Chicken Free: McDonald’s Launches Plant-Based McNuggets

CHICAGO. McDonald’s McNuggets is ditching the bird.

The Chicago fast food giant will be introducing plant-based McNuggets next week. Germany will be the first market to receive them.

McPlant nuggets, made with peas, corn and wheat with tempura dough, are the second product developed by McDonald’s in conjunction with Beyond Meat, a plant-based meat manufacturer based in El Segundo, California. McDonald’s has been selling the McPlant burger since 2021.

McDonald’s said the nationwide rollout of the nuggets to more than 1,400 restaurants in Germany followed a limited-time trial at nine restaurants in the Stuttgart area in August. McDonald’s will also start selling the McPlant hamburger in Germany next week.

Availability of McPlant nuggets and burgers in future markets will depend on consumer demand, McDonald’s said.

European shoppers tend to be more receptive to McDonald’s plant-based meat products than those in the US. The McPlant Burger is now a regular menu item in the UK, Ireland, Austria and the Netherlands. Last month, McDonald’s launched the Double McPlant burger in the UK and Ireland.

But in the US, McDonald’s ended testing the McPlant burger last summer without announcing any plans to sell it.

Beyond Meat began selling plant-based chicken in U.S. grocery stores in 2021. The company has also partnered with other chains including KFC and Panda Express to develop plant-based tenders and nuggets.

Meanwhile, McDonald’s plans to return its seasonal Shamrock Shake and OREO Shamrock McFlurry to the menu on Monday, February 20. The fast food chain first introduced the popular seasonal staple in 1970, while OREO Shamrock McFlurry debuted in 2020.