Single Tender | Price, Calories & Full Details

The Single Tender is the most flexible item on the Dave’s Hot Chicken menu. It is one single hand-breaded chicken breast strip with no bun, no fries, and no sides attached. At $4.99 and 490 calories at base spice level, it works perfectly as a quick snack, a protein boost added to a sides order, or a smart way to test a new spice level before committing to a full combo meal.

What makes the Single Tender different from similar items at other fast casual restaurants is how it is made. Dave’s tenders are hand-breaded fresh at the time of your order rather than sitting pre-breaded in a warmer. That means the breading is at its crispiest when it reaches you, and the difference in texture compared to mass-produced alternatives is immediately noticeable.

At $4.99, it is also the cheapest way to try Dave’s chicken without paying for bundled sides. If you have already tried the Single Slider and want to compare both chicken formats at the same heat level, ordering both individually is the clearest comparison you can make. To see everything else on the menu, browse all Dave’s meals.

Single Tender Price

The Single Tender is priced at $4.99 at most Dave’s Hot Chicken locations. It is the lowest priced chicken item on the entire menu. Prices may vary slightly depending on where you live, so it is always worth confirming with your local restaurant before you visit.

Single Tender Calories & Nutrition

The Single Tender contains 490 calories at No Spice and Lite Mild, rising to 550 calories at Reaper level. That 60 calorie gap between the lowest and highest heat levels exists because heavier spice coatings at higher levels add more seasoning oil to the surface of the chicken. Since there is no bun or fries included, the carbohydrates in this item come entirely from the breading. For the complete breakdown of fat, carbs, sodium, and protein across all spice levels, visit the calories and macros breakdown page.

Calorie Comparison by Spice Level

Single tenders show the most noticeable calorie increase at Reaper level compared to any combo item. This is because the spice-to-meat ratio on a smaller single piece is higher than on a full combo.

Allergen Information

The Single Tender contains wheat and gluten in the breaded coating. Eggs are used in the egg wash during the breading process. Soy is present in the frying oil. Because there is no bun in this item, dairy is not a direct ingredient, which makes this one of the lower-allergen options on the Dave’s menu when looked at on its own.

That said, Dave’s Hot Chicken uses shared fryers and shared prep surfaces across all menu items. This means cross-contamination with dairy, sesame, tree nuts, peanuts, fish, shellfish, and all other major allergens is a real possibility no matter what the item directly contains. To see the full allergen breakdown for every item, check the Single Tender allergen info.

Ingredient List

Chicken Tender:

• Boneless skinless chicken breast (strip cut)
• Seasoned flour breading (enriched wheat flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne)
• Egg wash (whole eggs, water)
• Soybean or canola frying oil

Spice Coating (applied above No Spice):

• Cayenne pepper, brown sugar, garlic powder, paprika, salt, black pepper
• Ghost pepper extract (Extra Hot)
• Carolina Reaper pepper extract (Reaper)

The Single Tender has the shortest ingredient list of any item on the Dave’s Hot Chicken menu. No bun, no sauce, no pickles, no sides. This makes it the cleanest option for anyone tracking specific ingredients or trying to isolate allergens. Ingredient lists may vary slightly by location and supplier.

Spice Levels Available

The Single Tender is available at all seven of Dave’s heat levels. Because there is no bun, sauce, or fries to slow down the heat, the spice experience is more direct and concentrated here than in any combo format. The same heat level will feel noticeably more intense on a standalone tender than on a slider.

• No Spice — Lightly seasoned breast meat with zero chili heat. The crispiness of the breading and the quality of the chicken are the main things you will notice.
• Lite Mild — Just a trace of warmth. This is the safest starting point for anyone new to Dave’s who is ordering a tender specifically.
• Mild — Gentle, noticeable heat that adds flavor without causing discomfort. Manageable for most people.
• Medium — Steady, building heat on a single piece with no bread to slow it down. This feels more intense than Medium on a slider.
• Hot — The cayenne coating becomes the main flavor. Without a bun or fries to pace you, Hot on a tender is a real spice experience.
• Extra Hot — Sharp and lasting heat. The effect stays with you well after you finish eating.
• Reaper — One tender at Reaper is more manageable than a full combo at Reaper because the total spice volume is smaller. But it is still genuinely intense and is not recommended for first-timers.

What Makes Single Tender Worth Ordering

The Single Tender works in more situations than any other item on the Dave’s Hot Chicken menu. You can use it as a quick snack, add it to a sides only build to increase protein, order two or three at different heat levels to map the spice scale, or pair it with a Single Slider to compare both chicken formats side by side.

At $4.99 for 25g of protein in a made to order, hand-breaded format, the value is strong for the fast-casual segment. If you are ready to build a bigger meal, the 2 Tenders with Fries gives you two pieces plus fries and is a natural upgrade from this item. You can also build your own full meal by pairing the Single Tender with Dave’s Fries and a Side of Dave’s Sauce.

Price Comparison with Similar Items