- I tried the chicken nuggets at McDonald's , Burger King , Wendy's , Chick-Fil-A , Shake Shack , and KFC to see which chain does them best.
- The chicken nuggets at Wendy's won out with their crispy coating, juicy chicken, and balanced flavor. At around 40 cents a nugget, they were also the best value.
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I tried chicken nuggets from 6 fast-food chains and was surprised to find Wendy's were best in every way
Chicken nuggets are a fast-food favorite.
McDonald's Chicken Nuggets
Chicken nuggets are beloved by all except maybe vegetarians.
It's easy to see why. They're inoffensive, easy to eat, and low in calories compared to other fast-food options. They're also the ideal vehicle for your dipping sauce of choice.
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But like most fast foods, not all chicken nuggets are created equal. A chicken nugget should be crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and has a balanced flavor.
I went to six fast-food chains in pursuit of this perfect chicken nugget. The competitors were: Shake Shack, Chick-fil-A, KFC, Wendy's, McDonald's, and Burger King. All prices were what I paid in the New York City location I visited.
SHAKE SHACK 6 PC CHICKN BITES, $4.99 I dont come to Shake Shack because its a good value, but opening up this box of meager morsels was disappointing. After tax, they were practically a dollar each.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
The batter and breadcrumbs were very crispy, and the chicken was tender and juicy.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
But they were way too salty. I had to dip them in sweet honey mustard in order to balance them out.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
I also noticed that they had a slight kick to them. Overall, though, I was disappointed at the quality and quantity for the price.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
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CHICK-FIL-A 8 PC CHICK-FIL-A NUGGETS, $5.09 I have yet to be especially impressed by any one item at Chick-fil-A. Yes, its tables have fresh flowers, but its food is just OK.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
These were slightly bigger and more generous than Shake Shacks nuggets, but they were coated in just breadcrumbs, no batter.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
They werent quite as crispy as Shake Shacks nuggets. The breading felt secondary, almost like the nuggets had been grilled then coated in carbs. They werent that juicy, either.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
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But despite the lackluster texture, these had a solid, robust flavor that capitalized on all the savory charms of chicken.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
KFC POPCORN NUGGETS, $5.89 These are more like popcorn chicken than the other brands nuggets. Theyre also only sold in one size: large.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Even though the quantity was large, the nuggets themselves were tiny, tiny, tiny.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
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They were coated in a salty and near-impenetrable layer of batter crust.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
The chicken inside was tough, dry, and completely tasteless. I reached for more honey mustard.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
WENDYS 10 PC CHICKEN NUGGETS, $4.09 When I think of Wendys I think of beef, not chicken.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
They were coated in a combination of batter and breadcrumbs that made for a delightfully crispy outer shell.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
The chicken was juicy and soft. It was still processed but tasted like real white meat.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
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These had the exact texture that chicken nuggets should have, and they were balanced and mild without being flavorless.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
MCDONALDS 10 PC MCNUGGETS, $5.99 These are the nuggets I think of when I think of chicken nuggets.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
They come in four shapes: bone, bell, ball, and boot. Theyre more processed than they let on...
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Although theyre nice and crispy on the outside, the chicken is dry, bland, and tastes pretty processed.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Theyre a consistent vehicle for sauce, but dont have any flavor of their own to offer.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
BURGER KING 10 PC CHICKEN NUGGETS, $4.59 Burger Kings Chicken Fries are arguably more famous than their nuggets, but both have the same adorable cartoon chicken on their packaging.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
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At first glance, these looked like a slightly dryer, more beige version of the McNugget.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
Thats exactly what they were. These were also unbelievably stale and dry. After finishing my first nugget, I had no desire to pick up another one.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
The award for best nuggets goes the spectacular specimens at Wendys. They had an enticing texture and full flavor while still being perfectly dippable. Crispy, juicy, and balanced, these were better than their competition in every way. They were also the best value for money, making them an easy choice for nugget fans.
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Irene Jiang / Business Insider
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SEE ALSO: I ate the same meal at Texas Roadhouse, Outback Steakhouse, and LongHorn Steakhouse. Here's how they compared.
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