Burger King Chicken Nuggets: What To Know Before Ordering

It's a pretty sad time to be a chicken nugget (arguably even worse if you happen to be a chicken). Whereas once the battered chunks of golden crispiness were a staple of childhood and convenience meals, now the outlook is much more bleak.

As The Guardian insightfully notes, "chickens don't turn into nuggets by themselves." Yet, even if they could, they might not be required to do so for much longer. Aside from the fact that farmers and factories tend to have a lot to do with producing chicken nuggets, according to CNBC, their popularity appears to be falling. Their reputation has been affected by health concerns and lack of innovation, with many consumers opting for more nutritional and exciting options — even though 2.3 billion servings of nuggets are eaten in the U.S. every year.

Despite the criticisms, chicken nuggets remain a fast-food staple with many restaurants continuing to back them, including industry titans like Burger King. Although they are a simplistic treat, there are still important nuggets of information you need to know before buying Burger King's chicken nuggets.

Even though some people have opted for culinary options that are not as harmful to human health or animal welfare, chicken nuggets still hold a significant grip on the menu of Burger King. Based on prices for BK's New York store on 106 Fulton Street, they are available in various sizes of sides, including four nuggets for $1.19 and 10 costing $1.99. Some restaurants also offer eight nuggets, which fit in the middle of the price range (via Burger King).

As well as a snack, Burger King's website informs that 10-piece nuggets can be bought as part of a small ($5.99), medium ($6.49), or large ($6.99) meal. Each features a drink and side relative to the size of the meal, as well as a choice of dip.

Perhaps as an attempt to boost the thrill of chicken nuggets, Burger King offers 40 nuggets with two sides of large fries for $9.99 and, as reported by Food & Wine, has previously sold a frankly ridiculous 100 nuggets for $10.

Given the concern around eating processed chicken nuggets, how do the nutritional values of Burger King's nuggets shape up? Details provided on the Burger King website show that the four-piece nugget side has 170 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 310 milligrams of sodium. Predictably, these figures increase until the 10-piece side, which packs 430 calories, 27 grams of fat, and 780 milligrams of sodium.

Obviously, fruit salads are far better for the body than greasy grub, but if a craving for Burger King exists, then it must be fed. Fortunately, the fillings of chicken nuggets should fit comfortably within the recommended daily calorie amounts of 2,500 for men and 2,000 for women (via Insider).

Salt, on the other hand, may well be an issue. The FDA makes it clear that sodium intake should not exceed 2,300 milligrams a day, meaning that Burger King's nuggets could take a hefty chunk out of that. However, the four-piece and 10-piece options also contain between eight and 20 grams of protein, making a mighty impact on the daily protein requirement of up to 46 grams for women and 56 grams for men (via Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine).

Cost, nutrition, and — apparently — style are all incredibly important when deciding which fast-food company to indulge, especially considering there are so many to choose from. Taste, though, is beyond a doubt the overwhelming factor.

Brand Eating gives Burger King's chicken nuggets a glowing write-up, even if they are considered to be suspiciously similar to those of McDonald's. Unfortunately, few others agree. Fast Food Menu Prices gives the nuggets a rating of 2.7 out of five, while Eater explains that they lack flavor and crunch. Insider is the most critical, describing BK's nuggets as "unbelievably stale and dry."

Perhaps that's why the chicken nuggets are so frequently given away for free. DoorDash records a promotion where complimentary packets of 10 nuggets were dished out, and Delish notes a U.K. offer at Burger King drive-thrus that included doling out bags of six nuggets to eligible customers.

Maybe creating your own homemade interpretation of Burger King's chicken nuggets is the way forward. Even by considering the immediate advantages, it will likely save money, provide the option of being healthier, and allow you to put your own spin on the taste. So, if you want cheesy chicken nuggets, or even a nugget burger, go ahead and make them crazy.

Recipe.net advises a recipe that takes just 25 minutes. Mix half a cup of flour, 1 teaspoon of garlic, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a resealable bag before adding 12 ounces of diced chicken breast (with bones and skin removed) and shaking everything together. Heat up oil in a pan, while whisking an egg and 1 tablespoon of water together. Then, dunk the chicken pieces into the egg mixture and coat them with breadcrumbs. The chicken chunks can then be cooked in the oil for about four minutes until they become golden.

Recipefairy adds that using extremely fine breadcrumb pieces is ideal for Burger King nuggets. Recipe.net also suggests that if the chicken nuggets are not being eaten immediately, they should be stored in an air-tight container or tightly wrapped foil in a refrigerator, keeping them safe to eat for up to two days (whereas they should last for two to three months in a freezer).

It's safe to say that, all things considered, Burger King's chicken nuggets are an acquired taste. Even though they are often given away without charge, perhaps that's simply a genius ploy to encourage more people to sink their teeth into legendary Whopper burgers. They do, however, have the bonus of not being the unhealthiest of fast-food options, as well as being easy to make in your own kitchen.

It could be that BK's nuggets are overdue for an overhaul, which may be why vegan nuggets are slowly creeping their way in. Green Matters reports a trial of plant-based nuggets in selected Burger King stores in Germany, while Vegconomist notes a similar scheme in Poland.

Turning back time to products of the past might be another way for Burger King to salvage the reputation of its chicken nuggets. As reported by Delish, the company's spicy chicken nuggets have previously made a comeback, as have the crown-shaped variety (via Eat This, Not That), proving that Burger King can be innovative and invest in the success of its chicken nuggets.