Burger King is overhauling its chicken nuggets nationwide

Burger King has decided its chicken nuggets need a redemption arc. After years of customers calling the nuggets dry, rubbery, flat and generally disappointing, BK says it has thrown the old recipe out and started over.

The new nuggets are coming to Burger King restaurants nationwide on September 1, and the chain isn't stopping at the chicken.

BK is finally listening to the nugget complaints

Burger King's president, Tom Curtis, has spent much of this year trying to figure out what customers actually want from the chain. His guest feedback initiative lets customers call or text him directly with complaints and suggestions, and as it turns out, people had some things to say about the nuggets.

While customers were loudly campaigning for the return of the Crown Nuggets, they were also making it clear that the regular nuggets weren't exactly winning awards. So Burger King sent the recipe back to the test kitchen. According to BK's head chef Amy, they did not just tweak it. “We threw the old ones out and said, let’s start over again,” she said.

The new nuggets are going for juicy and crunchy

The new recipe uses 100% white meat with an enhanced marinade designed to make the chicken juicier and more flavorful. Then, there's the breading. Burger King says the new nuggets will have an even crispier, golden coating, because a chicken nugget without a satisfying crunch is basically just a tiny piece of chicken wearing a disappointing jacket.

The goal is more flavor, more moisture and significantly more crunch.

The sauces are getting their own overhaul

BK also knows that a nugget is only half the experience. The other half is finding the correct sauce-to-nugget ratio and then getting irrationally annoyed when you run out of sauce before the chicken.

The chain is upgrading three of its classic sauces: Honey Mustard, Buffalo and Sweet & Sour.

The new Honey Mustard combines premium mustard with wildflower honey for a richer, creamier dip, and the Buffalo sauce brings cayenne pepper with buttery, garlicky flavors and some actual heat. Meanwhile, the Sweet & Sour gets a more tropical profile, mixing pineapple with tangy flavors and a savory finish. All three sauces will become permanent additions to the menu.

There's the mysterious Special Savory Sauce

Burger King is also experimenting with its first signature dipping sauce. It's called Special Savory Sauce, and it is basically a greatest-hits album of condiment ingredients.

There's barbecue, ketchup, garlic, onion and black pepper, wrapped into a creamy, tangy and spicy sauce. Unlike the other three sauces, though, this one is limited edition.

When to try them

Burger King's upgraded chicken nuggets will hit all U.S. restaurants nationwide on September 1. The new nuggets, as well as Honey Mustard, Buffalo and Sweet & Sour sauces will stick around permanently, while the Special Savory Sauce will only be available for a limited time.

Source: Allrecipes