I tried chicken tenders from 9 fast-food chains and ranked them from worst to best
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
- I tried chicken tenders from Popeyes, Chick-fil-A, Whataburger, Raising Cane's, KFC, Bojangles, Zaxby's, Wingstop, and Cook Out.
- Chick-fil-A and KFC's chicken tenders were similar in their breaded texture.
- Raising Cane's impressed me with its crispy-yet-juicy tenders and delicious signature sauce.
Some fast-food chains have built their entire businesses on chicken tenders.
Todd Graves, for example, turned his idea for a chicken-finger restaurant into a billion-dollar business: Raising Cane's. Graves is now the richest person in Louisiana, with an estimated net worth of $9.5 billion, and Cane's is growing rapidly, withΒ more than 800 restaurants in the US and internationally and billions in annual sales, ForbesΒ reported.
But other chains aren't sleeping on chicken tenders β the chicken tender battle is underway, and practically every chain wants in.
KFC revamped its original recipe in October, and this week, Wingstop released new chicken tenders that the chain said will be "lighter" and "crispier" than its previous tenders.
To see which chain might win the battle, I compared chicken tenders from nine fast-food chains from across the country.
Here's how the tenders ranked, from worst to best, based on taste and value.
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A three-piece chicken tender cost only $6.97 at Whataburger at the location I visited in Austin.
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I thought the tenders could only be described as "classic" β they weren't anything out-of-the-box, but I enjoyed them.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
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.
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The three-piece "snack" cost $4.99, not including tax.
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They were also a good size. I thought the price was also a great deal for the generous portion I received.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
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.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
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.
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There were small bits of fried breading scattered on the outside, which I always love with a chicken tender.
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However, they weren't quite as crispy as I expected. I wanted a distinct crunch when I bit into the tenders, but they didn't deliver that. In the end, it's largely up to personal preference.
When I dipped them in the chain's signature Chick-fil-A sauce, the experience was mouthwatering. However, the actual chicken tenders were just alright β it was the sauce that took them over the edge.
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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.Β
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I really liked the crunchy exterior.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I also thought the batter was quite flavorful β 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.
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A four-piece chicken tenders combo, including fries, a medium drink, and a biscuit, cost me $12.97, excluding taxes and fees.
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The texture and flavor of the breading made them taste like a cross between the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A and Cook Out.Β
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
I also thought the price was fair considering how much food I received. The chicken tenders paired perfectly with honey mustard but were also tasty on their own.
I would definitely order these again.
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I ordered a four-piece tender meal for $13.04, excluding taxes and fees, in Brooklyn, New York. I thought this was an excellent value for the amount of food I received.Β
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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.
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However, the slightly less crispy texture of the breading meant they didn't come out on top when compared to the last three chains I tried.
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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 $14.99 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 $10.39, plus tax and fees.
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The chicken tenders were deep golden in color and evenly fried, with small clumps of fried breading adding even more texture to every bite.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
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 β my favorite of any fast-food ranch β 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.
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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 $14.77, excluding taxes and fees.
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The breading was crispy and flavorful, with a slight sweetness.
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Zax sauce tastes similar to 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 that 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.
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My six-piece meal cost $16.59, including tax, but a three-finger combo that includes three chicken fingers, fries, Cane's sauce, Texas toast, and a regular drink costs $9.59, excluding tax and any additions or swaps.Β
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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.
Erin McDowell/Business Insider
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.