KFC Single Original Recipe Tender: Price & Calories
A single KFC Original Recipe chicken tender runs about $2.29 à la carte, 130 calories and 12 grams of protein: one hand-breaded whole-muscle tender, the same piece that fills every tenders combo, box and family meal on the board. It exists as an add-on, the one-more-piece order at the end of a combo, and it is the most expensive way per tender to buy them, which is exactly why the combos exist.
◐ REFERENCE FIGURES · INDEPENDENTLY TRACKED · 31 AUG 2026
Grade = this item's percentile across the whole menu: 40% price-per-calorie + 40% price-per-protein + 20% sodium penalty. Full formula.
KFC Single Original Recipe Tender price
| Option | Price | Calories | Data |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $2.29 | 130 | ◐ REF. |
National reference pricing on the audit date. Franchises set final prices; a spread of about a dollar between locations is normal.
The Ledger · price history on recordWhat this item has cost
| Date | Price | Move |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2026 | $2.29 | opening entry |
Opened on this ledger at $2.29, the à la carte rate implied by the two-tender pair. Singles reprice quietly and often; this row is the early-warning line for the whole tenders board.
Fact checkWhy other sites disagree about this item
Menu sites list two- and three-tender à la carte orders that the current board does not carry; the listed à la carte unit is one tender, and quantities are built from it in the app. The figures here are half of this site's audited two-tender data, which is how KFC portions them.
Full nutrition, per serving
| Nutrient | Per serving | % daily value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 130 | 7% |
| Protein | 12 g | 24% |
| Carbohydrates | 8 g | 3% |
| Total fat | 6 g | 8% |
| Saturated fat | 1 g | 6% |
| Sodium | 350 mg | 15% |
| Sugars | 0 g | 0% |
| Fibre | 0 g | 0% |
Where the sodium lands
About 350 mg per tender, 15% of the daily value, before sauce. Tenders brine leaner than bone-in pieces, which is why tender-built boxes run a little lighter per head than bucket meals.
AllergensAllergens
Contains: Wheat, Soy, Milk, Egg. Shared fryers and prep areas mean cross-contact is possible; confirm with the restaurant if you have a severe allergy.
What is a single Original Recipe tender?
One whole-muscle chicken tenderloin, hand-breaded in the Original Recipe coating, the 11-herb blend that KFC moved its entire tender line to when it retired the Extra Crispy version. About 130 calories, 12 grams of protein, 350 mg of sodium. It is sold à la carte as an add-on to any order, and it is the unit underneath the 3 pc., 4 pc. and 5 pc. combos, the Big Box, the Fill Up and the family meals.
How it is made
From the tenders drawer, fried in the same cycle as the combos, so a single is exactly as fresh as the rest of the batch and no fresher. No sauce cup comes with a single; ask, and most stores add one for the 59-cent cup price or free with a larger order. It travels as well as any fried item on the menu, which is well; tenders are the format that survives a delivery bag.
Who it suits, and who should skip it
The end-of-order top-up: one more piece for the child who finished first, a tender beside a bowl to add protein, the sandwich combo that wanted a chaser. Skip it as a way to build a meal; three singles cost $6.87 while the 3 pc. combo is $8.69 with fries, a biscuit, a cup and a drink, and the Snacker puts the same tender in a bun for $3.
Is it worth the price?
Priced as an add-on, and it should only be bought as one.
$2.29 for 130 calories is 1.76 cents per calorie, among the least efficient buys on the board by this site’s math, because the à la carte single carries the whole convenience premium. Inside the 8 pc. tenders box the same tender costs about $1.62 with sauces included, and inside the 16 pc. box about $1.44. Buy one when you need one more piece; buy the box when you need three.
Order hacks
- One tender beside a $5 bowl is the cheapest way to lift a bowl order past 35 g of protein.
- Ask for a sauce cup with it; singles ship dry and most stores add a cup free on a larger ticket.
