Chicken tenders and chicken strips are two popular chicken dishes that are often used interchangeably. However, there are some differences between chicken tenders and chicken strips in terms of their cuts of chicken, breading, and preparation methods.
What are chicken tenders?
Chicken tenders, also known as chicken tenderloins, are strips of meat that come from the underside of a chicken breast. Chicken tenderloins connect the breast meat to the keel bone of the chicken and they allow the breast meat to move. True chicken tenders are long, thin, and tender strips of meat from this part of the chicken.
Chicken tenderloins are naturally tender because they do not get much exercise during the chicken’s life. Since the tenderloins do not get much movement, they have less connective tissue, which makes them tender and easy to chew. The lack of exercise also means the tenderloins are very low in fat.
What are chicken strips?
Chicken strips are thin cuts of chicken breast meat that have been flattened and sliced into strips. To make chicken strips, the breast meat is first cut against the grain into halves or thirds. Each piece is then flattened with a meat mallet or rolling pin until an even thickness is achieved.
The flattened chicken breast pieces are then sliced into long, thin strips, usually about 1/2 inch thick. The grain of the meat runs parallel to the length of the strips, which helps keep the strips tender when cooked. Since they are sliced from the chicken breast, chicken strips can come from any part of the breast.
Differences
Here are some of the key differences between chicken tenders and chicken strips:
Cut of chicken
The main difference between the two is the cut of chicken they come from:
- Chicken tenders come specifically from the tenderloin or underside of the chicken breast.
- Chicken strips are sliced from the breast meat after being flattened out.
Shape
The shape and size of the pieces also tends to be different:
- Chicken tenders have an irregular, long, thin shape that mirrors the shape of the tenderloin.
- Chicken strips have a uniform, rectangular shape since they are sliced from flattened breast meat.
Breading
Breading differs between the two:
- Chicken tenders are most often served plain without breading.
- Chicken strips are usually coated in breadcrumbs or batter before frying.
Preparation
Preparation methods also set chicken strips and tenders apart:
- Chicken tenders are usually baked, grilled, or sautéed plain.
- Chicken strips are often deep fried or baked with breading.
Similarities
Despite their differences, chicken strips and tenders do share some similarities:
- They are both made from cuts of chicken breast meat.
- They have a tender texture when cooked.
- They can be used interchangeably in some recipes, like salads, sandwiches, pasta dishes, etc.
- They are popular menu items at restaurants.
Nutrition
The nutrition profile of chicken strips and tenders can vary depending on preparation methods. Here is a comparison:
| Nutrition Facts | Chicken Tenders (3.5oz) | Chicken Strips (3.5oz) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 160 | 220 |
| Fat | 3g | 12g |
| Protein | 34g | 22g |
As you can see, plain baked chicken tenders are lower in calories and fat compared to breaded and fried chicken strips. Chicken tenders also have more protein.
Cost comparison
Chicken tenders are often more expensive than chicken strips. Here are some average costs for reference:
- Chicken tenders – $7-9 per pound
- Chicken strips – $4-6 per pound
The price differential comes down to a few factors:
- Chicken tenders come from a smaller, more delicate part of the chicken that yields less meat.
- Preparing strips requires just butterflying and slicing the breasts, while removing tenderloins is more labor intensive.
- Since tenders are premium cuts, they command higher prices.
Popularity
Both chicken strips and tenders are popular menu items, but tenders have seen especially high growth in recent years. According to data from food industry research firms, sales of chicken tenders at restaurants grew by over 20% from 2013 to 2018. Chicken tenders now appear on the menus of most major fast food and fast casual restaurants. Chains like McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Arby’s have added crispy and grilled chicken tenders to their menus.
The rising popularity of chicken tenders is driven by the growing consumer demand for premium chicken items made with whole muscle cuts. Young diners in particular have driven the chicken tender boom. Chicken tenders have surpassed nuggets and patties in popularity with kids and teenagers.
Popularity in restaurants
Here are some examples of chicken tenders and strips menu offerings at popular restaurants:
- Popeyes – offers bone-in fried chicken tenders and chicken strip po’ boy sandwiches
- KFC – serves popcorn chicken, chicken tenders, and chicken strips
- Chick-Fil-A – specializes in breaded and grilled chicken sandwiches as well as breaded chicken strips and nuggets
- McDonald’s – added Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Tenders to its menus in 2020
Conclusion
In summary, while chicken tenders and strips are often used interchangeably, they have some distinct differences:
- Chicken tenders come from the tenderloin while strips come from the breast.
- Tenders have an irregular shape and strips have a rectangular shape.
- Tenders are usually not breaded but strips are breaded.
- Tenders can be pricier than strips.
- Tenders are rising in popularity, especially with kids and teenagers.
However, they both provide a convenient way to enjoy the mild flavor, low fat, and high protein of chicken breast meat. When choosing between chicken strips vs. tenders, consider factors like cost, preparation method, and your texture preference.