Burger King vs. McDonald’s: Whose Spicy Summer Menu Brings the Heat — and Is the Best Deal?

Get ready for a summer of spice as Burger King and McDonald's turn up the heat with their fiery new menu offerings.

burger king fiery menu
Updated Aug. 14, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

The summer heat isn't the only thing blazing this season, as Burger King and McDonald's are bringing back their spicy menu items.

If you’re a spice lover looking to go out to eat more, you’ll love the summer offerings at these fast-food giants. With bold flavors and innovative offerings, Burger King, McDonald’s, and more are catering to hot hedonists everywhere.

 Here's a look at what each brand has in store to ignite your taste buds.

Earn $200 cash rewards bonus with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) has no annual fee and you can earn $200 after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

The Active Cash Card puts cash back into your wallet. Cardholders can earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases — easy! That's one of the best cash rewards options available.

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable). Which is great for someone who wants a break from high interest rates, while still earning rewards.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.


Burger King's Fiery Menu

Burger King burger king

Burger King is launching its all-new Fiery Menu nationwide on July 18. The menu features five spicy items designed to suit different heat levels.

From mild to wild, here's what BK has to offer: 

  • Fiery Mozzarella fries (fry-shaped mozzarella sticks with peppers coated in Calabrian pepper breading)
  • Fiery Bacon Whopper (a quarter-pound flame-grilled beef patty topped with Fiery-seasoned bacon, pepper jack cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and creamy Fiery sauce)
  • Fiery Chicken Fries (crispy Chicken Fries marinated with Fiery seasoning and coated in garlic and pepper breading)
  • Fiery Bacon Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich (a crispy chicken sandwich with Fiery glaze, Fiery-seasoned bacon, pepper jack cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and Fiery sauce)

These offerings are perfect for those who love a bit of spice — all with Hidden Valley Ranch dip cups available to help cool down the heat.


McDonald's Spicy Chicken Nuggets

McDonald's mcdonald's spicy nuggets

McDonald's has also heated things up by bringing back its popular Spicy Chicken McNuggets. Initially launched in 2020, these nuggets have been a hit with customers and have made a comeback in select markets.

These popular chicken nuggets have a crispy tempura coating spiced with cayenne and chili peppers and come in sizes from four-piece to 40-piece. McDonald's fans can look forward to enjoying these spicy nuggets in locations across cities like San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C. — and a few more.

Fast food rivalry

jetcityimage/Adobe Wendy's fast food restaurant exterior

The rivalry between fast-food giants Burger King, McDonald's, and Wendy's continues to heat up. Wendy's, known for its Spicy Chicken Nuggets, has often taken jabs at its competitors. When McDonald's introduced their Spicy McNuggets in 2020, 

Wendy's didn't miss the opportunity to mock the move. Despite the playful banter, the return of these spicy menu items highlights the growing demand for bold flavors among customers.

Stop overpaying when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!1

Get Capital One Shopping now


Bottom line

wolterke/Adobe Contemporary McDonald's Restaurant Exterior

Whether you're a fan of Burger King's Fiery Menu or McDonald's Spicy Chicken McNuggets, there's no shortage of spicy options this summer, making it a great time to stretch your fast-food budget.

Both chains are offering limited-time items that cater to a range of spice levels, ensuring that heat seekers can enjoy their meals their way. Don't miss out on these fiery treats — head to your nearest Burger King or McDonald's to try them out.


Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

5.0

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks
Card Details