Arby’s Chicken Tenders (5 pc): Price, Calories and Nutrition (2026)

Arby’s Chicken Tenders are the sleeper hit of the menu. Prime-cut whole chicken breast, marinated, battered, and fried into thick, juicy tenders. They are not the reconstituted nugget-style product most chains sell. They are real strips of chicken breast, and the difference shows in the texture. Available in 2, 3, and 5 piece orders, with the 5-piece being the full meal. In 2026 the 5-piece carries 600 calories and a price starting from $6.89. Here is the current price, the calorie count, and the full nutrition breakdown.

Prices vary by location because most Arby’s restaurants are franchise-operated, with most markets landing between $6.89 and $7.99 for the 5-piece. The 600 calorie figure covers 5 tenders with no dipping sauce. The 3-piece is 360 calories and the 2-piece is 160.

Last updated: June 26, 2026

Table of contents

• What is in the Chicken Tenders
• Chicken Tenders nutrition facts
• Chicken Tenders ingredients and customization
• Allergens
• Chicken Tenders vs Premium Chicken Nuggets
• Getting the best value on the Chicken Tenders
• Frequently asked questions

What is in the Chicken Tenders

The build is whole chicken breast with rib meat, marinated in a seasoned brine, then battered and breaded and fried. The "prime-cut" label means what it says: these are strips cut from actual chicken breasts, not ground and formed meat. You can see the grain of the chicken when you bite in. That is the quality signal, and it is why Arby’s tenders have a loyal following among people who take chicken seriously.

At 600 calories with 39 grams of protein, the 5-piece is a protein powerhouse. The 39 grams of protein is the highest of any Arby’s side, and it rivals most sandwiches on the menu. The 28 grams of fat comes from the breading and frying. Sodium is the watch-out at 1590 mg, which is 69 percent of the daily guideline, driven by the seasoned marinade and the breading.

The 5-piece is a genuine meal. Six hundred calories and 39 grams of protein with a side of fries is a full dinner. The 3-piece at 360 calories is the side-sized order, meant to sit next to a sandwich. The portion ladder is honest: each step up is a real step up in food.

One thing worth knowing: the tenders come with no sauce included. Dipping sauces are available but they cost extra at most locations or come with combos. The Buffalo dipping sauce is the calorie bargain at 10 calories. The Honey Mustard is 130 calories and the Ranch is 100. Factor your sauce into the total, because the published 600 calorie figure assumes you eat them plain.

Chicken Tenders nutrition facts

Full nutrition breakdown for one 5-piece order, based on Arby’s official US nutrition data. Standard order, no dipping sauce.

Nutrient	Amount per 5-piece order
Calories	600
Total fat	28g
Total carbohydrates	47g
Protein	39g
Sodium	1590mg

The 39 grams of protein is the headline. For comparison, a Classic Roast Beef has 23 grams. The tenders deliver serious protein, which makes them one of the most filling items on the menu per calorie. The 28 grams of fat is the cost of the fried breading. The 47 grams of carbohydrates is almost entirely the breading as well.

For context, 600 calories puts the 5-piece in sandwich territory. It is more calories than the Beef ‘N Cheddar and the same as the French Dip. But the protein-to-calorie ratio is better than both. If your goal is protein, the 5-piece tenders with Buffalo dipping sauce is one of the best orders on the entire Arby’s menu. If your goal is low sodium, look elsewhere: 1590 mg is steep.

Chicken Tenders ingredients and customization

The standard ingredient list is chicken breast with rib meat, water, seasoning (salt, hydrolyzed corn and soy protein, spices, egg powder), and sodium phosphate for the marinade, then a batter and breading of wheat flour, corn flour, spices, and leavening, fried in vegetable oil.

Customization is about sauces and size. The sauce lineup: Buffalo dipping sauce (10 cal), Tangy BBQ (45 cal), Ranch (100 cal), Honey Mustard (130 cal), and Arby’s Sauce or Horsey Sauce on request. The Buffalo sauce is the obvious pick for flavor without calories. You can also order the 3-piece (360 cal) as a side or the 5-piece as the meal.

The practical move is the 5-piece with Buffalo dipping sauce. You get the full protein payload, real flavor from the buffalo heat, and only 10 extra calories. The tenders also work as a sandwich filling if you are feeling creative, but they are priced as a premium side, so the sandwich math rarely works out.

Allergens

Chicken Tenders contain egg, soy, and wheat and gluten (marinade and breading). They are cooked in the same oil as other items that contain milk and fish (where available). Cross-contact with all major allergens is possible. Always check Arby’s current allergen information if you have a serious allergy, since recipes and fryer setups vary by restaurant.

Chicken Tenders vs Premium Chicken Nuggets

The two chicken options invite a direct comparison. Chicken Tenders (5 pc): 600 calories, 28g fat, 39g protein, 1590mg sodium, from $6.89. Premium Chicken Nuggets (9 pc): 470 calories, 23g fat, 38g protein, 1360mg sodium, typically from around $5.99.

The nuggets win on calories and price. Nine nuggets deliver nearly the same protein (38g versus 39g) for 130 fewer calories and about a dollar less. The tenders win on quality perception: whole breast strips versus formed nuggets, with a meatier bite and a better texture. The nuggets are also easier to share and easier to eat on the go.

Pick the tenders when you want the premium chicken experience and the heartier bite. Pick the nuggets when you want nearly the same protein for fewer calories and less money. For kids and sharing, the nuggets are the practical choice. For a solo protein-focused meal, the tenders are the better food.

Getting the best value on the Chicken Tenders

At from $6.89, the 5-piece is priced as a premium side, but 39g of protein makes it a legitimate meal replacement.

The 5-piece tender meal (tenders plus fries and a drink, around $10.99) is the better deal if you want the full meal. Bought separately, the three items cost more.

The 3-piece (from $5.59) is the side-sized value play: 360 calories and 23g of protein next to a sandwich.

Buffalo dipping sauce at 10 calories is free flavor. Do not pay the calorie price of Ranch or Honey Mustard unless you love them.

Check the app for chicken-specific deals. Arby’s runs tender and nugget promotions regularly, and they are the cheapest way to order these.

Frequently asked questions

ManuBite Team. We track fast food prices and nutrition across the USA so you always know what your meal really costs, in dollars and in calories.