KFC Nashville Hot Tenders Combos Price & Calories 2026
KFC nashville hot tenders are back for a limited time. The combination of crispy chicken and spicy Nashville hot sauce attracts fans who want bold flavor without ordering a full KFC bucket. Many people search for the price, calories, and combo details before ordering.
The kfc nashville hot tenders meal includes hand-breaded chicken tenders coated with Nashville Hot sauce. They are usually served with pickles and paired with classic KFC sides. The popular combo contains 4 tenders, a side item, a biscuit, and a drink. It is designed as a complete lunch or dinner option.
Explore the complete KFC Menu 2026
What Are KFC Nashville Hot Tenders?
KFC Nashville hot tenders are spicy chicken strips made from all-white meat chicken. Each piece is hand breaded and fried until crispy. The tenders are then coated with Nashville Hot sauce for a sweet and spicy flavor.
$10.39

Nashville Hot 3 pc. Tenders Combo
3 pc Spicy Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders + Side + Medium Drink + Biscuit
Cal: 1560-1900
$12.39

Nashville Hot 4 pc. Tenders Combo
4 pc Spicy Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders + Side + Medium Drink + Biscuit
Cal: 1210-1890
$13.69

Nashville Hot 5 pc. Tenders Combo
5 pc Spicy Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders + Side + Medium Drink + Biscuit
Cal: 1560-1900
$14.49

