Pilgrim’s sails to uncharted waters with new loaded chicken nuggets

Tired of the same old chicken nuggets? Well, Pilgrim’s is shaking up the whole poultry market with several brand new takes on your ol’ nuggs, including Loaded Nuggets, Ultimate Nuggets, and Mini Nuggets.

“Today’s consumer does not want to eat boring chicken, but the lack of variety in the frozen chicken aisle has left them with dry, bland, and forgettable options. At Pilgrim’s, we’re combatting chicken monotony by reimagining what chicken nuggets can be,” said Sergio Nahuz, President of Prepared Foods and CMO at Pilgrim's US, via a press release provided to Guilty Eats. “Our new brand is bold and imaginative with nuggets that put taste at the forefront, because we’re not chicken about chicken.”

First of all, nice pun at the end there, and we’re not too chicken to say so. Second of all, you’re probably wondering, corporate speak aside, just what these new nuggets are about

Let’s start with the straightforward ones, first. Pilgrim’s Ultimate Nuggets are ultimate not because they’re the end of nuggets as we know it, but because they are, according to the brand, “seriously flavorful, dangerously crispy, and perfectly seasoned.” They’re chicken nuggets, but rather than the limp dreck you usually get from the freezer, they’re touting these as the best ever.

Pilgrim’s Mini Nuggets, meanwhile, you can probably guess, but they’re small little chicken poppers, versus nugget-sized eats. The twist here is that they come in three flavors: Original, Buttery, and Zesty Ranch. I’ll admit I’m most curious about “buttery” which is not a flavor I generally think of when it comes to chicken nuggets. Buttermilk? Perhaps. Buttery. Not so much. Still, everyone loves butter, so there you go.

But the most intriguing innovation is Pilgrim’s Loaded Nuggets, which come in Chicken Pot Pie and Cheesy Jalapeño. The Chicken Pot Pie isn’t just chicken nuggets filled with peas, carrots, and corn, it also has a “flaky pie-style breading,” which sounds pretty good if you ask me. It might be missing the gravy you normally associate with chicken pot pie. If you’re looking for a nugget that gushes liquid, though, look no further than the Cheesy Jalapeño, which has, per the name, jalapeños and cheddar cheese baked in.

The new line of nuggets is available in stores now.