Fast Food Grilled Chicken Strips

Variations For Easy Grilled Chicken Tenders:

• Try Chicken breasts in this recipe. You can use chicken breasts instead of chicken tenderloins. It will take longer to cook so just make sure to check the internal temperature.

• BBQ Sauce. Try other flavors on the chicken. My kids love when I use barbecue sauce. Just brush it on both sides of the chicken and grill.

Mcdonald’s Artisan Grilled Chicken

This sandwich is part of the “Artisan” chicken revamp that McDonald’s released in 2015 along with the crispy fried version. The grilled white-meat breast fillet is topped with lettuce, tomato, and a vinaigrette dressing, all within McDonald’s “artisan” bun.

The chicken is rubbery. It’s not all that flavorful, even with the mystery vinaigrette that quickly becomes a messy, drippy hassle. The slightly sweet bun is a mismatch with grilled chicken it works better with the saltier fried chicken and best with a savory beef patty. It’s a middle-of-the-road, disenchanting sandwich with little imagination at best.

How To Make Grilled Chicken Tenders

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

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Does Wendys Have A Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Yes, Wendys does have a grilled chicken sandwich on their menu. The sandwich includes a grilled chicken patty with lettuce and tomato on a toasted bun. You can also add condiments to your sandwich such as mayo, ketchup, or mustard.

Wendys added grilled chicken to its menu in 1990. Burger King and McDonalds are the only places to get fried chicken sandwiches. Wendys offers a wider variety than some of its competitors. Since the most recent upgrade, the grilled chicken sandwich has undergone a few changes. This meal has evolved from a multi-grain bun to a herb- fillet. Wendys spent nearly $30 million improving its poultry quality in addition to investing nearly $30 million in improving its poultry quality. Wendys is known for its healthy menu items, but the grilled chicken sandwich is one of them.

If youre looking for a healthy sandwich to pair with your breakfast, Sonics new grilled chicken sandwich is well worth a try. This sandwich contains 480 calories and 32 grams of protein, and the honey mustard flavor will add a touch of sweetness to your taste buds.

Golden Tenders From Golden Chick

Golden Chick might not be a well-known fast food chain, but they have a long and storied history with chicken tenders. After opening their first location in Texas in 1967, they introduced Golden Tenders less than two decades later in 1985. Fast-forward more than 35 years and these tenders taste exactly the same as they did when they were first added to their menu. There’s been no slippage in quality at all over that time.

If you adore chicken tenders that are uber crispy and blessed with a ton of breading, you will worship what you can find at Golden Chick. The only slight issue is that their chicken is just average when it comes to being juicy and moist.

Though Golden Chick has a lot of experience with chicken tenders, they aren’t the inventors. Puritan Backroom, a restaurant in Manchester, New Hampshire, claims to have invented the chicken tender in 1974.

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Arby’s Classic Crispy Chicken Sandwich

Even though Arby’s Buttermilk Crispy Chicken sandwich has significantly less fat and fewer calories than our #11 pick, we had to deduct some points from the fast-food joint’s offering due to their heavy hand in the preservative and chemical department. The chicken is injected with artificial flavors, the bun is glazed with a shine agent, artificial colors red 40 and yellow 5 and 6 are used, and the sandwich is packed with unpronounceable preservatives like propylparaben and sodium benzoate. Pass.

Chicken Tenders From Arby’s

The most accurate word you could possibly use to describe Arby’s Chicken Tenders is meh. The texture of these tenders is fine not great, not terrible. Flavor-wise, there’s just not much there. Take a big bite and your taste buds will tell you that there’s something amiss. While these chicken tenders don’t taste bad, they don’t taste like anything and that’s obviously suboptimal.

Sometimes you can salvage flavorless tenders and nuggets with dipping sauces. While Arby’s has some great sauces, like the red and flavorful Arby’s Sauce and the blend of mayonnaise and horseradish that is the Horsey Sauce, none of their best sauces are appropriate for chicken tenders. Their tender-friendly sauces include Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce, Tangy Barbeque Sauce, Ranch Dipping Sauce, and Buffalo Dipping Sauce. The flavor of these dipping sauces range from subpar to mediocre, so there’s simply no easy way to add the needed pizzazz to these chicken tenders.

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Cajun Tenders From Krispy Krunchy Chicken

The chicken tenders at Krispy Krunchy Chicken should make both Champs Chicken and Bojangles’ jealous. Like Champs Chicken, Krispy Krunchy Chicken is typically located inside of corner stores. But while Champs Chicken tenders are garbage, Krispy Krunchy Chicken tenders are delicious.

Bojangles’ is known for their Cajun seasoning but it’s Krispy Krunchy Chicken that has mastered using Cajun seasoning when making chicken tenders. Their tenders, appropriately named Cajun Tenders, have a Cajun goodness that you will appreciate to the depths of your soul. Each bite unleashes another round of Cajun-flavored fireworks. If you’re sensitive to spicy food, you might want to eat these bad boys with a tall glass of milk.

You won’t be stunned to learn that Krispy Krunchy Chicken was founded in Louisiana, as only a real Louisianan would be able master Cajun food to these levels. Today, this fast food chain has more than 2,500 locations across 47 states.

