What did McDonald's introduce in select markets in 1981 and nationwide by 1983?

Chicken McNuggets are a type of chicken product offered by international fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's, which they introduced in select markets in 1981, and available nationwide by 1983. They consist of small pieces of processed chicken meat that have been battered and deep fried.

The Chicken McNugget is a small piece of processed chicken meat that is fried in batter and flash-frozen, then shipped out and sold at McDonald's restaurants. It was conceived by Keystone Foods founder Herb Lotman in the late 1970s.

McDonald's first executive chef, René Arend, created the Chicken McNuggets recipe in 1979. "The McNuggets were so well-received that every franchise wanted them", said Arend in a 2009 interview. "There wasn't a system to supply enough chicken". Supply problems were solved by 1983, and Chicken McNuggets became available nationwide.

According to McDonald's, the nuggets come in four shapes: the bell, the bow-tie, the ball and the boot.