Chicken Tenders Basket (Boneless)

What's in the Chicken Tenders Basket (Boneless)?

At 870 calories per serving, the Chicken Tenders Basket (Boneless) represents about 44% of a 2,000-calorie daily intake. On the macronutrient side, roughly 17% of those calories come from protein, 41% from fat, and 40% from carbohydrates — a profile typical of Applebee's's Entree section. Sodium is often the line to watch with sit-down chain entrees, and this dish delivers 2010mg, or about 87% of the FDA's daily reference value. If you're watching salt, pairing the Chicken Tenders Basket (Boneless) with a side salad (dressing on the side) and water rather than a sweetened beverage is the standard mitigation. Like most items at Applebee's, the dish is built for shareable portions and is plated at restaurant scale rather than a strict single serving. Boxing half of it before you start is one of the simplest ways to bring the per-meal calorie load down meaningfully without giving up the experience.

How this fits a 2,000-calorie day

One serving of the Chicken Tenders Basket (Boneless) supplies 870 calories, which represents roughly 44% of a 2,000-calorie reference day. That is a substantial entrée portion typical of full-service chain restaurants. If lunch and breakfast were modest, the dish can fit a normal day; if you also plan to eat dinner with sides, the budget gets tight.

The macronutrient split lands at roughly 18% protein, 40% carbohydrate and 42% fat by calorie share — a useful frame because raw gram counts often understate how much of a dish's energy actually comes from fat. Protein delivery at 38g is in the ordinary mid-range for the category — enough to anchor a meal, not high enough to be the dish's selling point.

Sodium clocks in at 2010mg, or about 87% of the FDA's 2,300mg daily reference value. That single dish nearly maxes out the recommended daily intake on its own — worth flagging for anyone managing blood pressure, taking diuretics, or trying to keep ankle swelling down on long-haul flights. Asking for sauces or seasoned items on the side is the most direct lever you have.

Allergen profile

Wheat Eggs

The Chicken Tenders Basket (Boneless) is flagged for Wheat and Eggs in the chain's posted allergen panel. Wheat exposure typically comes from breading, pasta, the bun or batter; chains that publish gluten-friendly menus list specific substitution paths. Egg appears most commonly in the pasta, the breading wash or the mayonnaise-based dressings rather than as a stand-alone ingredient. Cross-contact in a shared kitchen is always possible, so when in doubt, ask the floor manager.

How it stacks up against the casual-dining category

Across the 146 Entree entries we track in this category — averaging 791 calories and 1,869mg sodium per serving — the Chicken Tenders Basket (Boneless) at Applebee's sits roughly 10% heavier than the category average. It also delivers 141mg more sodium than the typical Entree item we list, which is the more useful number if you're cross-shopping menus on the way to a reservation.

For direct cross-shopping, here are the closest Entree matches we track at competing chains:

Ordering strategy

If the Chicken Tenders Basket (Boneless) is the entrée you want, the highest-leverage adjustments are usually the ones that change the surrounding meal rather than the dish itself. Pairing the dish with a vegetable-forward side instead of a starch-heavy one keeps total carb load reasonable, and ordering water rather than a sweetened beverage avoids the easy 200–400 calorie tack-on that most people don't account for. Sauces, dressings and finishing oils are routinely the largest hidden source of calories on a casual-dining plate; getting them on the side gives you direct portion control without changing the dish you actually want to eat.

Ingredients summary

Crispy chicken tenders, fries

The bottom line

The Chicken Tenders Basket (Boneless) from Applebee's is a moderate entry on the chain's menu at 870 calories and 2,010mg of sodium per serving. Protein delivery is strong, which is the dish's most useful nutritional feature. Anyone tracking sodium specifically — including most people on blood-pressure medication — should weigh this dish against the chain's lower-sodium options on the same menu before committing.