Burger King Has A Thai

Thai food has never quite caught on in the United States the way Chinese and Japanese food have.

It’s a favorite, however, in much of the world and that led Berger King to develop to “Tom Yum Tendergrill Chicken,” which is served in a cup and looks like nothing seen at a Popeyes, Wendy’s, McDonald’s, or even a KFC.

“Big fan of Thai street food? Have our rendition of the popular grilled skewers in the form of our Tendergrill Chicken topped with savoury Tom Yum Sauce! Let this soaking juicy treat bring back yummy memories of Thai street food!” the company shared on the Burger King Singapore website.

The fast-food chain also has a version where the Tom Yum sauce is on chicken wings and something called the “Thai Sharing Box,” which has a very confusing description.

“Sharing is caring! Enjoy this Snack Box packed with savoury and crunchy goodness! Get a mix of Fries , 3x Mexican Drumlets, and golden Onion Rings all in one box. Furthermore, dip them in our limited time Tom Yum Sauce* to make sure you have a soaking good time!”

Mexican Drumlets? It’s not explained nor is what makes this “Thai,” aside from the Tom Yum dipping sauce.

You can also get the Tom Yum sauce on a fried chicken sandwich or purchase it as a dipping sauce for fries or nuggets.

And, as part of the chain’s self-described “Thai-riffic” menu, you can also order a Mango Sticky Pie, an Iced Lemon Tea Float, or a Drink Called the Purple Rain, which is in fact, purple.

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Kentucky Fried Chicken Nashville Hot Tenders

Tasting Notes:

Hot chicken is having a moment right now. Hot chicken chain restaurants are popping up everywhere. Youve got Hattie Bs, Daves Hot Chicken, Joellas, and my personal favorite, LAs Howlin Rays, so it shouldnt come as a surprise that KFC, one of Americas biggest national chicken chains, has taken a stab at the countrys new favorite style of chicken. But KFC needs to stay in its lane.

If youve never had Nashville-style hot chicken, these taste fine. Theyre smokey, sweet and spicy. But they taste nothing like actual Nashville-style hot chicken. KFC uses way too much vinegar, creating this wet saucy glaze that makes each strip soggy when it should be crispy. The mouthfeel of the sauce is also very oily, so it tastes like something you probably shouldnt be eating.

Best Dipping Sauce:

No sauce necessary, the glaze is sauce enough.

The Bottom Line:

KFC isnt just out of its lane with this poor take on Nashville-style chicken, its on the wrong side of the damn road.

Find your nearest KFC here.

Raising Canes Chicken Tenders

Tasting Notes:

Because the strips are hand-battered on sight using fresh non-frozen chicken, the batter isnt always the crispiest, but thats easily remedied by asking for your chicken extra crispy. Canes will then leave your chicken in the fryer for anywhere between 30-60 seconds, resulting in a perfect golden finger that is as crispy and crunchy as it is delicious.

Best Dipping Sauce:

Canes Sauce, obviously, I mean they throw it right in the box with the chicken. Canes sauce is a classic comeback-style sauce that adds a savory umami quality to each tender bite.

The Hack To Make It Better:

Order your fingers extra crispy, add an extra order of toast and ask for both to be made BOB style . Stick a tender between the two pieces of toast, douse it in Canes sauce, and you have one of the best chicken sandwiches in all of fast food. Its a damn crime that its not on the menu.

The Bottom Line:

The fried chicken tender perfected. Youve probably seen the drive-thru lines and wondered if its worth it. It is .

Find your nearest Raising Canes here.

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Carls Jr/hardees Charbroiled Chicken Club Sandwich

Calories: 600

The Sandwich:

If youre looking for a place that knows how to do grilled chicken, its Carls Jr. The chicken is juicy, while still sporting a charred grilled outer, and Ive yet to have a grilled chicken sandwich from Carls Jr. that suffers from that rubbery re-heated chicken quality that plagues too many of the sandwiches on this ranking, leading me to believe this is one of the more consistent and reliable choices out there.

The charbroiled breast is topped with two strips of bacon, melted Swiss lettuce, tomato, and mayo on top of a nutty semi-sweet honey wheat bun. All the flavors here are very complimentary and my only major complaint is the use of unimaginative mayo and the low-quality lettuce.

The Bottom Line:

A solid choice. Its a few key ingredients away from being considered great, but I could easily substitute Carls Jrs fried chicken sandwich for this baby without regretting it in the slightest.

Find your nearest Carls Jr/Hardees here.

Take Action For Healthier Chicken

If you have concerns about ingredients or nutritional value of these foods, write to the fast food companies and write to the CFIA, FDA or government office to let them know that you want higher standards for what can be called chicken.

The best advice I can give you is to cook at home as often as possible. Check the ingredient list on your chicken and make sure it doesnt have phosphate additives.

Do some meal prep and batch cook trays of chicken breasts to use in your sandwiches, salads, pasta and other recipes all week long.

Try my Roasted Balsamic Chicken Breasts for a delicious addition to your favorite recipes!

Any surprises for you in learning more about whats in your fast food 100% white meat grilled chicken breast? Share in the comments below!

