It seems like every chain wants a piece of the dunkable-chicken craze.
McDonald's launched its McCrispy Strips in May 2025, marking the first time chicken strips had been on its menu since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Then, in June 2025, Taco Bell introduced its new Crispy Chicken Strips, with Taco Bell's CMO Taylor Montgomery telling Business Insider that Gen Z was eating more crispy chicken than other generations, and "we need to evolve to where youth culture and the next generation of consumers are going."
I tried chicken tenders from 14 major fast-food chains across the US to see how they compared.
When it comes to my perfect tender, I'm looking for a balance between a satisfying crunch and juicy chicken. I generally prefer thick, all-white-meat tenders with a crisp, flavorful breading over thinner tenders and heavy breading. Plus, amid rising fast-food prices, value for money and portion size have become more important to me than ever before.
Here's how all 14 chicken tenders ranked, from my least favorite to my favorite, based on flavor, texture, and overall value.
Of all the chicken tenders I tried, Whataburger's didn't completely wow me.
A three-piece chicken tender cost $7.48 at Whataburger at the location I visited in Austin.
The tenders were large and perfectly fried.
The tenders could be described as "classic" — they weren't anything out-of-the-box, but I enjoyed them.
The meat inside was juicy, but I thought the fried coating could have had a bit more crunch.
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.
I also ordered chicken tenders from Cook Out, a regional chain I visited in South Carolina.
The three-piece "snack" cost $4.99, not including tax.
The chicken tenders were crispy on the outside.
They were a good size, and I thought the price was a great deal for the generous portion.
However, there wasn't much chicken meat inside.
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.
Smashburger's chicken tenders were just slightly too fried for my liking.
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 chicken tenders were heavily fried and bigger than others I tried.
The breading on the chicken tenders felt thick and crunchy.
Overall, the chicken tenders tasted dry, even when paired with sauce.
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.
Next up were the crispy chicken tenders from Sonic Drive-In.
A five-piece order of chicken tenders cost $8.41, excluding tax.
The tenders were evenly fried but on the thinner side.
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.
I enjoyed the flavor of the seasoning, but the texture left a lot to be desired.
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.
My 10th favorite chicken tenders came from Popeyes.
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.
The chicken tenders from Popeyes were crispy, flaky, and crunchy.
I really liked the crunchy exterior.
The meat inside was flaky and moist.
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.
I thought the chicken tenders from Bojangles were flavorful and super crispy.
A four-piece chicken tenders combo, including fries, a medium drink, and a biscuit, cost me $10.49, excluding taxes and fees.
The chicken tenders were a good size.
The texture and flavor of the breading made them taste like a cross between Chick-fil-A and Cook Out chicken tenders.
The breading was peppery, just the right thickness, and perfectly encased the juicy white chicken.
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 brought out chicken tenders in 2025.
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.
The tenders were about the same size as the ones from McDonald's, but crispier.
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.
These tenders were solid, and I'd order them again.
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.
KFC's original recipe chicken tenders really impressed me with their taste and value.
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 tenders were well-breaded, though the breading wasn't as crispy or crunchy as others I tried.
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.
The tenders were flavorful and contained an impressive amount of white meat chicken.
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.
McDonald's launched its new McCrispy Strips nationwide in May 2025.
At my local McDonald's in Brooklyn, three McCrispy chicken strips cost $10.99, excluding tax and fees.
The chicken strips were large and evenly coated in breading.
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.
The breading was relatively thin but very crispy.
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.
Taco Bell released chicken strips after debuting its crispy nuggets in late 2024.
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 thick, juicy, and perfectly crispy.
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.
These chicken strips packed a lot of flavor.
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.
Chick-fil-A's chicken tenders were crisp and juicy.
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.
Some of the chicken pieces looked slightly darker and more fried than others.
Small bits of fried breading were scattered on the outside, which I always love with chicken tenders.
The chicken tenders were nicely fried but still juicy on the inside.
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's chicken tenders, which were upgraded in 2025, came in third place.
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.
The chicken tenders were large and well-breaded.
They were deep golden in color and evenly fried, with small clumps of fried breading adding more texture to every bite.
The chicken tender easily tore apart with 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.
My second favorite chicken tenders came from Zaxby's.
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 of the chicken tenders was similar to Chick-fil-A's in consistency, flavor, and texture, but I thought these ones had more meat.
The breading was crispy and flavorful, with a slight sweetness.
The tenders held their own without sauce but were really taken to the next level when dipped in the tangy Zax sauce.
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.
My favorite chicken tenders came from Raising Cane's.
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 super crispy.
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.
The chicken tenders were crispy and juicy on the inside — I had to give them the win.
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.
