While what in the fast-food industry has come to be known as the “chicken wars” dates back to 2019 when Popeyes first launched its viral fried chicken sandwich, the wave of chicken products with which chains keep trying to outdo their competitors continues to ride high.
Chicken sales across major fast-food players brought in more than $63.7 billion USD in cross-industry sales last year and, despite some small month-to-month drops since the start of 2026, continue to be the highest-growing segment of the market.
And just when it feels like chains cannot possible surprise their customers with any new iterations of chicken sandwiches, chicken strips or chicken nuggets, an oldie that was eventually removed from menus makes a comeback.
McDonald’s to bring back Spicy Chicken McNuggets in September 2026
This week, several watchdog sites broke the news that McDonald’s will be bringing back the Spicy Chicken McNuggets two years after last removing them from the menu.
First launched in the fall of 2020 during the height of the industry-wide “spicy version of a popular dish” craze, this product was the first variation of one of the Golden Arches’ most iconic products since the regular McNugget was introduced in 1983.
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The spicy version was brought back for short periods of time in 2021, 2023 and 2024 but always treated like a seasonal offering to maintain the hype and viral nature of the popular item.
This time, the Spicy McNuggets will hit McDonald’s menus on September 1 across all stores in the U.S. in sizes of six, 10, 20 and 40 pieces. The coating is a mix of tempura batter seasoned with cayenne and chili pepper spices while, for the first time since the nuggets first launched in 2020, McDonald’s is also bringing back the accompanying Mighty Hot Sauce (a blend of crushed chili peppers with a sweet touch).
McDonald’s
Where and when can I get the Spicy Chicken McNuggets this year
Beyond confirming that the McNuggets would return once the news had leaked, McDonald’s did not provide information on why the nuggets are returning now. It is not currently known how long the Spicy McNuggets will remain on the menu but, as every time they were brought back, they will eventually be taken off for other seasonal products.
This strategy is used by every major fast-food chain to help generate hype around products to which customers can otherwise grow accustomed.
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“We’ve heard your cries for Spicy Chicken McNuggets, so we decided to introduce the first new flavor of our classic Chicken McNuggets for the first time ever in the U.S.,” McDonald’s said in a press release when the spicy nuggets were first introduced in September 2020.
This time, the chain the chain is saying that “Spicy Chicken McNuggets are back for a limited time with a spicy breading that adds a real kick to the fan favorite Chicken McNuggets” (while the kick is definitely there, “spicy” versions at mainstream chains like McDonald’s need to be palatable to a general customer base and so rarely offer the type of intense heat that true spice lovers are looking for.