- Three singles cost $6.87. The 3 pc. combo is $8.69 with fries, a biscuit, a cup and a drink; the Snacker is the same tender in a bun for $3.
- It is the same piece as every tenders combo, so the à la carte single is how you sample the Original Recipe tender before committing to a box.
- For a kid’s top-up, a single tender beats a second kids’ meal by four dollars.
KFC Single Original Recipe Tender vs KFC 2 pc. Tenders: value, computed
| Item | Price | ¢ / calorie | $ / 10g protein | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KFC Single Original Recipe Tender | $2.29 | 1.76¢ | $1.91 | C+ |
| KFC 2 pc. Tenders | $4.29 | 1.65¢ | $1.79 | C+ |
| KFC 3 pc. Tenders (À La Carte) | $5.99 | 1.54¢ | $1.66 | B |
| KFC 3 pc. Tenders Combo | $8.69 | 0.76¢ | $2.02 | B+ |
| KFC Chicken Tender Snacker | $3.00 | 0.81¢ | $1.76 | A |
Computed from the prices and nutrition on this site. When a price moves, these columns move with it; only The KF Menu publishes this table.
AlternativesCompare with similar items
KFC 2 pc. Tenders
$4.29
· 260 cal · C+
KFC 3 pc. Tenders (À La Carte)
$5.99
· 390 cal · B
KFC 3 pc. Tenders Combo
$8.69
· 1145 cal · B+
KFC Chicken Tender Snacker
$3.00
· 370 cal · A
How to order the KFC Single Original Recipe Tender
| Route | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Status | Standing menu item as of 31 Aug 2026; participation can vary by franchise. |
| KFC app & website | The reference price on this page, plus app-only offers and Rewards points. The cleanest way to see your own store’s price before ordering. Official listing. |
| Counter & drive-through | Franchise-set pricing: a spread of about a dollar around the reference is normal. AK, HI and CA run higher on KFC’s own note. |
| Delivery apps | Marked up over counter price and no Rewards earning; the delivery page ranks the routes. |
| Also inside | KFC Chicken Little ($2.79), KFC Chicken Tender Snacker ($3.00), KFC 2 pc. Tenders ($4.29), KFC 2 pc. Tenders Kids Meal ($5.99): the builds that bundle it. |
| Cheaper routes | current deals change without a schedule; the app row is the truth; the standing value board (Taste of KFC, $5 Bowls, Fill Ups) usually beats a promo code. |
KFC Single Original Recipe Tender FAQs
How much is one chicken tender at KFC?
About $2.29 à la carte for a single Original Recipe tender. Inside the 8 pc. tenders box the same tender works out to about $1.62.
How many calories is one KFC tender?
About 130, with 12 g of protein, 8 g of carbohydrate and 6 g of fat, before any sauce.
Are KFC tenders Original Recipe or Extra Crispy?
Original Recipe, across the whole line. Every tender on the current board is hand-breaded in the 11-herb Original Recipe coating; the Extra Crispy tender is no longer sold.
Can I buy just one tender at KFC?
Yes, à la carte at about $2.29, in store or in the app under sides and add-ons. It is meant as a top-up to another order.
Does a single tender come with sauce?
Not automatically. Ask for a cup; it is about 59 cents on its own and usually free with a larger order.
Is a single tender cheaper than the Snacker?
No. The Chicken Tender Snacker is about $3 and puts the same tender on a brioche bun with pickles and mayo; for 71 cents more you get a sandwich.
How much protein is in a KFC tender?
About 12 grams per tender, so three tenders bring 36 g and an 8 pc. box 96 g.
How much sodium is in one KFC tender?
About 350 mg, 15% of the daily value, before sauce. A KFC Sauce cup adds 170.
Where every number came from
THE KF MENU · SOURCE SLIP
single-original-recipe-tender · audit 31 AUG 2026
independent guide, not affiliated with KFC Corporation