I tried chicken tenders from 14 fast-food chains and ranked them from worst to best

I tried chicken tenders from 14 different fast-food chains and ranked them based on taste and value.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The fast-food chicken wars have entered a new battleground — now, it's all about the tender.McDonald's launched its McCrispy Strips in May 2025, marking the first time chicken strips had been on its menu since the COVID-19 pandemic.Next up, in June 2025, Taco Bell introduced its new Crispy Chicken Strips, with Taco Bell's CMO Taylor Montgomery telling Business Insider that Gen Z was eating more crispy chicken than other generations, and "we need to evolve to where youth culture and the next generation of consumers are going."Then, in September 2025, Wendy's launched its own Tendys and a lineup of six new sauces for dunking.I compared chicken tenders from 14 fast-food chains. Here's how they ranked, from worst to best, based on taste and value.

Of all the chicken tenders I tried, Whataburger's didn't completely wow me.

The Whataburger chicken tenders came in last for me.