Chicken is naturally lean and low in calories. But when you batter it and cook it in a deep fryer, you'll quickly up the fat and calories you get. A 3 1/2-ounce serving of breaded and fried chicken tenders, about six to seven strips, has about 300 calories.
Calorie Breakdown
Approximately 50 to 55 percent of the 300 calories in fried chicken tenders are from fat. The remaining calories are split up relatively evenly between protein and carbohydrates. As a comparison, plain grilled chicken tenders of the same serving size feature about half the calories -- 165 calories. Plus, only 25 percent of the calories in grilled chicken come from fat, while the remaining calories are from protein. By ditching the breading, you eliminate the carbohydrates.