The fast food industry is currently seeing a major competition focused entirely on chicken tenders. I tested and reviewed chicken tenders from fourteen different restaurant chains to determine which options offer the best taste and value. Here is my completely honest countdown ranking these popular menu items from worst to best.
14. Whataburger Had a Classic Taste but Lacked Crunch
These were pretty large and perfectly fried but the coating really needed a bit more crunch to impress me today. They still tasted good with ranch sauce so I would order them again if I just wanted something cheap and simple to eat.
13. Cook Out Was Super Cheap but Needed More Meat
You really cannot beat the low price for this crispy snack but sadly there was just not enough chicken meat inside the heavy breading. They tasted super peppery and had a really nice crunch but they were just a touch too fried for my personal liking.
12. Smashburger Felt Very Dry and Heavily Fried
These big tenders had a really thick crunchy breading that ended up making the whole thing taste super dry even when I dunked them in sauce. I think I will stick to their beef burgers next time because these were a bit pricey for what you actually get.
11. Sonic Drive-In Tenders Were Thin and Flat
I really liked the peppery seasoning on these but they were honestly the thinnest and flattest tenders out of the entire bunch today. They lacked that thick juiciness I usually look for in a good piece of chicken so they slightly missed the mark for me this time.
10. Popeyes Brought the Crunch but Cost a Lot
These tenders were definitely the crispiest ones I tried and I loved the flaky batter that tasted a little bit like buttermilk. It is a really great meal but it just felt a bit expensive for only getting three pieces of chicken in the box.
9. Bojangles Delivered Thick Breading and Juicy Meat
The breading on these was peppery and just the right thickness to perfectly hold all that juicy white chicken together inside. I thought the price was totally fair for the huge amount of food and they paired up so perfectly with sweet honey mustard.
8. Wendy’s Tenders Had a Solid Peppery Flavor
These new tenders had a really crunchy and thick breading that tasted amazing with their brand new signature dipping sauce. I really liked them overall but I just wished they had a tiny bit more chicken meat inside to make them perfect.
7. KFC Original Recipe Impressed Me With Great Value
The breading was not super crunchy but it stuck really well to the juicy white meat and had a very unique peppery flavor. You get an impressive amount of food for the price and they tasted absolutely amazing with their sweet comeback sauce.
6. McDonald’s McCrispy Strips Were Thin and Crispy
Every single bite was evenly coated in a well seasoned breading that kept the thick meat inside incredibly juicy and fresh. They felt just a tiny bit plain on their own but dipping them in that creamy chili sauce fixed that right up.
5. Taco Bell Strips Packed a Huge Flavor Punch
These are breaded with crispy tortilla chips and jalapeño buttermilk so the flavor was totally out of this world and crazy good. My only real complaint is that you only get two in an order and I definitely wanted to eat a lot more.
4. Chick-fil-A Tenders Are a Classic for a Reason
They have this delicious briny flavor and the breading is always nicely fried while keeping the inside perfectly soft and juicy. Tossing these into some signature sauce makes for a mouthwatering experience that you just have to try for yourself.
3. Wingstop Tenders Tore Apart so Easily
These golden tenders were massive and filled with real chicken that pulled apart perfectly with every single bite I took. The breading was nicely peppery and they tasted absolutely incredible dipped in my favorite fast food ranch.
2. Zaxby’s Brought Sweet Breading and Lots of Meat
These look a lot like the ones from our fourth place spot but they pack way more meat and have a really nice slight sweetness to the crispy breading. The tangy sauce takes these incredibly delicious tenders to a whole new level and left me craving a lot more.
1. Raising Cane’s Blew Me Away and Took the Win
These are the perfect balance of moist white meat and crispy breading and you can actually see the thick strips of chicken underneath. That famous tangy sauce has a really nice kick that makes these tenders the absolute best ones you can get for your money.
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