New Ranking Names Best Chicken Tender in Fast Food
Americans have countless fast food item choices at their disposal, yet despite all these options, the tried-and-true chicken tender remains incredibly popular.
Recently, we've seen fast food chains like KFC, McDonald's and even Taco Bell lean heavily into chicken tenders, and the trend is showing no signs of slowing down. There are numerous reasons for such a simple food item having such a widespread presence, as Expana detailed in October 2024.
"In today’s fast-paced world, convenience is king, and chicken tenders deliver. Their portability and ease of preparation make them an ideal choice for both quick service restaurants (QSRs) and at-home meals," Expana said. "Chicken tenders are also widely available in grocery stores as frozen options and in their raw form, giving busy families an easy way to prepare a satisfying meal in no time. Major fast-food chains like have capitalized on this convenience, making tenders a core item in their menus, often highlighting premium dipping sauces and flavor profiles."
Recently, Erin McDowell of Business Insider conducted a personal survey to find the "best' fast food chicken tenders in the country. She visited 13 different chains and sampled various tender varieties before coming to her conclusion.
In her personal rankings, McDowell put Raising Cane's at No. 1. From 1-to-13, here's how McDowell ranked the fast food fingers:
- Raising Cane's
- Zaxby's
- Wingstop
- Chick-fil-A
- Taco Bell
- McDonald's
- KFC
- Bojangles
- Popeyes
- Sonic
- Smashburger
- Cookout
- Whataburger
At Raising Cane's, McDowell had a six-piece meal ($16.59, including tax), calling the chicken tenders "super crispy."
"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," she wrote.
McDowell said she tried the tenders--"thick, juicy, and crispy on the outside"--on their own and also consumed them with some of Raising Cane's popular sauce.
"However, the chain is famous for its chicken-complementing sauce, and after biting in, I could definitely see why," she said. "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."
A Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based franchise, Raising Cane's opened in 1996 and now has outposts in 42 states, as well as Washington, D.C. and Guam.