Wondering How Many Calories Are in 3 Pieces of Fried Chicken Tenders? Here’s the Breakdown

Fried chicken tenders are a classic comfort food that many of us love to indulge in every once in a while. Their crispy, juicy texture along with flavorful breading makes them hard to resist! However, with fried foods it’s easy to lose track of just how many calories you’re consuming, especially when eating multiple pieces. If you’ve ever wondered how many calories are in 3 pieces of fried chicken tenders read on for a detailed calorie breakdown.

What Are Chicken Tenders?

Before we get to the number of calories, let’s quickly go over what chicken tenders are. What are chicken tenders? They are strips of chicken breast meat that have been breaded or battered and then deep-fried. They are also known as chicken strips or chicken fingers. The tenderloin, also known as the pectoralis minor, is right below the chicken breast. It is very soft and easy to chew.

When you want something fried and salty, chicken tenders are a quick and tasty way to start the meal, snack, or appetizer. They take on the flavor of the breading or sauce that they are cooked with. Some popular seasonings are traditional Southern-style flour breading, crunchy panko, spicy buffalo, or barbeque sauce.

Calorie Count for 3 Fried Chicken Tenders

Now onto the main question – just how many calories are in 3 pieces of fried chicken tenders? Well, the exact calorie count can vary depending on factors like:

• Size of the tenders – larger tenders will have more calories
• Thickness of breading – thicker breading adds more calories
• Frying oil used – different oils have varying amounts of fat
• Cooking method – fried vs. baked/grilled
• Added sauces or toppings

However, according to the Nutritionix database, 3 average sized fried chicken tenders (about 84g total) contain approximately:

• 285 calories
• 16g fat
• 1g saturated fat
• 350mg sodium
• 16g protein
• 8g carbohydrates
• 0g fiber
• 0g sugar

As you can see, just 3 small tenders packs nearly 300 calories and 16g of fat. The calories primarily come from the refined flour used to coat the tenders before frying. The oil used to deep fry also contributes significant calories.

To put this calorie count into perspective, here are some equivalent calories for other popular foods:

• 1 McDonald’s Cheeseburger – 300 calories
• 1 slice of Domino’s Cheese Pizza – 285 calories
• 1 small order of McDonald’s French Fries – 230 calories
• 1 Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate Chip Cookie – 140 calories

Ways to Lighten Up Your Tenders

If you want to enjoy some crispy chicken tenders but limit the calorie count, there are a few tweaks you can make:

• Opt for oven-baking instead of frying – cuts calories significantly
• Use panko breadcrumbs rather than heavy batter – panko has fewer calories than batter
• Skip the sauce – sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or BBQ can add 100+ calories
• Portion control – stick to 2 tenders or less per serving
• Pair with veggies instead of fries – steamed broccoli is only 50 calories per cup

Also, you can make healthier chicken tenders at home by baking them with only a thin layer of breadcrumbs and oil spray. This reduces the fat and carbs significantly. Light tenders can be a healthy dinner if they are served with a side salad instead of fries.

The Bottom Line

Fried chicken tenders can be part of a healthy diet as long as they are eaten in moderation and with healthy sides like vegetables or a salad. Just watch the size of your portions and bake instead of fry as much as you can. Generally, 3 chicken tenders of average size will set you back about 285 calories and 16g of fat. Keep in mind that bigger tenders, thicker batter, and fried foods will have even more calories. Just watch how much you eat and pair this tasty treat with lighter sides to keep things in balance.