
Chicken tenders, also known as chicken fingers, chicken goujons, chicken strips, chicken fillets, chicken goujons, or tendies, are strips of white meat located on either side of the breastbone, under the breast meat. They are prepared by coating chicken meat in a breading mixture and then deep-frying them. Chicken tenders are a mass-produced product in the United States and are popular as a fast-food snack. On the other hand, rib meat is meat from the ribs that is attached to the breast meat. It has more fat content, and chicken breast without rib meat is typically more expensive as the rib meat has to be manually removed.
Chicken Tenders and Split Tenders Rib Meat Characteristics
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken Tenders | Chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles of the bird |
| Location | Strips of white meat located on either side of the breastbone, under the breast meat (pectoralis major) |
| Texture | Tender |
| Taste | Similar to chicken breast |
| Preparation | Coating chicken meat in a breading mixture and then deep frying |
| Popularity | Gained popularity in the mid-to-late 1980s as an alternative fast food choice to chicken nuggets |
| Commercial Use | Mass-produced in the United States |
| Commercial Preparation | Coating chicken meat with spices, polyphosphate, breading, or crumbs, flash-frying the product, and then freezing it |
| Commercial Flavoring | Manufactured with flavors such as Honey BBQ and Parmesan Herb Encrusted |
| Alternative Names | Chicken goujons, tendies, chicken strips, chicken fingers, or chicken fillets |
| Rib Meat | The darker meat of the breast where it attaches to the ribs |
Explore related products
$4.74 $9.76
What You'll Learn
- Chicken tenders are made from the pectoralis minor muscles, located on either side of the breastbone and under the breast meat
- Chicken tenders are a mass-produced product in the US, gaining popularity in the 1980s as a fast-food alternative to chicken nuggets
- Chicken tenderloin, or tender, is a thin muscle attached to the underside of the breast
- Chicken breast with rib meat is a natural extension of the breast when removed from the carcass
- Mechanically separated meat is no longer used as a consumer product in the US, but rib meat is still used

Chicken tenders are made from the pectoralis minor muscles, located on either side of the breastbone and under the breast meat
Chicken tenders, also known as chicken goujons, tendies, chicken strips, chicken fingers, or chicken fillets, are chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles of the bird. These strips of white meat are located on either side of the breastbone, under the breast meat (pectoralis major). Chicken tenders are made from the meat located on either side of the breastbone and under the breast meat.
The pectoralis minor muscles are found on the underside of the chicken, beneath the breast meat. They are thin strips of white muscle that are sometimes labelled as "chicken tenders" in stores. The tenderloin is a whole-muscle product that is hand-pulled by separating the inner pectoral muscle from the breast and the sternum. It is attached to the breast by a thin white tendon and lies against the rib bones.
The flavour of chicken tenderloin is very similar to that of breast meat, although it may be slightly more tender. The tenderloin is also smaller and thinner than the breast meat, and there are only two small tenderloins per whole chicken, which makes them more expensive than breasts. Due to their size and shape, chicken tenders are ideal for cutting down on prep time when making chicken fingers or skewering strips of chicken to grill or sear. They are also well-suited to breading and frying, baking, searing, or grilling.
Chicken tenders became popular in the US in the 1980s as an alternative fast-food choice to chicken nuggets, as they retained more chicken meat. They are typically prepared by coating chicken meat in a breading mixture and then deep-frying them, although they may also be grilled and served with salads or pasta.
How to Keep Your Three-Week-Old Chicks Parasite-Free
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Chicken tenders are a mass-produced product in the US, gaining popularity in the 1980s as a fast-food alternative to chicken nuggets
Chicken tenders, also known as chicken goujons, tendies, chicken strips, chicken fingers, or chicken fillets, are chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles of the bird. These strips of white meat are located on either side of the breastbone, under the breast meat. They are prepared by coating chicken meat in a breading mixture and then deep-frying them, in a manner similar to schnitzel.
Chicken tenders emerged as a popular alternative to chicken nuggets during this period. They offered a similar convenience and taste profile while retaining more chicken meat. The production process for chicken tenders involves coating chicken meat with spices, polyphosphate, and breading or crumbs, followed by flash-frying to hold the breading in place. They are then frozen and shipped for consumer, retail, and commercial use.
Chicken tenders can be found in numerous fast-food restaurants across the US, including Guthrie's, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, Chick-fil-A, Church's Chicken, KFC, Popeyes, Zaxby's, and Culver's. They are also manufactured with various flavor profiles, such as Buffalo-style hot sauce, Honey BBQ, and Parmesan Herb Encrusted.
Chicken tenders are often grilled rather than fried and can accompany salads or pasta dishes. They are smaller and thinner than chicken breasts, making them quicker to cook and ideal for recipes that require thin strips of chicken, such as stir-fries and skewers.
