Cheddars Chicken Tender Platter: Price, Calories & Nutrition Guide
The Cheddars Chicken Tender Platter is the Chicken section’s headline plate: hand-breaded chicken tenders made to order, served with two made-from-scratch sides. On the printed menu it carries a racing nickname — the “No. 8 Special” — and Cheddar’s billboards it as a “meal fit for a champion,” after Kyle Busch and the RCR No. 8 race team it sponsors.
Cheddar’s official nutrition guide lists the tenders at 1,050 calories in the classic style, 1,180 in Buffalo and 1,250 in honey hot, with your two side choices counted separately. The price is set by each location, so check the figure shown on your local Cheddar’s menu when you order. This guide covers what comes with the Chicken Tender Platter, the three styles you can choose from, what to pair it with, and how to order it online.
Price: $12.99
Calories: 1,050 (Classic style)
Category: Chicken
What Comes With the Chicken Tender Platter?
The platter starts with Cheddar’s hand-breaded chicken tenders, made to order rather than held under a lamp. You pick how they are finished — classic, Buffalo or honey hot — and then round the plate out with any two of the made-from-scratch sides, from fries and mashed potatoes to steamed broccoli, coleslaw or a loaded baked potato.
How Much Does the Chicken Tender Platter Cost?
The Chicken Tender Platter price is $12.99 at the Arlington, Texas, Cheddar’s. What is certain is how the plate is built for the money: a full entrée portion of made-to-order tenders plus two full sides of your choice, which is the same two-side format Cheddar’s uses across its Chicken section. Because it is a complete plate rather than a basket and a single side, it is the tender order to pick when the platter itself is the meal.
Chicken Tender Platter
Hand-breaded chicken tenders made to order — classic, Buffalo or honey hot — with two made-from-scratch sides.
$12.99
Prices can differ between restaurants, and the final total may change if you add extra items to your order. Check the price shown by your local Cheddar’s before checkout, because prices and availability are set by each location.
Chicken Tender Platter Nutrition and Calories
The Chicken Tender Platter’s numbers come from Cheddar’s official nutrition guide, and they are listed per style, for the tenders themselves — your two side choices are counted separately. The classic platter is the lightest at 1,050 calories; the Buffalo finish takes it to 1,180, and the honey hot glaze to 1,250 — and the honey hot’s 42 grams of sugars show exactly where that sweet-heat glaze lands. Counted as the platter is actually served — tenders plus the two sides — the official menu listing puts the item at 1,680–1,810 calories.
Nutrient | Classic | Buffalo | Honey Hot |
|---|---|---|---|
Calories | 1,050 cals | 1,180 cals | 1,250 cals |
Calories from Fat | 580 cals | 710 cals | 630 cals |
Total Fat | 65 g | 79 g | 70 g |
Saturated Fat | 10 g | 15 g | 11 g |
Trans Fat | 0 g | 0.5 g | 0.5 g |
Cholesterol | 210 mg | 220 mg | 220 mg |
Sodium | 1,350 mg | 2,140 mg | 2,490 mg |
Total Carbs | 48 g | 43 g | 84 g |
Dietary Fiber | 3 g | 2 g | 2 g |
Sugars | 13 g | 7 g | 42 g |
Protein | 72 g | 72 g | 72 g |
Your two side picks then move the total a long way — steamed broccoli and green beans sit at the light end, while a loaded baked potato or cheese and bacon fries sit at the heavy end.
What to Pair With the Chicken Tender Platter
Cheddar’s Trio Sampler is the way to preview the tenders as a starter. Hand-breaded chicken tenders are one of the five appetizers you can pick for the sampler, so the table can share a first round of the same tenders before the platters arrive.
Honey Butter Croissants are the classic table starter alongside any chicken plate. A basket of the warm, honey-butter-glazed croissants gives everyone something sweet to nibble while the made-to-order tenders are being breaded and fried.
The Crispy Chicken Tender Salad is the lighter route to the same chicken. It puts the same hand-breaded tenders over freshly chopped lettuce with cheddar jack cheese, tomatoes, carrots and honey mustard dressing — the platter’s tenders in salad form, for a day when you want the chicken without the two sides.
Classic, Buffalo or Honey Hot — Which Style Should You Pick?
Classic is the original: the hand-breaded tenders exactly as they come out of the fryer, with nothing on top, so the seasoned breading does all the talking. It is the pick for anyone who wants the tenders the way Cheddar’s built its name on them.
Buffalo finishes the tenders in Buffalo sauce for a tangy, peppery kick. Pick it when plain fried chicken feels too quiet and you want heat without going sweet.
Honey Hot splits the difference — a honey-sweet glaze with a hot finish. Pick it when you want the sauce to bring both sugar and spice to the breading.
Nutrition and Allergen Considerations
For food allergies, check the ingredients and preparation information before ordering. The official Allergen Guide lists this item as the “Classic Chicken Tender Platter” and rates the tenders on their own, with sides and sauces counted separately — so your side and sauce choices carry their own allergen profiles on top of the chicken itself. Cheddar’s warns that its kitchens use shared cooking and preparation areas, so cross-contact can occur, and items cooked in the fryer carry a special risk. It cannot guarantee that any menu item is completely free of allergens.
How to Order the Chicken Tender Platter Online
To check availability and place a takeout order:
- Visit the Cheddar’s online menu.
- Select your preferred restaurant.
- Open Chicken and choose Chicken Tender Platter.
- Review the item and add anything else you want with it.
- Confirm the current price and complete checkout.
Availability and pricing can vary by location. If you need to change or cancel a To Go order after placing it, Cheddar’s advises contacting the restaurant directly.
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Final Thoughts
The Cheddars Chicken Tender Platter takes the chain’s signature hand-breaded tenders, makes them to order in your choice of classic, Buffalo or honey hot, and turns them into a full dinner with two made-from-scratch sides — all under its “No. 8 Special” racing nickname. Order it classic the first time, then work through the sauced styles. Confirm the current price and nutrition information with your selected restaurant before ordering.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What comes with the Cheddars Chicken Tender Platter?
The platter comes with hand-breaded chicken tenders made to order, in your choice of classic, Buffalo or honey hot style, plus two made-from-scratch sides of your choice. You can also add a house or Caesar salad.
Q2: What styles can I get on the Chicken Tender Platter?
Three: classic hand-breaded tenders as they come, a Buffalo-sauce finish for tangy heat, or honey hot for a sweet-and-spicy glaze. You choose the style when you order.
Q3: Why is it called the No. 8 Special?
The printed menu names it the “No. 8 Special” after the RCR No. 8 race team — Cheddar’s is an official sponsor of Kyle Busch and the RCR No. 8 team, and the menu calls the platter a “meal fit for a champion.”
Q4: How much does the Chicken Tender Platter cost?
The Chicken Tender Platter costs $12.99 at the Arlington, Texas, Cheddar’s. Prices are set by each location, so check your local restaurant’s menu or online ordering flow before checkout.
Q5: How do I order the Chicken Tender Platter?
Order it online for takeout or enjoy it in the restaurant: open the Chicken section of the Cheddar’s menu, choose Chicken Tender Platter, pick your style and two sides, and complete checkout.
