Burger King introduced Chicken Tenders in 1985 to compete with McDonald’s popular McNuggets. But after 27 years, the tenders mysteriously disappeared from the menu in 2012. Many fast-food fans are curious to know if Burger King has chicken tenders on their official menu. So, let’s find out the answer.

No, Burger King does not offer Chicken Tenders in the USA. The fast-food chain offered chicken tenders in the past but they were discontinued in 2012. 

However, you can find them in other countries like Switzerland, UAE, Turkey, etc. So, let’s explore why Burger King removed chicken tenders from their menu in this blog. Moreover, we will discuss whether or not they were a healthy option to eat. 

What Are Burger King Chicken Tenders?

Burger King Chicken Tenders are pieces of all-white chicken breast coated in seasoned breading. They are deep-fried to golden brown perfection before serving.

Burger King’s Chicken Tenders were made from 100% chicken breast filet instead of ground processed chicken meat. Therefore, they made for a delicious chicken snack that had a crunchy exterior and a savory taste. 

Moreover, their taste profile was further elevated with the help of Burger King’s sauces. However, the chicken tenders were introduced to compete with McDonald’s mighty Chicken McNuggets? Yes! You read that right. Therefore, Burger King trademarked the term “Chicken Tenders,” so no one could steal this idea. 

Interestingly, this later helped Burger King when Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a food company, copied the idea of chicken tenders using the same name. In response, Burger King imposed a lawsuit on the food company and won the case. 

Therefore, chicken tenders were exclusively available at Burger King and became a successful menu item. However, the story of BK’s chicken tenders took a turn when they were discontinued from the menu, like many other BK items. So, let’s find out when Burger King’s chicken tenders were discontinued and the reason behind it. 

When Were BK Chicken Tenders Discontinued?

Burger King Chicken Tenders were discontinued in 2012. However, the company didn’t specify the real reason behind their removal. 

As a result, it left everyone surprised as Burger King’s Chicken Tenders were a successful item on the menu. We suspect they may have been discontinued due to Burger King’s revamping of its menu or low sales. 

However, they were returned to the menu in 2018 after the customers demanded their return. This time, BK made a few changes to the recipe. They reintroduced the tenders with a homestyle seasoned breading instead of the tempura-coated chicken breast strips they offered in late 1985. 

However, the tenders were discontinued from the menu and didn’t make a comeback. Therefore, if you are craving a delectable chicken side to order with your meal now, you can try BK’s Chicken Nuggets with similar tastes. 

Will Burger King Ever Bring Back Their Chicken Tenders?

No, Burger King hasn’t released any official announcement about bringing back their Chicken Tenders. However, their past reintroduction of chicken tenders suggests that they may make a come back in the future. 

Burger King reintroduced chicken tenders after a gap of 6 years, in 2018. They came in packs of 2 and 4 pieces priced at $2.49 and $4.49, respectively, and could be enjoyed with zesty sauce. However, this time, Burger King gave them a makeover using a different breading style that made them extra crispy outside.

Moreover, they tasted more flavorful as Burger King prepared them with a whole muscle white meat chicken and a delicious seasoning of onion, garlic, and other spices. Thus, the reintroduced chicken tenders were much appreciated by customers. 

Were Burger King Chicken Tenders Tasty?

Yes, Burger King Chicken Tenders were quite tasty. They were prepared with crispy breading and peppery seasoning. Moreover, they had a juicy interior.

Therefore, many people on Reddit remember the OG chicken tenders from Burger King, especially for their unique peppery flavor. You will also find many people sharing their childhood memories with the tenders. 

However, when Burger King relaunched chicken tenders in 2018, some people found them less tasty than the old ones that were offered in the late 90s. Take a look at what customers have to say about the chicken tenders. 

According to An Immovable Feast, a blogging site, “Unfortunately, they taste just like rounder versions of the chicken fries. They were not hot, they were not crispy, and they were not tender. The breading was bland, room temperature, and the chicken was only slightly juicier than beef jerky. The word that kept coming to mind as I ate them was “pathetic.” They are pathetic, shriveled little versions of the chicken nuggets that you find at many fast-food joints.”

“100%. I worked at BK in the early 2000s and ate truckloads of tenders, and even at that point, they seemed less peppery than the 1990s ones but still way more peppery than any modern fast-food nugget.

I remember even as a kid seeing a ton of specs of black pepper on the breading as well. Wouldn’t surprise me if they had some white pepper thrown in there too,” wrote a Reddit user.

“There was a time around 30 years ago that BK offered these; they were freshly sliced, breaded, and fried in-store, and as a kid, these are all I wanted didn’t care about Whoppers or anything else,” wrote another. 

BK Chicken Tenders V/S McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets

Burger King Chicken Tenders and McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets are two popular fast-food items that have always been a part of fan debates. Each item has unique qualities, making them customer favorites for different reasons. 

However, do you know that with the launch of chicken tenders, Burger King took a dig at McDonald’s famous McNuggets, saying that they are “not processed like chicken nuggets”? Well, there were other times that Burger King did so.

Thus, many wonder which is better: Burger King or McDonald’s. So, let’s compare two of the most popular items from Burger King and McDonald’s and see who wins based on price, taste, and other aspects.

By looking at the table, you would have a fair idea of the differences between Burger King’s Chicken Tenders and McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets. Now, let’s look into these comparisons for a better understanding. 