Nashville Hot 5 pc. Tenders Combo
5 pc Spicy Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders + 2 Side + Medium Drink + Biscuit + 2 Sauce
Cal: 1570-2300
KFC 4 Pc. Nashville Hot Tenders Combo
The KFC nashville hot tenders combo usually contains four chicken tenders with Nashville Hot sauce. The meal also includes fries or another side, a biscuit, and a medium drink.
|
Item 952_759e45-ce> |
Description 952_a8f682-a0> |
|---|---|
|
4 Nashville Hot Tenders 952_476fc1-e6> |
Hand-breaded spicy chicken 952_f42ca1-ee> |
|
Side item 952_bbe068-99> |
Fries, mashed potatoes, or other side 952_b01c88-a2> |
|
Biscuit 952_df8cc5-ae> |
Classic KFC biscuit 952_618711-8c> |
|
Drink 952_1f2511-b2> |
Medium fountain beverage 952_b754b6-b6> |
KFC Nashville Hot Tenders Price (2026)
Different combo sizes of kfc nashville hot tenders are available for customers who want larger portions. The menu often includes 4-piece, 5-piece, and Big Box options.
You can sometimes find KFC deals that include tenders, sandwiches, or bucket meals at discounted prices.
|
Menu Item 952_baa0a6-60> |
Price 952_01fb15-19> |
|---|---|
|
3 Pc. Nashville Hot Tenders Combo 952_0c8d04-52> |
$10.39 952_3f7c69-74> |
|
4 Pc. Nashville Hot Tenders Combo 952_6a5653-bf> |
$12.39 952_95cb3d-7d> |
|
5 Pc. Nashville Hot Tenders Combo 952_5ffb1c-28> |
$13.69 952_35478f-b1> |
|
Nashville Hot 5 Pc. Tenders Big Box 952_63bd6e-7a> |
$14.49 952_5f1bfc-9a> |
Calories & Nutrition
Before ordering, check the KFC nutrition menu to compare calories, protein, and sodium levels.
The full kfc nashville hot tenders combo contains around 1560 to 1900 calories. The range depends on your side item and drink choice.
|
Nutrient 952_f30fce-ff> |
Amount 952_2f41e3-63> |
|---|---|
|
Calories 952_1e20ae-53> |
1560–1900 952_de565a-a4> |
|
Sodium 952_198a24-01> |
29,072 mg 952_eefefd-cb> |
|
Total Carbohydrates 952_9e367e-26> |
568.8 g 952_11c92c-2c> |
|
Dietary Fiber 952_c86e7e-9b> |
31.6 g 952_e7650a-22> |
|
Sugars 952_671e27-35> |
31.6 g 952_6f8170-7a> |
|
Protein 952_a9e0b1-9e> |
29 g 952_715014-b5> |
|
Cholesterol 952_933a87-2b> |
90 mg 952_b57cfc-1c> |
|
Calcium 952_625bc9-6b> |
50 mg 952_c2e735-0f> |
|
Iron 952_ea3a77-15> |
2.7 mg 952_395efa-59> |
|
Potassium 952_23ee2b-ad> |
78 mg 952_ecab3e-5c> |
What Do Nashville Hot Tenders Taste Like?
The flavor of kfc nashville hot tenders combines crispy chicken with spicy oil-based sauce. The outside coating stays crunchy while the inside remains juicy.
When you bite into kfc nashville hot tenders, the first taste is slightly sweet. After a moment, the cayenne pepper heat starts to build. The heat level is moderate, so most customers can enjoy it.
|
Flavor Element 952_6fc41d-da> |
Description 952_426e2d-d7> |
|---|---|
|
Heat 952_98213e-97> |
Medium spicy 952_139a6c-f6> |
|
Sweetness 952_a9f3a6-af> |
Slight sweetness from sauce 952_4fa954-2c> |
|
Texture 952_ad2989-0f> |
Crunchy coating 952_492525-a5> |
|
Balance 952_b0fd28-c3> |
Pickles add acidity 952_ad00d0-b6> |
Why Pickles Are Served
Pickles are commonly served with kfc nashville hot tenders because they balance the spice. Their sour taste cuts through the rich fried chicken flavor.
This sweet, spicy, and crispy mix is the main reason the item became popular.
Ingredients
The chicken uses white meat tenderloins and a seasoned breading. After frying, Nashville tenders are coated with Nashville Hot sauce. The sauce usually contains cayenne pepper, paprika, garlic seasoning, and oil.
|
Ingredient 952_b4573c-34> |
Purpose 952_114954-8e> |
|---|---|
|
Chicken tenderloins 952_64214f-5b> |
Main protein source 952_916e3d-7c> |
|
Wheat flour breading 952_310503-05> |
Creates crispy crust 952_ee422c-49> |
|
Egg and milk ingredients 952_179ffc-b7> |
Help coating stick 952_8d691b-1b> |
|
Nashville hot sauce 952_025602-0e> |
Adds spice and color 952_4251dd-3f> |
|
Pickle slices 952_8025f2-bd> |
Balance flavor 952_06ab3b-f8> |
Sauce Components
The Nashville hot sauce used for kfc nashville hot tenders may include:
These ingredients create the signature spicy coating.
Allergens
Customers with food allergies should check ingredients before ordering kfc nashville hot tenders. The breading and seasoning include several common allergens.
|
Allergen 952_6ee9a1-a6> |
Source 952_96f5dd-90> |
|---|---|
|
Wheat 952_bdf130-d3> |
Breaded coating 952_47ab60-df> |
|
Egg 952_cb215b-f8> |
Egg white powder 952_cea93b-b4> |
|
Milk 952_acf26d-7f> |
Modified milk ingredients 952_9db6d2-a9> |
|
Soy 952_7038c2-a1> |
Frying oil and seasoning 952_99b11d-b3> |
Are KFC Nashville Hot Tenders Limited Time?
Many customers ask if kfc nashville hot tenders are always available. YES, they appear as a limited-time menu item.
The availability depends on seasonal promotions. Some locations keep them longer if customer demand remains strong.
Customization
You can customize kfc nashville hot tenders by choosing different portion sizes and sides. KFC allows flexibility in most combo orders.
Customization makes nashville hot tenders suitable for both small meals and larger group orders.
Copycat KFC Nashville Hot Tenders Recipe
Many people want to recreate kfc nashville hot tenders at home when the item disappears from the menu. The good news is that you can make a very similar version using basic pantry ingredients and a simple frying method.
This kfc nashville hot tenders copycat recipe focuses on three things: crispy breading, juicy chicken, and the signature Nashville hot oil. When these elements combine, the result tastes close to the restaurant version.

