I Tried Arby’s New Steak Nuggets, but I’m Not Sure You Can Really Call Them Nuggets
In a fast-food world fixated on chicken, Arby’s is offering something off the beaten path.
Photo courtesy of Arby's
If you pay attention to fast food, you’ll likely have noticed that chicken is everywhere. Post-Popeyes chicken sandwich (and imitator) boom, in the past year we’ve also seen new chicken tenders pop up on the menu at both McDonald’s and Wendy’s. And Arby’s, which has built a brand on the unconventional quick service offering of roast beef, is also revamping a classic chicken format in its own restaurants, the nugget. But true to its “we have the meats” mantra, the brand isn’t touching its current chicken-based offerings — Arby’s is doubling down on beef with new Steak Nuggets.
According to Arby’s, these new bite-sized bits of steak are “seared and smoked” and seasoned with garlic and pepper. They can be enjoyed à la carte or as part of a meal in five-piece and nine-piece options, both of which are served alongside barbecue sauce for dipping.
I hit up Arby’s after the official release of Steak Nuggets on Monday, October 6 to try them for myself. The meat isn’t dense or chewy, but more like a slow-cooked brisket in texture. Because of that and the barbecue dipping sauce, to me, they called to mind the fan-favorite barbecue off-cut burnt ends, which are the slightly overdone tips leftover from slicing brisket.
The biggest difference you’ll notice with steak nuggets versus their more common poultry counterparts (other than the meat itself) is that they’re not battered and fried. To that end, they’re also not what I would consider a finger food, though that’s purely a personal preference for how messy you do or don’t mind getting your hands. (I opted for a fork, which comes included with your order no matter what.)
But if a cup of meaty nuggz isn’t enough to satisfy your appetite, Arby’s is also introducing two additional ways to enjoy steak nuggets: a sandwich and a macaroni and cheese bowl. Arby’s announcement states the Steak Nugget Sandwich features “Steak Nuggets with Havarti Cheese, crispy onions, tangy pickles and mayo on a toasted bun,” while The Steak Nugget Bowl includes Steak Nuggets over white cheddar mac and cheese and topped with crispy onions.
All of the Steak Nuggets items are available at participating Arby’s locations nationwide for a limited time.
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