Burger King Chicken Tenders and McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets are prepared with similar ingredients. They make use of white meat chicken that is seasoned with spices and coated with a crispy breading. They are then breaded three times to achieve their signature crispy and airy texture. 

Likewise, Burger King’s Chicken Tenders are known for their unique taste and texture. However, unlike McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets, BK Chicken Tenders were prepared with whole chicken breast. Hence, they were less airy and light than McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets.

However, they also came coated with a coarse breading with a peppery flavoring to it. Moreover, they also had a nice spiciness, making them oh-so-good and scrumptious. 

Therefore, Chicken Tenders and Chicken Nuggets had their signature taste and won on the taste parameter for their uniqueness. Let’s take a look at the nutritional values of both these items. 

McDonald’s 4-piece Chicken Nuggets Nutritional Information

Burger King’s Chicken Tenders Nutritional Information

Looking at both items’ nutritional data, we can say that McDonald’s Chicken Nuggets are healthier. The nuggets have less sodium than Burger King’s Chicken Tenders. 

Were BK Chicken Tenders Healthy?

Yes, Burger King chicken tenders were healthy as they weren’t saturated with calories. A pack of 4 pieces of chicken tenders contained only 179 calories. 

Thus, customers could enjoy them guilt-free. Let’s take a look at the nutritional value of chicken tenders in the table below:

However, despite its low-calorie content, Burger King’s Chicken Tenders didn’t make healthy items available to everyone. That’s because the chicken tenders offered by Burger King were not gluten-free.

They were prepared with enriched flour made of wheat. Therefore, observing an increased demand for gluten-free food items, Burger King started offering a gluten-free menu. 

Does BK Still Offer Chicken Tenders In Other Countries?

Yes, Burger King still offers Chicken Tenders in other countries. You can purchase Chicken Tenders from BK in Switzerland, South Africa, Turkey, Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon, Kazakhstan, and Iraq.  

However, it should be noted that chicken tenders are also known as chicken strips and chicken tenderloins in a few countries. So, if you visit any Burger King outlets in other countries, ensure you order them by their correct name. 

So, let’s look at the chicken tenders offered by Burger King in different countries. 

1. Switzerland –  Burger King offers 4-pieces of chicken strips in Switzerland as a part of their chicken menu for CHF 16.9 

2. South Africa – Burger King South Africa offers 4-pieces of chicken tenders for R79.9 and 6-pieces for R86.90.

3. Tukey – You can find chicken tenders on Burger King’s Turkish menu. You can order 6-piece or 9-piece chicken tenders paired with barbecue or hot sauce from BK’s official menu.

4. Kuwait – Burger King Kuwait offers 4-pieces chicken tenders for KD 0.800.

5. UAE – You can also purchase 4- pieces of crispy chicken tenders from Burger King’s UAE menu for AED15. 

6. Qatar – Order 5-pieces of chicken tenders from Burger King’s Qatar menu for 7 QR 

7. Saudi Arabia – Burger King Saudi Arabia is offering 3-pieces of chicken tenders on their menu for 13 Saudi Riyals

8. Oman – You can order chicken tenders from Burger King’s Oman menu for OMR 1.600.

9. Lebanon – Find chicken tenders on Burger King’s Lebanon menu. The chicken tenders are listed on the menu as ‘chicken tenderloin.’ The good news is that these chicken tenderloins are 100% halal.

10.  Kazakhstan – You can order chicken strips from Burger King’s Kazakhstan menu.

11. Iraq – You will also find chicken tenders on Burger King’s Iraq menu. They are sold in a pack of 4,9, and 20 pieces for a price of 4,000 QD, 6,000 QD, and 10,000 QD respectively.

Is It Possible To Make BK Chicken Tenders At Your Home?

Yes, you can make BK Chicken Tenders at home. You can do so by following Burger King’s Chicken Fries or Chicken Nuggets recipe since the recipe for Chicken Tenders is unavailable.

Burger King’s Chicken Fries recipe shares some similarities with chicken tenders. They are prepared with similar ingredients, such as whole-muscle chicken breast, a mix of flour, spices, starch, seasonings, and natural flavorings. Thus, you can use this recipe to prepare Burger King-style chicken tenders at home.

You can also make Burger King’s Chicken Nuggets at home using this recipe. It’s made with chicken breast patties, wheat flour, seasonings, and other natural flavoring. Thus, they will provide a similar flavor to satiate your chicken tender cravings. 

Conclusion

We have reached the end of this article and discussed some crucial facts about Burger King’s Chicken Tenders. We learned that chicken tenders were introduced to compete with McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets. They were made with all-white chicken breast and had the perfect crispy breading. 

Thus, they became quite a hit among customers. Moreover, Burger King also trademarked their chicken tenders so that no one would copy the idea of selling unprocessed chicken in the form of crispy, fried tenders. I hope you enjoyed reading all this information. 

However, Chicken Tenders are just one of the popular items offered by Burger King. Burger King also offers Chicken Nuggets that taste equally delectable. They can be enjoyed with various dipping sauces available on the Burger King’s menu. 

For example, you can purchase BBQ, buffalo, honey mustard, ranch, sweet and sour, and zesty. However, Burger King does not serve chicken fry sauce on its menu. Apart from these items, you can enjoy sumptuous burgers at Burger King.

For example, Burger King serves a hearty Triple Whopper. So, if you are a fan of Whopper like me, you must try this burger. Likewise, Burger King serves Spicy Chicken Sandwich for all chicken lovers. So, head to your nearest Burger King outlet and try out these delectable items from their menu.

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