I tried chicken tenders from 14 fast-food chains. The crispiest, juiciest tenders won me over.

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

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

The chicken tenders tasted good on their own and 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 slightly 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 a good size, and I thought the price was a great deal for the generous portion.

These were undeniably classic chicken tenders, similar to those from Whataburger, but a touch too fried for my liking.

Still, I thought they were well-seasoned and had a lot of peppery flavor.

An order of three chicken tenders from Smashburger — which has locations in 24 states and Washington, DC — costs $9.99, excluding tax and fees. I thought this was a little pricey, especially compared to other chains’ prices.

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, 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, along with a choice of dipping sauces. 

I really liked the crunchy exterior.

The batter was flavorful — I could taste hints of seasoning and buttermilk.

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 Chick-fil-A and Cook Out chicken tenders. 

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

I would definitely order these again.

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

“Consumers told us what they wanted in a chicken tender, and we listened — taste-tested, fine-tuned, and delivered,” Lindsay Radkoski, Wendy’s US chief marketing officer, told Business Insider of the 2025 launch.

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

In terms of flavor, these tenders had a distinct peppery note that paired well with the new signature sauce — which is creamy and peppery — introduced at the time of their 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. Although it was more expensive than some other chains, it also seemed like an 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 comeback sauce, which is another creamy, peppery sauce. The breading had a tasty, very peppery flavor that was distinct from the other chicken tenders I tried.

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

At my local McDonald’s in Brooklyn, 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 created to go with the chicken strips, these packed a decent amount of flavor.

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

Launched in June 2025, Taco Bell’s chicken strips were available in three types of tacos and burritos, or on their own with dipping sauce.

The chicken strips have been unavailable since January 2026, but Taco Bell frequently discontinues and rereleases items as limited-time offerings, so they could be back at some point.

An order of 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 crispy breading was flavorful, and I definitely got hints of tortilla chip. The chicken inside was moist and juicy.

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.

Dipped in the chain’s signature Chick-fil-A sauce, these tenders were mouthwatering.

They 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 revamped its chicken tenders in February 2025.

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. 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.

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

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.

Zaxby’s, which has locations in 22 states, serves its five-piece chicken tenders 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 Cane’s sauce from Raising Cane’s, but I found it to be just ever-so-slightly less flavorful — it didn’t have the same kick.

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

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 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.

The chain is famous for its chicken-complementing sauce, and after taking a bite, I could see why. It had a slight kick, 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.