Buffalo Wild Wings Tenders Menu with Prices & Calories 2026
Buffalo Wild Wings built its name on wings, but the tenders menu has quietly become one of the most ordered sections in the restaurant and for good reason. The Hand-Breaded Tenders are made fresh in-house every day, the Naked Tenders® are a genuinely impressive low-calorie option, and the Crispy Chicken Dippers give you a shareable format you can toss in any sauce from the full BWW lineup.
Here is a complete breakdown of every tender on the Buffalo Wild Wings menu prices, calories, what comes with each order, and how to actually pick the right one for your meal.
Every Tender on the BWW Menu
Hand-Breaded Tenders From ~$10.99
The Hand-Breaded Tenders are the signature tender at Buffalo Wild Wings and the most popular order in this section by a clear margin. What sets them apart from typical chain restaurant tenders is the fact that they are breaded fresh in-house at each location not pre-breaded frozen strips reheated in a fryer. You can taste the difference. The crust is thick, craggy, and golden with a proper crunch that holds up even after you dip them in sauce.
Each tender is made with all-white meat chicken, and the hand-breading process creates a texture that is noticeably different from the smooth, uniform coating you get at most fast food chains. At 910 calories for the 3-piece combo with fries, this is a satisfying full meal not a light option, but worth every bite if you are going for indulgence.
They come with your choice of one dipping sauce. Go with Parmesan Garlic for something rich and savory, Honey BBQ if you want a classic sweet-smoky pairing, or Mango Habanero if you want genuine heat alongside the crunch.
Naked Tenders® From ~$10.99
The Naked Tenders® are Buffalo Wild Wings’ answer to the growing demand for lighter, high-protein meals and they genuinely deliver. “Naked” means no breading, no batter, no coating of any kind. These are antibiotic-free chicken tenders cooked without breading, resulting in a tender that is naturally lower in carbs, lower in calories, and higher in lean protein per calorie than the Hand-Breaded version.
The 3-piece Naked Tenders combo comes in at approximately 580 calories with fries that’s 330 fewer calories than the Hand-Breaded 3-piece for the same price. The 5-piece version is around 680 calories, which is remarkable for five chicken tenders and a full side of fries.
The texture is different from the Hand-Breaded version softer, with a slightly charred exterior from the grill. They are juicier inside than breaded tenders because there is nothing trapping steam, which means the chicken itself has to be good quality to work. At BWW it holds up well.
Sauce pairing is actually more important with Naked Tenders than with Hand-Breaded, because without the crust to add texture you are relying entirely on the sauce for flavor contrast. Bold sauces work best try Asian Zing for sweet heat, Buffalo for the classic tangy kick, or Spicy Garlic for something with depth.
Crispy Chicken Dippers ~$9.99 | ~490 cal
The Crispy Chicken Dippers are a slightly different format from the full tender combos smaller, snack-style pieces served with B-Dubs Dip rather than a full side of fries. They are breaded and fried to order, with a lighter coating than the Hand-Breaded Tenders that makes them crispier all the way through rather than having that thick outer crust.
They are the most shareable tender option at BWW a good choice if you want something to put in the middle of the table alongside wings or appetizers without committing to a full tender meal. The Crispy Chicken Dippers also appear as a starter on the BWW appetizer menu, which means you can order them as a table snack separately from your main.
Best Sauces to Pair with BWW Tenders
One of the main advantages of ordering tenders over wings at Buffalo Wild Wings is how well they take sauce. Every BWW tender order comes with one dipping sauce included here are the best pairings by flavor profile:
For Hand-Breaded Tenders:
- Parmesan Garlic Rich, buttery, and savory. One of the most popular pairings at BWW. The garlic cuts through the heavy breading perfectly.
- Honey BBQ Sweet, smoky, classic. A crowd-pleaser that never fails with a properly crunchy tender.
- Buffalo (Medium or Hot) The original pairing. Tangy vinegar heat that balances the richness of the fried crust.
Mango Habanero Sweet upfront, then a genuine slow burn. Works best if you like contrast between sweet and heat.
For Naked Tenders®:
Asian Zing The sweet-heat profile of Asian Zing coats the unbreaded chicken brilliantly. One of the best pairings on the menu.
Spicy Garlic Bold, punchy, works perfectly on bare chicken without crust competing for attention.
Blazin’® Carolina Reaper For heat seekers only. Without breading to temper the sauce, Blazin hits faster and harder.
Are BWW Tenders Gluten-Free?
The Hand-Breaded Tenders and Crispy Chicken Dippers contain wheat and are not gluten-free. The Naked Tenders® do not contain gluten ingredients in the tender itself, but Buffalo Wild Wings kitchens use shared fryers and prep surfaces where cross-contact is possible. If you have celiac disease or a severe gluten allergy, always notify your server before ordering BWW does not certify any item as fully gluten-free.