Food & Beverage

McDonald's spicy chicken is 1st new McNugget flavor in 37 years

McDonald's goes hot and cold with new menu items. (Photo provided)

August 25, 2020

Hot and spicy chicken continues to blaze through the quick-service category, even sweeping up McDonald's, which is launching Spicy Chicken McNuggets Sept. 16 — the first McNugget variation since 1983.

The mega-QSR is also introducing its first new McNugget sauce in three years, as well as something to cool it all down in a Chips Ahoy! McFlurry.

The new McNugget variation is breaded in a tempura coating filled with cayenne and chili peppers, while the hot sauce contains a blend of crushed red peppers and chilis.

"As our customers have been asking for Spicy McNuggets for some time now, we couldn't think of a better time to bring them to our menus. We can't wait for McNuggets fans to get a taste of these new spicy options," Linda VanGosen, vice president of menu innovation said in the release.

For the cool-down, the Chips Ahoy! McFlurry features vanilla soft-serve, caramel topping and Chips Ahoy! cookie pieces and comes in snack and regular sizes as an LTO, also starting Sept. 16.

McDonald's U.S. has 14,000 stores, with 95% franchised.