Review: Burger King’s New Chicken Nuggets Are an Upgrade

Burger King made a similar update when it revamped the Whopper, but I was still surprised to see the chain introduce new packaging for its nuggets.

Burger King previously served its nuggets in paper bags, but I found the new box kept them much warmer during transit.

A 10-piece chicken nugget costs $5.19, excluding tax and fees, at my local Burger King in Brooklyn, New York.

I thought that was a good deal, considering that the same number of nuggets at McDonald’s is $5.79, excluding tax and fees.

The nuggets had a deep golden color and a crisp, batter-like coating that reminded me more of McDonald’s chicken nuggets than Burger King’s original version.

Rather than the breadcrumb-heavy exterior of BK’s classic nuggets, this breading was smoother with a slightly puffed texture that gave each piece a more uniform look.

There were small crumbs of fried breading across the nuggets’ surfaces, adding texture to every bite.

I particularly liked the nuggets with the chain’s Zesty sauce, my go-to dip at Burger King.

The sauce’s creamy, tangy flavor and slight kick of spice cut through the richness of the fried breading without overpowering the chicken.

While there wasn’t as much chicken inside as in some other fast-food nuggets, it was moist and savory with a slight sweetness, while the breading had a peppery taste.

Overall, I thought they were an excellent value for the price and, rather than feeling like a side to one of Burger King’s burgers, the nuggets could now hold their own as a meal.

Unlike Burger King’s old nuggets, which I found a little too heavily breaded to stand on their own, the new version felt more balanced and satisfying.

When I tried the original nuggets — which cost $3.89, excluding tax, for an eight-piece — I thought they worked better as an accompaniment to one of the chain’s burgers, but I felt the new nuggets could serve as a meal.

I loved how the new version paired with the Zesty sauce, and the smoother, crispier coating let the flavor of the chicken come through more clearly than in the original.

Burger King’s strategy of upgrading its existing menu worked for the Whopper, and I could see it proving just as successful for the fast-food giant’s chicken lineup.