When is National Chicken Tender Day?

Chicken tenders, also known as chicken fingers or chicken strips, are a beloved food item, especially in the United States. Their popularity has even warranted having a National Chicken Tender Day to celebrate these delicious chicken morsels. So when exactly is this foodie holiday? Keep reading to find out.

A Brief History of Chicken Tenders

Before we get into when National Chicken Tender Day is let’s first take a quick look at the history of chicken tenders themselves

• 1970s – Chicken tenders first appeared on menus in the 1970s as an alternative to fried chicken. They were made from slicing chicken breast meat into long thin strips, breading and frying them.

• 1980s – As chicken nuggets rose in popularity, especially among kids’ menus, chicken tenders emerged as a more premium, less processed option. They were thicker, meatier and seen as higher quality than nuggets.

• 1990s – Fast food chains started adding chicken tenders to their menus, popularizing them nationwide. Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers and Zaxby’s both opened their first locations serving chicken tenders as their specialty.

• 2000s – Chicken tenders became a staple menu item at most fast food and casual dining restaurants. Their popularity continues today as a crispy, juicy crowd-pleaser.

When is National Chicken Tender Day?

National Chicken Tender Day is observed annually on July 27.

This food holiday lands right in the middle of summer, perfect timing for indulging in a basket of piping hot, golden chicken tenders.

History of National Chicken Tender Day

National Chicken Tender Day was created in 2007 by Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, a fast food chain specializing in chicken tenders.

Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Raising Cane’s was founded in 1996 by Todd Graves. The idea for the restaurant came from Graves’ college business plan of opening a chicken fingers eatery.

Raising Cane’s now has over 600 locations across the United States and abroad. The franchise is so synonymous with chicken fingers that they pioneered National Chicken Tender Day as a nod to their signature menu item.

Celebrated each year on July 27th, Raising Cane’s marks the holiday by offering special deals and promotions. Other restaurants also join in the chicken tender fun with free tenders and discounts for customers.

How to Celebrate National Chicken Tender Day

There are many delicious ways to observe this tasty holiday:

• Eat chicken tenders – The best way to celebrate is to simply eat chicken tenders! Hit up your favorite fast food joint or make them at home.

• Check for deals – Many restaurants offer National Chicken Tender Day freebies and discounts. Raising Cane’s, Zaxby’s, and Dairy Queen are known to run promotions.

• Try new dipping sauces – Mix up your usual ketchup, honey mustard or ranch by experimenting with new condiments.

• Make chicken tender recipes – Fried, baked, buffalo – get creative in the kitchen with new ways to prep chicken tenders.

• Host a chicken tender party – Fry up buckets of tenders and have friends over for a National Chicken Tender Day feast.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, enjoy this opportunity to indulge in a plate of golden, crispy chicken tenders!

Fun Facts About Chicken Tenders

To close out, here are some interesting tidbits about this popular finger food:

• The term “chicken tenders” first emerged as American diner slang.

• They are made from the pectoralis minor muscle of the chicken breast.

• Chicken tenders have about 3-6 grams of protein per ounce.

• The breading is what makes chicken tenders crispy when fried. Flour or cornmeal is typically used.

• Unbreaded, baked chicken tenders are a healthier alternative with less fat and calories.

• Chicken tenders contain less saturated fat than fried chicken pieces with skin.

• Popular dipping sauces include barbecue, ranch, honey mustard and buffalo sauce.

• Raising Cane’s founders chose the name because chicken “fingers” was an existing slang term.

Now that you know when National Chicken Tender Day is, you have a date to celebrate this beloved finger food! Fry up a batch and savor the crispy, chicken-y holiday.