Prices are approximate and vary by restaurant. Last updated September 2026.
Chicken McNuggets are arguably the most famous thing McDonald’s has ever sold — small, golden, and engineered for dunking. But the UK menu’s chicken offering goes well beyond the classic nugget box. Chicken Selects bring a chunkier, whole-breast alternative, and the dippers range — from Mozzarella to Cheese Melt to the vegan-friendly Veggie Dippers — adds even more ways to eat with your fingers.
This is an independent guide and we are not affiliated with McDonald’s Corporation. Prices below are typical UK figures gathered from across the country; your local restaurant may charge a little more or less.
Chicken McNuggets: the boxes
The classic. Made with chicken breast in a light tempura-style coating, McNuggets come in three box sizes:
- 6 Chicken McNuggets — around £5.19, roughly 261 kcal. The standard solo portion — enough to satisfy a nugget craving without going overboard.
- 9 Chicken McNuggets — around £5.89, roughly 391 kcal. The sweet spot for bigger appetites: three extra nuggets for a relatively small step up in price.
- 20 Chicken McNuggets Sharebox — around £7.39, roughly 869 kcal for the whole box. The best per-nugget value by a clear margin, and the obvious choice if you’re sharing — or if you’re just very committed.
Nugget prices vary more between restaurants than most menu items, so it’s always worth a glance at your local menu board. The sharebox in particular can be a genuine bargain in some branches and merely decent in others.
Chicken Selects: the chunkier option
If nuggets feel a bit small, Chicken Selects are the answer — strips of whole chicken breast in a crispy coating, noticeably more substantial than a nugget:
- 3 Chicken Selects — around £5.59. A lighter portion, good as a side or a snack.
- 5 Chicken Selects — around £6.79. The standard order and the one most people go for.
- 9 Chicken Selects Sharebox — around £9.69. Built for sharing, and the per-strip value is the best of the three.
Selects have a meatier bite and a crunchier coating than nuggets, which makes them popular with people who find McNuggets a little too processed-tasting. They’re also the better vehicle for dips — there’s simply more surface area to work with.
Dippers: cheesy, melty and plant-based
The dippers lineup rotates more than most of the menu, with some varieties appearing as limited editions. Here’s what’s typically around:
- Mozzarella Dippers — around £2.99. Breaded sticks of mozzarella with a molten, stretchy centre. They tend to come and go as limited editions, so grab them when you see them.
- Cheese Melt Dippers — around £3.19. A similar concept with a different cheese blend and a golden breadcrumb coating — rich, indulgent and unapologetically cheesy.
- Veggie Dippers — around £5.09. The plant-based option: red pepper and pesto-style dippers certified vegan, giving non-meat eaters a proper seat at the dippers table.
From time to time McDonald’s also runs limited-edition dippers — cheesy garlic bread versions and seasonal cheese melts have all appeared in recent years. If a new dipper shows up on the menu board, it’s worth trying: they rarely stick around for long.
The dips: don’t overlook them
A box of nuggets is only half the story — the dip makes it. Extra dip pots can be added to your order for a small charge:
- BBQ Dip, Sweet Curry Dip, Sweet & Sour Dip and Ketchup — around £0.10 each. The classics, and at ten pence there’s no reason not to grab a couple.
- Sweet Chilli Dip and Garlic Mayo — around £0.80 each. The premium options, and both are worth the upgrade if you like a bit more flavour.
- Hot Honey, Korean BBQ, Ranch and Szechuan dips — around £0.70 each. Hot Honey, Korean BBQ and Ranch landed in summer 2026, and the Szechuan Sauce is on the menu right now as part of World Menu Heist 2.0 (until 16 November 2026).
Sweet & Sour remains the traditionalist’s choice, BBQ is the crowd-pleaser, and Garlic Mayo has developed a devoted following of its own. Check the app or menu board for exactly which dips are stocked at your restaurant, as the lineup can vary.
Which box is the best value?
| Box | Approx. price | Approx. calories |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Chicken McNuggets | £5.19 | 261 kcal |
| 9 Chicken McNuggets | £5.89 | 391 kcal |
| 20 Chicken McNuggets Sharebox | £7.39 | 869 kcal |
| 3 Chicken Selects | £5.59 | — |
| 5 Chicken Selects | £6.79 | — |
| 9 Chicken Selects Sharebox | £9.69 | — |
| Mozzarella Dippers | £2.99 | — |
| Cheese Melt Dippers | £3.19 | — |
On pure price-per-piece maths, the 20-piece nuggets sharebox wins comfortably — you’re paying barely more than the 9-piece box for more than double the nuggets. The Selects sharebox is the premium pick: more expensive, but you’re getting whole-breast strips rather than formed nuggets.
Tips for nugget lovers
- Sharing? Go sharebox. The 20-piece nuggets box and the 9-piece Selects box are both designed for it, and the per-piece saving is significant.
- Stock up on dips. At around ten pence for the classic dips, ordering two or three different ones costs next to nothing and transforms the experience.
- Check the app. The MyMcDonald’s app regularly features offers on chicken items, and prices shown there are specific to your chosen restaurant.
- Delivery costs more. Ordering through Uber Eats, Just Eat or Deliveroo means higher menu prices plus delivery and service fees — a sharebox that looks like a bargain in-store can lose its shine once fees are added.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nuggets are in a McDonald’s sharebox?
The Chicken McNuggets Sharebox contains 20 nuggets. The Chicken Selects Sharebox contains 9 strips.
What’s the difference between Chicken McNuggets and Chicken Selects?
McNuggets are smaller, formed pieces of chicken breast in a tempura-style coating. Selects are larger strips of whole chicken breast in a crunchier coating — meatier and more filling per piece.
Are McDonald’s dips free with nuggets?
Dip availability and what’s included can vary, so check the menu board or app. Extra dip pots are available to add, starting from around ten pence for the classic range.
Are any of the dippers vegan?
The Veggie Dippers are certified vegan, making them the plant-based choice in the dippers lineup.
Do mozzarella dippers come back?
Mozzarella Dippers tend to appear as limited editions rather than permanent menu items. When they’re on the board, they don’t always stay long.
How many calories are in 6 chicken nuggets?
Around 261 kcal for a 6-piece box, before dips. The 9-piece box is roughly 391 kcal and the 20-piece sharebox about 869 kcal.
Final thoughts
The UK’s chicken lineup rewards knowing what you want. After pure nugget quantity, the sharebox is unbeatable. After something more substantial, Selects are the upgrade. After cheese, the dippers deliver. And whatever you order, spend the extra few pence on dips — a nugget without a dip is a missed opportunity.