I tried chicken tenders from 14 fast-food chains and ranked them from worst to best

• I tried chicken tenders from 14 different fast-food chains.
• Chick-fil-A and KFC’s chicken tenders had similar textures.
• Raising Cane’s impressed me with its crispy yet juicy tenders and delicious signature sauce.

Of all the chicken tenders I tried, Whataburger’s didn’t completely wow me.

The chicken tenders were large and perfectly fried.

The chicken strips packed a lot of flavor.

The breading was super flavorful, and I definitely got hints of tortilla chip. The chicken inside was also moist and juicy, while the breading remained crispy.

My only real complaint was that I wanted more than two.

Chick-fil-A’s chicken tenders were perfectly crispy 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.

When I dipped them in the chain’s signature Chick-fil-A sauce, the experience was mouthwatering.

The chicken tenders 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 came in third place.

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 $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.

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

These tenders were filled with real chicken.

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 — 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.

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 $15.43, 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 chicken 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 the Cane’s sauce I tried 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, 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.

But 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, in my experience, 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 biting in, I could definitely 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.

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