McDonald’s Spicy Chicken McNuggets Are Back: Here’s When You Can Get Them

If you like your chicken nuggets with a little extra heat, McDonald’s has some good news.

The fast-food chain is bringing back its Spicy Chicken McNuggets for a limited time. The popular menu item returns to participating U.S. restaurants nationwide in September. McDonald’s is also bringing back Mighty Hot Sauce, giving fans another way to turn up the heat.

The Spicy Chicken McNuggets return September 1 at participating McDonald’s locations across the country. There is one catch: They will only stick around for a limited time.

That means fans who have been waiting for their spicy nugget fix may want to make a trip sooner rather than later. McDonald’s has not announced a permanent return for the item.

Some locations have already started showing the spicy nuggets on their menus. Current McDonald’s ordering pages list the item as a limited-time offering, along with Mighty Hot Sauce. Availability and pricing can vary by restaurant.

This isn't the first time McDonald's has tested the spicy version of its famous nuggets.

Spicy Chicken McNuggets first arrived in the U.S. in 2020. The launch marked the first new McNugget flavor introduced nationally by McDonald's since the original Chicken McNuggets debuted in the early 1980s. 

The spicy nuggets returned during several limited-time runs after their original debut. They also appeared in select markets in more recent years. Now, McDonald's is giving fans another chance to grab them nationwide.

For now, don't count on it. McDonald's is treating the Spicy Chicken McNuggets and Mighty Hot Sauce as limited-time menu items. The company has continued to bring back popular products when customer demand remains strong. 

That strategy can create a little urgency for fans. If a limited-time item becomes popular enough, McDonald's may have a reason to bring it back again. For spicy-food fans, September could be the perfect time to stock up.