McDonald’s Spicy McNuggets are a limited time offering from that appears to be slowly rolling out nationwide with minimal fanfare. They first appeared at my local McDonald’s on 4/20, and I can’t help but wonder if that was intentional.
The Spicy McNuggets are texturally identical to the classic McNuggets. Deep fried tempura battered mechanically separated chicken is a distinct texture, and you probably already know how you feel about it.
I’ve had the Spicy McNuggets in the past, and I don’t think much has changed since last time they were offered. It’s basically a classic McNugget with some extra cayenne and paprika to add heat, color and flavor. The heat level is pretty mild, probably in the same ballpark as Frank’s Red Hot. The extra flavor does make them feel a little more sophisticated then the classic McNugget, which I appreciated.
I also tried the Spicy McNuggets with McDonald’s Sweet and Sour Sauce, and this is where the magic really happens. The Sweet and Sour Sauce is by far the best dipping sauce, and it combines with the Spicy McNuggets to create a kind of extremely low rent General Tso’s type experience. I didn’t try any of the other sauces, but I imagine there’s plenty of other flavor synergies available. Spicy BBQ anyone?
I’m not sure why McDonald’s does so few limited time offerings. The Spicy McNuggets are a home run, and I’d like to see them swing for the fences more often. At very least they should make these a permanent menu item.
Spicy McNuggets: Five stars
i tried them with both the honey mustard and the sweet and sour. sweet and sour was better (as always) but the slight sweetness of the honey mustard was good w/them too