The Frozen Treat Chain That Sells High-Quality Chicken Tenders
When you're in the mood for fast food chicken tenders, the usual suspects probably come to mind: Popeyes, KFC, or maybe even Chick-fil-A. However, you can find high-quality fast food chicken tenders in a few seemingly random locations, from seafood chains to the home of the famed Blizzard treat.
“I always ask for extra gravy with my basket. Dip the strips, toast, and fries in the gravy. Probably my favorite fast food 'meal'.”
Dairy Queen sets what it calls "Chicken Well-Being Standards," requirements for its chicken suppliers. Farmers for DQ must minimize the chickens' stress and maximize their well-being at all times. Chickens raised for tenders, as well as any egg-based products, must have healthy cage-free environments with constant access to food and water and access to veterinary care.
The result of the care standards is chicken tenders made entirely with white meat tenderloin (a muscle found under and connected to the breast). That meat gets battered, freshly fried, and served up with French fries, Texas toast, and dip. And DQ doesn't just serve one kind of chicken strip either. You can get them plain, coated with seasoning inspired by the chain's signature Flamethrower sauce, or tossed in either Parmesan garlic or honey BBQ sauce.
Many people are fans of Dairy Queen's tenders — and the side of gravy
Quality doesn't necessarily guarantee favorable reviews, but for the most part, DQ's strips have both. Fans on Reddit say the "DQ tenders are awesome," and a few call them their favorite fast food tenders. One Reddit user even said, "An ice cream restaurant makes better chicken fingers than the restaurant that specializes in chicken fingers lmao." Some complained about the tenders being too small.
The country gravy dipping sauce, it appears, is a major selling point for Dairy Queen's chicken strips. While there's actually quite a variety of dip options, including BBQ, honey mustard, ranch, and zesty queso, the gravy reigns supreme. "The gravy you can get with the strips is EXCELLENT," a Redditor described. One fan said, "The sawmill gravy is pretty undeniable," while another Reddit user admitted, "I always ask for extra gravy with my basket. Dip the strips, toast, and fries in the gravy. Probably my favorite fast food 'meal'." Others reported skipping the tenders entirely, opting to dunk their fries in the gravy or even using the gravy, cheese curds, and fries to make poutine.
Not everyone loves Dairy Queen's fries, however, as one Dairy Queen-going Reddit user summed up, "DQ has some very good chicken strips, but I cannot get over how bland the fries are. [They taste] freezer-burnt every time." If you feel the same, you can always substitute onion rings or cheese curds (though they do cost more). And of course, it won't hurt to add a Blizzard to the order. The treat, while not actually real ice cream, goes with pretty much anything — and it's a little cheaper when ordering a meal.
