red pepper sauce with a tongue-numbing Szechuan peppercorn kick and extra heat from cayenne pepper; finished with apple cider vinegar.
- McDonald’s Mambo Sauce: A tomato-based, sweet, spicy, and vinegary sauce; inspired by the regional Washington, D.C. area sauce staple.
The sauces will be available for a limited time and McDonald's plans to promote them on social media via partnerships with a variety of content creators in the food space. Those partners include @Mr.Eats305, @sharidyonne, @santanakeish, @misslegarda, @natelovlogs, and @blackgirlsexploredc.
Happy birthday, Chicken McNuggets
McDonald's has been celebrating the "birthday" of Chicken McNuggets — really the anniversary of them being added to menus around the world — in various markets. That's something Chief Financial Officer Ian Borden talked about during the chain's second-quarter earnings call.
The United Kingdom actually preceded the U.S. in following the current plan.
"The U.K. celebrated the 40th anniversary of another fan favorite, the Chicken McNuggets, by offering limited-time sauces to reconnect with the Gen Z consumer. This was coupled with compelling media that showcased the fan truth that sharing your nuggets isn't guaranteed, even if your best friends," he said.
A different plan was used in China, the CFO explained.
"China also highlighted the Chicken McNuggets anniversary in a creative way with an integrated marketing campaign. Featuring our 20-piece nuggets, it quickly went viral on social media and generated significant positive buzz among consumers," he said.
McDonald's also added Spicy Chicken McNuggets, which it just launched in the U.S. in select markets.
"Spicy McNuggets, one of our most popular line extensions, were offered across various markets this quarter, including Australia and Germany. It is yet another example of how we modernize our core menu, adapt it to meet changing customer taste profiles, and scale these new ideas across the globe," he added.
