That didn’t last long. McDonald’s limited-edition “McNugget Caviar” kits “sold out” minutes after the fast-food giant began giving away the luxurious meme-borne menu item on Tuesday.
McDonald’s lovers were thrilled after the company announced it was making one of the internet’s most unlikely food pairings a reality, launching the McNugget Caviar kits exclusively online as a Valentine’s Day promotion on McNuggetCaviar.com. Each kit includes a 1-ounce tin of premium Baerii Sturgeon caviar from Paramount Caviar, a $25 McDonald’s gift card for purchasing McNuggets, crème fraîche and a Mother of Pearl caviar spoon.
“To be known is to be loved, and we know our fans love pairing our crispy Chicken McNuggets with their favorite caviar,” McDonald’s said in a press release announcing the promotion on Feb. 2. “After all, nothing says ’ILY’ quite like a limited drop from McDonald’s just in time for your Valentine’s Day plans.”
The kits will not be available at physical McDonald’s restaurant locations and were expected to sell out quickly. The company did not disclose exactly how many were available.
McDonald’s posted this message on their …
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Many X users reported the website crashed well before the giveaway even happened.
“Great marketing by @McDonalds actually. They marketed the hell out of this product & crashed the website 1 minute before the countdown ended. How is it sold out unless they were NEVER planning to give away free mcnugget caviar kit to begin with!” wrote X user @teklatch.
“I should have know better to even try for this McNugget Caviar Kit @McDonalds played us like straight McClowns,” posted @Vee1313.
“Would love to hear from ANYONE who actually snagged the @McDonalds McNugget Caviar Kit. Everyone I’ve read agreed the site crashed then said sold out. I was on & refreshing at 11 ON THE DOT #mcnuggetcaviarkit,” added @RIPsunshine.
From Viral Trend to Corporate Product
The odd pairing of McNuggets and caviar didn’t originate with McDonald’s. The combination gained viral traction after New York-based Korean-inspired fried chicken restaurant COQODAQ served six chicken nuggets topped with Petrossian caviar, crème fraîche and chives at the 2025 U.S. Open tennis championship for $100.
The trend gained further momentum when pop star Rihanna posted a video to Instagram in December 2024 calling caviar-topped nuggets a “soccer mom snack.”
“McNugget Caviar was created because of our customers,” a McDonald’s spokesperson told FOX Business. “They’ve been pairing Chicken McNuggets with caviar long before we made it official. We know our fans want to enjoy elevated experiences without the price tag, so we want to treat them to something special — completely on us.”
Social Media Reacts With Mix of Humor and Intrigue
The announcement generated significant buzz across social media platforms, with reactions ranging from skeptical humor to genuine curiosity.
On X (formerly Twitter), user @NailsToed wrote on Feb. 2: “I’m not sure I want to know what fish the McCaviar comes from.”
TikTok creators who received early access to taste the kits offered surprisingly positive reviews.
Content creator @snachwithzach told his followers, “The saltiness from the caviar works great with the nugget. The creme fraîche adds a nice creaminess… It’s easily the bougiest way to eat fast food.”
His father, who also tried the pairing, agreed: “It’s actually not bad.” The two concluded that “caviar on a cracker seems boring once you’ve had it on a McNugget.”
Food writer Bailey Fink (@baileyfink_) expressed her surprise at enjoying the combination: “McDonald’s just released its own caviar. McNugget caviar. Those are words I never thought I would say.” After tasting it, she added, “Why is it so good? Crispy Mcnuggets, cool tangy crème fraîche. True pop of salt. Kinda mad how much I like it. Well, I guess this is my new lifestyle.”
TikTok creators Daniel and Taylor Hastings, who revealed the McNugget Caviar kit was their first time trying caviar, commented: “McNugget Caviar was not on my bingo card for 2026…” Their verdict after tasting: “The nugget was awesome. No surprise.”
The High-Low Food Trend
Caviar, a salt-cured delicacy made from unfertilized fish eggs typically from sturgeon, is traditionally associated with fine dining and luxury. The majority of caviar is produced from sturgeon roe, and depending on the fish species, the caviar may vary in appearance and taste.
A 1-ounce tin of the Baerii Sturgeon caviar included in McDonald’s kit retails for approximately $85 on Paramount Caviar’s website — roughly the cost of 166 Chicken McNuggets.
The McNugget Caviar promotion represents McDonald’s latest effort to generate cultural buzz through limited-edition releases. The company has increasingly embraced “drop culture,” borrowed from streetwear and luxury fashion, to create moments of artificial scarcity that drive online conversation.
The promotion was timed to capitalize on Valentine’s Day, the second-most popular holiday for dining out in the United States after Mother’s Day, according to the National Restaurant Association.
For those unable to secure one of the limited kits, the pairing can be recreated at home by purchasing caviar from various online retailers and adding it to McNuggets with crème fraîche or sour cream, along with the traditional mother-of-pearl spoon used to serve caviar without affecting its delicate flavor.
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Steve Fink, Director of Artificial Intelligence, at sfink@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