Chicken Run Rain: What to Do and Expect
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Chicken tenderloin, or tender, is a thin muscle attached to the underside of the breast
Chicken tenderloins are very similar in taste and texture to chicken breasts, but they differ in size and shape. Breasts are larger, thicker, and more plump, while tenderloins are thin, narrow, and more delicate. Due to these differences, chicken breasts take longer to cook than tenderloins. Tenderloins are also typically more expensive than breasts because there are only two small tenderloins per whole chicken.
Chicken tenders are a mass-produced product in the United States, where they are a popular fast-food snack. They are usually prepared by coating chicken meat in a breading mixture and then deep-frying them, although they may also be grilled. Tenders gained popularity in the 1980s as an alternative to chicken nuggets, as they retained more chicken meat.
Chicken tenderloins can be used interchangeably with chicken breasts in recipes that call for hot and fast cooking methods like frying or stir-frying. However, chicken breasts are better suited for grilling, roasting, or braising, as they are less likely to dry out due to their larger size.
In summary, chicken tenderloin is a thin muscle attached to the underside of the chicken breast and is known for its tenderness and versatility in cooking. It is a popular choice for breaded and fried dishes, such as chicken tenders or chicken fingers, and can also be grilled or baked.
Chicken Tenders: Carb Counts and Nutritional Facts
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Chicken breast with rib meat is a natural extension of the breast when removed from the carcass
Chicken tenders, also known as chicken goujons, tendies, chicken strips, chicken fingers, chicken fillets, chicken cutlets, or chicken nuggets, are thin strips of white meat located on either side of the breastbone, under the breast meat. They are obtained from the pectoralis minor muscles of the bird, which are also known as tenderloins. Each chicken has only one whole breast, which is often split into two individual pieces. Chicken tenders are usually breaded and deep-fried, grilled, or baked, and they are a very popular snack or main course in the United States.
Chicken tenders are different from chicken breasts. Chicken tenders are thin, narrow, and delicate, while chicken breasts are larger, thicker, and more plump. Due to these differences in size and shape, chicken breasts take longer to cook than chicken tenders. Chicken tenders are also more tender than chicken breasts, but they are less versatile and can be harder to find in grocery stores.
Chicken tenders are usually breaded and fried, grilled, or baked, while chicken breasts can be seared, roasted, grilled, stir-fried, or used in sandwiches, stews, soups, salads, or pasta. Chicken breasts are also more readily available in grocery stores and are considered more desirable than chicken tenders because of their mild texture and flavor, as well as their health benefits.
In summary, chicken breast with rib meat is a natural extension of the breast when removed from the carcass, and it has more fat content than chicken breast without rib meat. Chicken tenders, on the other hand, are thin strips of meat located under the breast, and they are usually breaded and fried, grilled, or baked. They are different from chicken breasts in terms of size, shape, tenderness, availability, and cooking methods.
Should You Cut Chicken Before Baking with Potatoes?
You may want to see also
Explore related products

Mechanically separated meat is no longer used as a consumer product in the US, but rib meat is still used
Mechanically separated meat (MSM) is a paste-like meat product made by forcing pureed or ground meat under high pressure through a sieve to separate the bone from edible meat tissue. While MSM has been used in the US since the late 1960s, safety concerns arose in the 1980s, leading to regulations and restrictions. Due to concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), mechanically separated beef has been prohibited for human consumption in the US since 2004.
Chicken tenders, also known as chicken tenderloins, are thin strips of white muscle located beneath the chicken breast, attached by a thin tendon. They are known for their tenderness and quick cooking time, making them ideal for breading and frying, grilling, or other fast cooking methods.
While mechanically separated meat from chicken is not prohibited in the US, it is no longer used as a consumer product. Instead, "rib meat" has become a common alternative. Rib meat is naturally attached to the breast meat and has a higher fat content. Chicken breast with rib meat is typically more affordable since removing the rib meat adds an extra step in the processing.
It is important to note that rib meat in chicken is distinct from mechanically separated meat. Rib meat is manually removed and remains connected to the breast meat, whereas MSM involves pureeing or grinding the carcass to separate meat from bone, resulting in a paste-like product with a blend of tissues and a smaller amount of actual meat.
In summary, while mechanically separated meat is no longer used as a consumer product in the US, rib meat, including chicken rib meat, is still utilized. Chicken rib meat is considered an extension of the breast meat and is manually separated, differing from the process of mechanical separation.
Chicken Bones: Dark Signals and What They Mean
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Chicken tenders, also known as chicken fingers, goujons, strips, fillets, or tendies, are chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles of the bird. These strips of white meat are located on either side of the breastbone, under the breast meat. They are usually breaded and deep-fried, grilled, or baked.
Rib meat is meat from the ribs that is attached to the breast meat. It has more fat content. Chicken breast without rib meat is usually more expensive as the rib meat has to be manually removed.
Split tenders rib meat refers to chicken meat that includes both the breast meat and the rib meat. When you buy a packet of chicken breasts from the supermarket, it typically comes with or without rib meat.










