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Is Fast Food Grilled Chicken Healthy Ingredients And Nutrition Analysis Revealed

Many people choose grilled chicken sandwiches at fast food restaurants thinking theyre making a healthier choice. My concern as a dietitian is people arent clear on the risks of eating too much fast food grilled chicken breast. Is fast food grilled chicken healthy? Whats in it and how does that affect the nutritional value?

Image credit: CBC Marketplace

CBC Marketplace decided to investigate seemingly healthy grilled chicken breast at fast food restaurants to see how its really made. They sent chicken samples from the most popular fast food chains to independent labs for DNA analysis and nutritional analysis.

The consumer tasting panel. Image credit: CBC Marketplace

Arbys Roast Chicken Bacon Swiss Sandwich

Calories: 480

The Sandwich:

This sandwich comes painfully close to being delicious, but unfortunately, its weakest link is the chicken. That makes it not a great grilled chicken sandwich. Lets talk about the good stuff Arbys bacon is both smokey and crispy. The use of Swiss cheese is inspired. In place of mayo Arbys goes with honey mustard, which adds a nice dash of complexity to this sandwich.

The toasted bun isnt great, but it isnt so dense that its a chore to eat . Alas, this sandwich has the same sad tomatoes and shredded lettuce here as the other sandwiches, and then we come to the Roast Chicken.

Roast chicken is supposed to be tender and juicy, but this chicken is dry and chewy. It also comes in slices, which is a bad move for a sandwich, as youll constantly be messing with this thing trying to keep it together. All that effort and for chicken this lackluster? Its not worth your time.

The Bottom Line:

Arbys almost has a good grilled chicken sandwich on their hands, they just need to find a way to improve the chicken.

Find your nearest Arbys here.

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Wingstop Lets You Choose From Multiple Sauces And Dry Rubs

“Wings from the wings experts” is the motto of this Texas-based chicken chain. Wingstop opened its doors in 1994, and since then, it has expanded to more than 1,250 restaurants worldwide and its growth hasn’t slowed down. With a menu full of wings, fries, and sides, you can’t go wrong here.

Customers can mix-and-match boneless and classic wings, then choose up to two flavors to douse them in. Go sweet with the hickory-smoked barbecue classic, or turn up the heat with spicy Korean Q. Some say that Wingstop reigns supreme in the spicy chicken wing war.

Hardees: Charbroiled Chicken Club Sandwich

No. 8 Hardees: Charbroiled Chicken Club Sandwich- Photo by Yadi Rodriguez, cleveland.com

Calories: 650

Price: $6.69

Menu Description: A charbroiled chicken breast, two strips of bacon, melted Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise, served on a potato bun.

Our Thoughts: If there is one thing that would keep you from ordering this grilled chicken sandwich again, its grizzle. The chicken would have definitely benefited from a health trim. While it was moist, the chicken breast had clearly been warmed in a microwave, making it rubbery. The veggie toppings were also a disappointment: pink and thin tasteless tomato slices and wilted lettuce added to the sadness of this sandwich. Not much mayo or cheese and the bacon was pre-cooked and hard. No freshness is to be found here. This sandwich also had the highest calories of all the chicken sandwiches we tried. Get your calories from one of their burgers next time.

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A Tip For Making Juicy Chicken

While you dont need to, brining the chicken beforehand will help you keep it juicy and moist. Brine meat between 1-2 hours.

A simple brine recipe => Mix together 4 cups water, 3 Tbs salt, 2 Tbsp sugar, half a lemon sliced, 2 bay leaves, 2-3 sprigs of rosemary, 2 smashed garlic cloves, and a Tbsp of peppercorns.

Combine over medium heat in a pot until both the sugar and salt dissolve, switch off the heat and let cool completely before brining.

Ready to make this grilled chicken strips recipe? Gather your ingredients and I will show you

About Grilled Chicken Breast Strips From John Soules Foods

Eating healthy can become an easier, more affordable habit when you keep a bag or two of precooked grilled chicken breast strips on hand. Each bag contains fully cooked chicken strips bursting with fresh flavor. Whether you eat them as-is for a quick snack or add them to various recipes, youll appreciate our commitment to quality.

Buy grilled chicken pre-cooked today. Theyre a must-have addition to any grocery shopping list!

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Burger King Grilled Chicken Sandwiches

The fast-food restaurant chain Burger King was the first major fast food chain to introduce a grilled chicken sandwich to the marketplace, in 1990, six months before Wendy’s and four years before McDonald’s. Since then, Burger King, and its Australian franchise Hungry Jack’s have offered a variety of grilled chicken sandwiches, as have Wendy’s and McDonald’s.

Their first grilled chicken sandwich, the BK Broiler, was one of the most successful product introductions in the fast food industry ever. It was reformulated as the Chicken Whopper , named after their Whopper Sandwich. That was replaced by the BK Baguette , promoted as health-oriented, which was in turn replaced with the larger, meatier TenderGrill sandwich , targeted to more sophisticated, adult customers, notably 24- to 36-year-old males.

The company sells different variants in different markets, using white meat chicken breast in some regions while using dark meat chicken thighs in others.