McDonald’s Popular Spicy McNuggets Are Finally Back After 2 Long Years

If you’ve been dying to add some heat to your McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets—or tried Chick-fil-A’s own spin on spiced-up chicken, then I’ve got good news. Classic chicken nuggets are about to get a flavor upgrade. No, it’s not technically a new menu addition. Rather, it’s the return of an old favorite that McDonald’s fans have been clamoring for since they last disappeared in 2024.

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The Wait Is Over: Spicy McNuggets Are Returning

McDonald’s Spicy McNuggets are back—well, almost back. This fall, Spicy McNuggets will grace McDonald’s menus nationwide once again. 

First introduced back in September 2020, Spicy McNuggets are essentially McDonald’s original Chicken McNuggets breaded in a spicy, yet crispy coating that features a blend of heat-delivering spices like aged cayenne and chili pepper. They’re the first flavor variation of the original McNugget, which makes them a particularly special menu addition.

And since 2020, the Spicy McNuggets have come and gone. Though they have plenty of fans, this is one menu item that regularly pops up for a very limited time and then disappears again. And you never quite know when or if you’ll catch these spiced-up bites once they go off-menu.

But that doesn’t matter now: Spicy McNuggets are coming back and that means you can indulge in plenty. The nuggets will be available for in-restaurant orders as well as McDelivery and in-app orders for pickup when they officially relaunch.

When Will Spicy McNuggets Be Available?

Spicy McNuggets will hit your local McDonald’s sooner rather than later, so their hiatus is almost over. 

A peek at the McDonald’s website gives us more information about the seasoned McNuggets’ official return. And since the Spicy McNuggets are already showing up on the official McDonald’s website, it’s clear they’re coming back—and hitting restaurants—sometime soon. 

In fact, you can get your hands on Spicy McNuggets starting September 1, 2026. They will be available at participating McDonald’s restaurants, so check the menu at your go-to location.

The nuggets are expected to appear alongside other upcoming new additions to McDonald’s fall menu, like the Mighty Hot Sauce, another fan favorite that disappeared back in 2021.

Regardless of when they do (finally!) reappear, McDonald’s Spicy McNuggets will be available in 6-, 10-, 20-, and 40-piece options based on what’s already on the website. So, it’ll be super simple to stock up or eat 40-plus in a single sitting. And since these nuggets are slated to be “back for a limited time,” you’ll definitely want to get your hands on them quickly.