Review: McDonald’s Limited Edition Spicy Chicken Nuggets

• McDonald’s Spicy Chicken Nuggets are back in select stores for a limited time.
• The chain first released the nuggets in 2020, but due to high demand, they have returned every year.
• The nuggets had a crispy exterior and a good kick.

Fast food chains have responded to Generation Z’s tastes by adding spicy dishes to their menus, from Popeyes and Subway’s ghost pepper sandwiches to Burger King’s “fiery” menu.

McDonald’s joined the trend earlier this week and brought back its spicy chicken nuggets. When the brand’s spicy take on the original nuggets was first introduced in 2020, they were a huge success, selling out just two weeks after their launch, Business Insider reported at the time.

They briefly returned to some menus in February 2021, April 2022 and April 2023, with McDonald’s acknowledging that they were a “fan favorite.” Over the years, fans have called for the item to be given permanent status on the chain’s menus, and some have even started a petition on change.org.

I tried the brand’s spicy chicken nuggets for the first time while living in Dubai in 2022, and they were so good that I realized I’d never go back to the original nuggets – my favorite mall food since childhood could enjoy in the same way.

When I heard they were back in New York, where I now live, I was curious to see if they matched the ones I had before.

Here’s what I thought about McDonald’s Spicy Chicken McNuggets.