Burger King earned its crown, and starting next month it will bring back a fan-favorite menu item that will help the chain stay on top.
Return of the Crown Nuggets
Starting June 2, the fast food favorite will relaunch its iconic crown nuggets for the first time since 2011 - after years of guests asking about the long-lost favorite. Known for their whimsical crown shape, the nuggets are a 'dippable snack' that was previously available on both the regular and children's menu.
This time around, Burger King will partner with Crayola for a new kids meal, which will come with a co-branded 4-pack of Crayola crayons and a colorable crown and meal bag. Crown Nuggets are available with the $3.99 King Jr meal, which comes with a side and drink. Guests can also order an 8-piece of the crowns as an entree.
'We've been committed to creating awesome experiences for the whole family and listening to our guests, and bringing back our crown nuggets allows us to do both of those things,' said Burger King. Crown Nuggets will be available while supplies last starting June 2, and the Crayola-themed King Jr meal will be available while supplies last beginning June 9.
Innovation on Chicken Offerings
This wouldn't be the first time Burger King put their twist on the chicken nugget - one of their most popular menu items remains the chicken fries, a thin fry-esque version of the breaded chicken. In 2024, the chain introduced fiery chicken fries, marinated with spicy seasonings and coated in savory garlic and pepper breading.
Now, fans are taking to social media, sharing their thoughts on the latest addition to Burger King's menu. For some, this is a welcome change, prompted by years of asking. Others are more 'skeptical' of the new version. 'As long as they taste like the original I'm elated but I doubt it,' one Reddit user wrote, with another adding that they won't be 'hype' unless they're the same recipe.
While the nuggets and fries are available at the chain restaurant, some fans requested another discontinued item noticeably missing from the menu. 'We don't want the crowns,' another Reddit user said. 'We want the tenders that had a lot of pepper and the boxes had a spot you could put your dipping sauce.'
Burger King's chicken tenders were made with all-white meat with a 'homestyle' breading, available nationwide in 2018 after they first debuted in the 1980s. They were a part of limited-time promotions like 2 for $6 but have since been taken down to make room for other items. 'If they ever brought back their original chicken tenders I don't think I would ever leave,' one Reddit user added. 'The crowns? Meh.'
Recent Changes and Sales Boost
In April, the fast food chain announced it would bring in up to 60,000 new workers across its 6,500 restaurants in the US, prompted by major updates, including changes to the Whopper for the first time in almost ten years. The new Whopper still includes freshly cut onions and tomatoes, lettuce and pickles - along with what the company describes as 'better tasting' mayonnaise.
In honor of the new Star Wars movie, The Mandalorian and Grogu, Burger King released limited-edition menu items like the Bounty Whopper with swiss cheese, crispy pickle chips, bacon, lettuce, tomato and BBQ sauce. 'We've done the important work of strengthening our operations, modernizing our restaurants, and listening to our guests, and it's paying off,' Burger King president Tom Curtis said.
The company has seen an increase in sales, with a 7 percent spike in restaurant visits compared to a year earlier. McDonald's still remains one of the biggest fast food giants, only recently beaten out by Chinese chain Mixue Ice Cream & Tea as the world's largest fast food chain by store count.
