I ordered chicken tenders from 8 fast-food chains and ranked them from worst to best

A three-piece chicken tender cost only $6.72 at Whataburger at the location I visited in Austin, Texas. 

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

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.

The three-piece “snack” cost $4.99, not including tax.

They were also a good size. The price was also a great deal for the generous portion I received.

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.

A three-piece chicken tender costs $8.95 at my nearest location in New York City when it’s not included in a meal deal.

There were small bits of fried breading scattered on the outside, which I always love with a chicken tender.

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 nothing short of mouthwatering. However, the actual chicken tenders were just alright — it was the sauce that took them over the edge.

On the day I tried these, I ordered a five-piece tender meal for $15.85, excluding taxes and fees. However, a four-piece tender meal, which comes with a side, sauce, and a drink, costs $12.80, excluding taxes and fees. 

However, they did have bits of fried breading clinging to the outside that I knew would make for a nice texture.

However, the slightly smaller size meant they didn’t come out on top when compared to the last two chains I tried.

A three-piece-tender combo came to $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 from a variety of different dipping sauces. 

I really liked the crunchy outside of the chicken tenders from Popeyes.

I also thought the batter was quite flavorful — I could taste hints of seasoning and buttermilk, although they weren’t quite as buttery-tasting as the Chick-fil-A tenders. However, I thought this meal was quite expensive for only three chicken tenders, even though they were large.

A four-piece chicken tenders combo came with fries, a medium drink, and a biscuit. It cost me $12.79, excluding taxes and fees.

The texture and flavor of the breading made them taste like a cross between the chicken tenders from Chick-fil-A and Cook Out. 

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. Overall, I would definitely order these again.

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 $15.83, excluding taxes and fees.

The breading was perfectly crispy and super flavorful, with a slight sweetness.

Zax sauce tastes similar to Cane’s sauce, 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.

My six-piece meal cost $15.99, including tax, but a three-finger combo that includes three chicken fingers, fries, Cane’s sauce, Texas toast, and a regular drink costs $9.23, 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, in my experience, 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.

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, was super 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.