McDonald’s has gotten pretty stingy when it comes to limited-time offers (LTOs). The chain has a few items that come back at the same time each year, like the Shamrock Shake and various seasonal flavored coffees, but it has largely kept its core menu the same.

Instead of adding new items like rivals Wendy’s and Restaurant Brands International’s (QSR) – Get Free Report Burger King do regularly, McDonald’s has leaned on gimmicks. That has included its “Famous Orders,” where celebrities simply share what they like to eat at the chain.

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That’s a fairly brilliant strategy because it does not add any expense or make it harder in the kitchen. In fact, having people order the BTS, Travis Scott, Cardi B and Offset meals, or any of its other “Famous Orders” might actually speed up production in the chain’s kitchens because so many people ordered the same thing. 

McDonald’s has used that same philosophy with its “As Featured In Meals,” which highlights orders used in TV shows or movies. In both cases, McDonald’s has a new promotion without actually offering any new food.

That has allowed the company to be very careful when it comes to adding new LTO menu items. McDonald’s has done that — the chain recently added the Peanut Butter Crunch McFlurry nationwide — but new hot food items have been very rare.

McDonald’s, however, has surprised fans by bringing back a popular version of one of its classic menu items that many thought might never return.

McDonald’s brings back Spicy Chicken McNuggets

When McDonald’s introduces a new menu item, the chain has to factor in how much strain producing it will place on the kitchen. That’s an even more important factor now that the company has seen so much of its business shift to digital and delivery orders.

Franchise owners don’t want to add labor or equipment. That’s why many LTOs at Wendy’s and Burger King simply add a new sauce, cheese, or other topping. Doing that makes it easy for the company to produce the item without having to make major operational changes.

McDonald’s has limited kitchen space, only so much grill surface, and a fixed amount of fryers. That’s why franchisees balked at the chain’s All-Day Breakfast. It slowed down production and, if a fryer is making hash browns, it’s not making french fries or Chicken McNuggets. 

That’s why many people thought McDonald’s might never bring back Spicy Chicken McNuggets. The returning menu item has to be cooked separately from classic McNuggets which complicates kitchen production. Despite that, the spicy variant of the popular menu item has made a surprise return.    

“McDonald’s Spicy Chicken McNuggets are back for a limited time with a spicy breading that adds a real kick to the fan-favorite Chicken McNuggets. Breaded in a crispy coating, flavorfully spiced with a blend of aged cayenne and chili pepper, they’re sure to get your attention,” the chain shared on its website.

A six-piecer order comes in at 290 calories and 18 grams of fat (23% of the daily recommended total). 

McDonald’s bets big on innovation

While McDonald’s has not been as innovative as Burger King and Wendy’s when it comes to new menu items, it has outpaced its rivals in the digital space. That’s an investment CEO Chris Kempczinski talked about during his chain’s second-quarter earnings call.

“Digital for us is something that is actually, I think, a virtuous loop, where you’re seeing the stronger our digital business becomes, the more that it’s driving customer engagement in digital. Our app downloads, and when you compare us to anybody else in the industry, it’s orders of magnitude difference, and that creates some economies of scale that become self-perpetuating over time,” he shared.

McDonald’s has pushed many of its deals into its app, enticing customers to download it. That has worked as the chain’s digital sales have grown steadily around the world.