Ranked: Best Chicken Tenders From 14 Fast-Food Chains | Invesloan.com

A three-piece chicken tender cost $7.48 at Whataburger at the location I visited in Austin.

I thought the tenders could only be described as “classic” — they weren’t anything out-of-the-box, but I enjoyed them.

The chicken tenders tasted good on their own, as well as with ranch dipping sauce. They weren’t bad by any stretch of the imagination. However, I did think the other tenders I tried were slightly crispier and had just the slightest hint of more flavor in the batter.

Regardless, for a relatively low price, I’d definitely order these again.

The three-piece “snack” cost $4.99, not including tax.

They were also a good size. I thought the price was also a great deal for the generous portion I received.

These were undeniably classic chicken tenders, similar to the ones from Whataburger, but they were a touch too fried for my liking. However, I thought they were well-seasoned and had a lot of peppery flavor.

An order of three chicken tenders from Smashburger costs $9.99, excluding tax and fees. I thought this was a little pricey.

The breading on the chicken tenders felt thick and crunchy.

The chicken meat inside and the ranch dipping sauce provided could only do so much to offset the intense dryness of the crunchy breading.

The next time I order from Smashburger, I’ll stick to the chain’s beef offerings.

A five-piece order of chicken tenders cost $8.41, excluding tax.

Rather than thick and juicy like some of the other chicken tenders I tried, these were flatter. In fact, I’d say these were the thinnest and flattest tenders out of all the ones I tried.

The chicken was on the drier side, and there simply wasn’t a lot of it. I gravitate toward thicker, more shreddable chicken tenders, and these slightly missed the mark for me.

However, the flavor was definitely there — the breading had a peppery essence and the tenders were evenly fried.

A three-piece tender combo costs $16.89 before taxes and fees. The meal deal included a large serving of fries, a drink, and a biscuit, as well as a choice of dipping sauces. 

I really liked the crunchy exterior.

I also thought the batter was quite flavorful — I could taste hints of seasoning and buttermilk, although they weren’t quite as buttery-tasting as the Chick-fil-A tenders.

However, this meal felt expensive for only three chicken tenders, even though they were large.

A four-piece chicken tenders combo, including fries, a medium drink, and a biscuit, cost me $10.49, excluding taxes and fees.

The texture and flavor of the breading made them taste like a cross between the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A and Cook Out. 

I also thought the price was fair, considering the amount of food I received. The chicken tenders paired perfectly with honey mustard but were also tasty on their own.

I would definitely order these again.

Wendy’s new tenders are available in a three-piece or four-piece option. I ordered a three-piece tender for $8.12, excluding tax and fees, at my local restaurant in Brooklyn, New York.

However, I preferred the slightly thinner breading on the McDonald’s and KFC tenders.

In terms of flavor, these tenders had a distinct peppery flavor that paired well with the new signature sauce introduced with the tenders’ release.

However, the slight lack of chicken meat inside — at least compared to other chains — and the chunky breading prevented Wendy’s tenders from ranking higher for me.

I ordered a four-piece tender meal for $13.65, excluding taxes and fees, in Brooklyn, New York. I thought this was excellent value for the amount of food I received. 

The breading stuck closely to the chicken tenders, rather than having a thick or crunchy texture.

However, the chicken tenders paired well with the chain’s honey mustard and new comeback sauce. The breading had a tasty, very peppery flavor to it that was unique compared to the other chicken tenders I tried.

However, the slightly less crispy texture of the breading meant they didn’t come out on top when compared to the last six chains I tried.

At my local McDonald’s in Brooklyn, New York, three McCrispy chicken strips cost $10.99, excluding tax and fees.

The chicken strips differed from the chain’s buttermilk crispy tenders, which were discontinued in 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chicken tenders haven’t been on the menu since, despite fans’ pleas to bring them back.

Unlike some flakier chicken tenders, each bite was evenly coated in well-seasoned, peppery breading. Inside, the chicken meat was thick and juicy.

Paired with the chain’s creamy chili sauce, which was specifically created to go with the chicken strips, these packed a decent amount of flavor.

However, on their own, I thought they were just a touch blander than some of the higher-ranked tenders I tried.

Taco Bell’s chicken strips were available as part of three different kinds of tacos and burritos, or on their own with dipping sauce.

An order of four chicken strips and two sauces cost $9.14, excluding tax and fees.

The chicken strips were marinated in zesty jalapeño buttermilk and breaded with crispy tortilla chips and breadcrumbs, which is the same formula as the chain’s chicken nuggets, which I ranked as my favorite across six chains.

The breading was super flavorful, and I definitely got hints of tortilla chip. The chicken inside was also moist and juicy, while the breading remained crispy.

My only real complaint was that I wanted more than two.

When it’s not included in a meal deal, a three-piece chicken tender costs $9.69 at my nearest location in New York City. For a meal, the price bumps up to $17.35, excluding tax and fees.

Small bits of fried breading were scattered on the outside, which I always love with chicken tenders.

When I dipped them in the chain’s signature Chick-fil-A sauce, the experience was mouthwatering.

The chicken tenders were also great on their own, with the perfect balance of crispy breading and a delicious, briny flavor. The sauce just took them over the edge.

Wingstop recently revamped its chicken tenders, and I was excited to try them out.

The chain sells its chicken in various flavors, from original hot to hickory-smoked barbecue and mango habanero. However, I ordered these chicken tenders plain.

I ordered a five-piece chicken tender combo at my local Wingstop in Brooklyn, New York. It cost $15.39 and came with a drink, dipping sauce, and a regular side of fries.

The chain also sells four chicken tenders, which come with one dipping sauce, for $10.69, plus tax and fees.

The chicken tenders were deep golden in color and evenly fried, with small clumps of fried breading adding even more texture to every bite.

The chicken tender easily tore apart with every bite, which is something I look for. The breading itself was slightly peppery, but not overly flavorful. They paired well with Wingstop’s signature ranch — my favorite of any fast-food ranch — and the chain’s honey mustard.

Wingstop delivered great classic tenders, though the breading didn’t pack as much flavor as the top two chains I tried. Nevertheless, I’d definitely order these again.

A five-piece chicken tenders combo came with fries, a small drink, coleslaw, and a piece of Texas toast. I also asked for a side of honey mustard and Zaxby’s famous Zax sauce.

My meal cost $15.43, excluding taxes and fees.

The breading was crispy and flavorful, with a slight sweetness.

Zax sauce tastes similar to the Cane’s sauce I tried from Raising Cane’s, but I found it to be just ever-so-slightly less flavorful, and creamy. I also thought it didn’t have the same kick.

However, the chicken tenders really impressed me. They were a good size, extremely flavorful, and addictingly delicious. I found myself craving even more than the five chicken tenders I was given, which is rare for me.

In the end, it was a really tough call on whether I preferred Zaxby’s or Raising Cane’s chicken tenders.

A combo that includes three chicken fingers, fries, Cane’s sauce, Texas toast, and a regular drink costs $12.19, excluding tax and any additions or swaps. 

The chicken tenders were also thick. After biting in, I could actually see the strips of white chicken underneath, which, in my experience, you don’t always find with fast-food chicken tenders.

I tried the tenders on their own and with the Cane’s sauce. On their own, the tenders were simply everything one could ask for: thick, juicy, and crispy on the outside.

However, the chain is famous for its chicken-complementing sauce, and after biting in, I could definitely see why. It had a slight kick to it, and it was creamy and surprisingly tangy. It paired perfectly with the chicken and was unlike any other sauce I’ve ever tried.

In the end, Raising Cane’s took home the win for me with the chain’s near-perfect chicken tenders and fair prices.