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 diving into the calorie count, let’s first take a quick look at what exactly chicken tenders are. Chicken tenders, also sometimes called chicken strips or chicken fingers, are strips of chicken breast meat that have been battered or breaded then deep fried. The tenderloin (pectoralis minor) is located right underneath the chicken breast and is especially tender and easy to chew.

Chicken tenders make for a quick and tasty appetizer, snack, or meal when you’re craving something fried and savory. Their mild flavor absorbs the seasoning of whatever breading or sauce they are cooked with Some popular seasonings include traditional Southern-style flour breading, crunchy panko, spicy buffalo, or barbeque sauce

Calorie Count for 3 Fried Chicken Tenders

Now for the important question: how many calories are in three pieces of fried chicken tenders? The exact number of calories can change depending on things 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

The Nutritionix database, on the other hand, says that three average-sized fried chicken tenders (a total of 84g) have about:

• 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

You can also prepare healthier homemade chicken tenders baked with just a light layer of breadcrumbs and spray oil. This reduces the fat and carbs significantly. Served with a side salad instead of fries, light tenders can be a figure-friendly dinner.

The Bottom Line

When consumed in moderation alongside nutritious sides like veggies or a salad, fried chicken tenders can absolutely have a place in a balanced diet. Just be mindful of portion sizes, and try baking instead of frying whenever possible. As a general rule of thumb, 3 average sized chicken tenders will cost you around 285 calories and 16g of fat. Be aware that larger tenders, heavy batter, and fried preparations will mean even higher calorie counts. Watch your portion sizes, and balance out your meal with lighter sides and you can happily enjoy this tasty treat!