New McDonald's sauces bring the heat more than ever

“Hot Ones” is a phenomenon that no one saw coming. The premise is, honestly, weird.

If you're not familiar, the laid-back host, Sean Evans, sits down with celebrities and, over a plate of 10 chicken wings doused with progressively hotter sauces, asks them a series of thoughtful questions.

The celebrities are distracted and sometimes distraught by the spicy food, which can result in unexpectedly intimate conversations, as well as some outright hilarity.

“Hot Ones” launched on YouTube in 2015, and in the 25 seasons and 350 episodes since, Evans has interviewed some of the most A+ of the A-listers you can think of, and has made many of them cry.

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The likes of Tom Holland, Shaq, Jennifer Lawrence, and Margo Robbie have run the “Hot Ones” gauntlet.

“‘Hot Ones' — a breakthrough pop-culture phenomenon in which stars eat 10 progressively fiery wings (or, increasingly, a vegan substitute) while being asked 10 deeply researched questions — has built itself into an online pillar, holding steady amid the shifting tides of digital media,” says The New York Times.

The show has nearly 15 million subscribers and more than 4 billion views on YouTube, plus millions of additional followers on Instagram and TikTok.

No wonder McDonald's wants in on the action.

The new McDonald's “Hot Ones” collab is the opposite of mild.

Images source: Shutterstock/TheStreet

A trio of McDonald's ‘Hot Ones'-inspired sauces

McDonald's recently launched three “Hot Ones” sauces, but here's the bad news: the sauce collab is only happening in France. At least for now.

McDonald's France offers:

Hell Piñata: A smoky chipotle-infused mayonnaise with a mild kick, registering at a relatively mild 10,000 Scoville units.
Thaï Toi: A sweet and sour blend featuring ginger and lemongrass, packing a punch at 70,000 Scoville units.
Embrase-moi: A bold BBQ sauce infused with habanero peppers, reaching a gut-churning 200,000 Scoville units.

The sauces are available with Chicken McNuggets and Veggie McPlant Nuggets in 6, 9, or 20 pieces, either à la carte or as part of a meal (excluding Happy Meals).

The “Hot Ones” launch is part of a campaign featuring French rapper Naza, who takes on the spicy challenge under the guidance of host Kyan Khojandi.

When will McDonald's ‘Hot Ones' be available in U.S.?

The McDonald's-“Hot Ones” spicy collab is only available in France for the time being, but American fans are salivating at the thought of a stateside release. Smuggling them from France even seems to be a thing. @noahsanchezofficial said, “I tried these! I took them on the plane back to Cali too lol, still have them” and @lakers209 said, “I brought back a 12 sets from my trip to France last year. They are all a lot hotter than you would expect.”

More Food:

Given the popularity of “Hot Ones” and the growing appetite for spicy flavors, there's an expectation that McDonald's will expand this fiery experience beyond French borders, especially considering “Hot Ones” is an American export.

For now, spicy-food lovers can indulge in this funky fusion of fast food and fiery flavors, leaving the rest of us to hope it comes ashore here soon.