Ingredients
For the Chicken
|
Ingredient 952_1cc7ee-3e> |
Quantity 952_0c55d0-ae> |
|---|---|
|
Chicken breast (cut into tenders) 952_edd449-be> |
2 lbs 952_11e5f8-a2> |
|
Salt 952_90a72b-89> |
2 tbsp 952_3f2422-93> |
|
Black pepper 952_88e2df-f3> |
1 tbsp 952_270e56-65> |
Brine Mixture
|
Ingredient 952_7c4544-01> |
Quantity 952_3e8e5b-23> |
|---|---|
|
Buttermilk 952_a0915e-d2> |
1 cup 952_834a99-7c> |
|
Hot sauce 952_a8a6a9-d8> |
2 tbsp 952_595776-3c> |
Buttermilk Dip
|
Ingredient 952_a75a70-55> |
Quantity 952_78dd75-21> |
|---|---|
|
Eggs 952_52c426-ab> |
2 952_15f4e1-1b> |
|
Buttermilk 952_e4f2f6-7e> |
1 cup 952_10a4f7-c5> |
|
Hot sauce 952_2f3b9d-cd> |
2 tbsp 952_10ce19-c0> |
Seasoned Flour
|
Ingredient 952_63ba51-47> |
Quantity 952_f6f873-7a> |
|---|---|
|
All-purpose flour 952_4c7124-04> |
2 cups 952_c7e1bb-49> |
| 952_bbb0b2-94> |
4 tsp 952_c3bdcd-8c> |
|
Chili powder 952_b3485f-d5> |
½ tsp 952_7018b5-1e> |
|
Garlic powder 952_ea57d8-b6> |
½ tsp 952_b9b5b3-bc> |
|
Paprika 952_a6cea4-bb> |
½ tsp 952_d8c0a2-34> |
|
Celery salt 952_dee040-73> |
½ tsp 952_394dab-77> |
|
Dried oregano 952_892b68-55> |
½ tsp 952_966a15-d8> |
|
Dried basil 952_d1656a-00> |
½ tsp 952_64709f-4c> |
|
Onion flakes 952_576d40-a3> |
½ tsp 952_f4bd40-e8> |
|
Ground allspice 952_f65d0d-6b> |
½ tsp 952_ae7dc8-8e> |
Nashville Hot Sauce
|
Ingredient 952_3f7991-59> |
Quantity 952_8a106e-e8> |
|---|---|
|
Cayenne pepper 952_44ee1c-04> |
3 tbsp 952_1726cb-df> |
|
Brown sugar 952_f5386e-06> |
1 tbsp 952_8eb217-c0> |
|
Paprika 952_8fb4e2-2f> |
1 tsp 952_b37df9-78> |
|
Garlic salt 952_57c9d7-6d> |
½ tsp 952_5c8d38-37> |
|
Hot frying oil 952_b8aa9f-fe> |
½ cup 952_9347a5-31> |
Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions
1. Prepare the Chicken
Pat the chicken tenders dry and season them with salt and black pepper. This step helps the seasoning stick and improves the flavor of the kfc nashville hot tenders copycat recipe.

2. Marinate the Chicken
Whisk buttermilk and hot sauce in a bowl. Add the chicken tenders and mix well. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Overnight marinating works best for juicy kfc nashville hot tenders.

3. Prepare the Coating
In one bowl, whisk eggs, buttermilk, and hot sauce.
In another bowl, mix all the seasoned flour ingredients.
The double coating helps the kfc nashville hot tenders develop a crunchy crust.

4. Bread the Chicken
Follow this coating process for each tender:
- Coat chicken in seasoned flour.
- Dip in the buttermilk mixture.
- Coat again in seasoned flour.
Place the coated tenders on a tray while you finish the rest.

5. Fry the Chicken
Heat vegetable oil in a deep pan to 325°F (163°C). Fry the tenders in small batches.
Cook each batch for 3–5 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Transfer fried tenders to paper towels or a wire rack. This keeps the crust crispy, just like kfc nashville hot tenders.

6. Make the Nashville Hot Sauce
In a bowl, whisk together:
Slowly whisk in ½ cup of hot frying oil. This creates the spicy oil used for kfc nashville hot tenders.
7. Coat the Chicken
Place the fried tenders on a plate and brush or drizzle the Nashville hot sauce over them. The oil coating gives the kfc nashville hot tenders their signature spicy shine.

How to Serve Nashville Hot Tenders
Serve the homemade kfc nashville hot tenders with traditional sides. The classic combination balances the spice and richness.

|
Side 952_a955b5-0d> |
Purpose 952_46a964-e6> |
|---|---|
|
Pickle chips 952_ac5086-ad> |
Reduce the heat 952_42127e-4a> |
|
Buttery biscuit 952_b27797-ff> |
Adds softness 952_bbbe13-99> |
|
Fries or coleslaw 952_064db9-71> |
Completes the meal 952_48b95b-23> |
|
White bread 952_e141ef-e8> |
Absorbs spicy oil 952_0f0d4c-ab> |
Pickles are especially important because their acidity cuts through the rich flavor of kfc nashville hot tenders.
Tips for Perfect Nashville Hot Tenders
Following these tips will help you make kfc nashville hot tenders that taste very close to the restaurant version.
FAQs