McDonald’s Spicy McNuggets Returned And We Tried Them

It’s officially been two years since the last time we saw the illustrious Spicy McNuggets grace McDonald’s menus across the nation. Since their initial introduction in 2020, we’ve been in an on-again, off-again relationship with these spicy bites without ever really knowing if we’d get back together. Alas, after years apart, we’re going to start seeing each other again.

Videos by Sporked

But will this return of the Spicy McNuggets demonstrate to us what we’ve been missing this whole time, or will it be a reminder that we were better apart? We knew we’d have to do a taste test and find out once and for all how we feel about the Spicy McNuggets that have been evading our menus for some time now. Here are our thoughts.

Evaluating A Fan Favorite

Pros — Honestly folks, we were delightfully surprised that these nuggets were able to maintain everything about the original McNuggets that makes them so irresistible. The crispy exterior and strangely sponge-like texture of the nuggets that we’ve grown so fond of has all stayed the same with these Spicy McNuggets.

The overall flavor was actually very similar as well. There is less effect on the flavor from the spice than we were expecting. But for us McNugget lovers, that’s not a bad thing. They really just taste like the originals if they had some extra pepper. It was actually impressive how much the flavor was maintained through the introduction of extra spices and flavors.

Somehow the flavor was barely altered, and yet the spice fully comes through in a warm, building spice kind of way. It’s not in your face spicy, but not void of spice either. They’re that perfect level of spice that can appeal to a wider audience. And if you want more, you can dip it in their special spicy sauce, the Mighty Hot Sauce.

Cons — I think the only real con here with these McNuggets is that I think they could have done more. The sauce could have been more interesting, or the McNuggets’ spicy seasonings could have leaned more into a distinct flavor direction. They could’ve leaned into a spicy BBQ flavor, or gone with something more culturally unique like a gochujang or taco-inspired spice profile.

I’m not going to sit here and say that these Spicy McNuggets aren’t good. But do they just feel like a repetitive flavor that doesn’t feel like it warrants a continued cycle of releases that never really add anything new to the fast food nugget conversation? Absolutely, yes. There’s more that could be done with these nuggets and they would make the perfect vessel to debut a new sauce or flavor that would actually add variation to the McDonald’s menu.