EV’s Take: A solid all-around chicken tender contender
I enjoyed these chicken tenders.
I had a bad experience with vegan chicken a few years ago, where I was scarred by a gummy, spongy texture 😰 Since then, I’ve stuck strictly to plant-based beef.
But now felt like the time to explore new horizons! And I’m glad I did.
The chicken tenders were pleasant to eat, and I loved the dusty breading.
Honestly, they reminded me a lot of the McDonald’s “Snack Wraps” I used to pound in high school back in the 2000s.
The tenders had a satisfying chew overall, though in the thickest parts, the texture reminded me of underbaked homemade bread—just a touch doughy. It was a subtle flaw.
I thought these tenders deserved a 4.5/5. I saw some reviewers from Reddit and other websites felt that the chicken was too chewy, but that wasn’t my experience.
The flavor was nice—mild chickeny taste and just the right amount of salt and paprika.
They definitely worked as a standalone chicken with ketchup. And if I’m ever seeking chicken tenders again, I won’t hesitate to return to this product.
What are Beyond Chicken Tenders made of?
- Water
- Enriched wheat flour (wheat flour, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine, mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid)
- What gluten
- Pea protein
- Modified corn starch
- Potato starch
- Natural flavors
- Expeller-pressed canola oil
- Methylcellulose
- Salt
- Rice flour
- Cellulose fiber
- Coconut oil
- Onion powder
- Yeast extract
- Oat bran
- Spices
- Dried garlic
- Oat fiber
- Dried yeast
- Paprika
- Sugar
- Garlic powder
- Potassium salt
- Dried onion
- Dextrose
- Sodium acid pyrophosphate
- Baking soda
- Citric acid
If you’re soy-sensitive, these chicken fingers are a great option since they rely on wheat gluten and pea protein.
Are Beyond Chicken Tenders healthy?
There’s no real way around it—Beyond Chicken Tenders are a fairly processed food.
They’re no more processed than any other vegan chicken option, but with 29 ingredients—some of which sound like they belong in a chemistry lab—it’s worth noting.
How each of us approaches our diet is, of course, a personal choice. In my own philosophy, I shoot for natural foods when I can manage it. But if every once in a while I’m jonesing for some vegan chicken, I’ll listen to the belly.
That said, if you do want to be informed on what you’re putting into your body, there are three ingredients in these chicken fingers to be aware of:
- Natural Flavors. “Natural flavors” sounds so healthy, but it’s a bit of word trickery! The term is kind of an FDA loophole that can actually refer to hundreds of ingredients, from plants and animals. Unless the package clearly says “vegan” or “plant-based” (which, fortunately, this one does), or the company discloses the source, there’s no guaranteed way to know what’s inside. If you’re strict about allergies or dietary restrictions, it’s worth being cautious with this black box of an ingredient.
- Expeller-Pressed Canola Oil. While it’s healthier than chemically extracted canola oil, expeller-pressed canola is still high in omega-6 fats. And if your diet has too much omega-6 and not enough omega-3, the imbalance can lead to chronic inflammation, which is tied to a range of health issues.
- Methylcellulose. This is a white powder derived from plant fiber. It’s added to foods to bind the ingredients and make them thicker. It’s usually not a big deal to eat. But, here’s a fun fact for ya: methylcellulose is also sold as a laxative because it pulls water straight into your colon. So if you have a sensitive tummy, watch out for this one.
Beyond Chicken Tenders nutrition
| Serving Size | 3 pieces, or 96g (2.5 servings per container) |
| Calories | 220 |
| Total Fat | 10g |
| Saturated Fat | 1.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Sodium | 530mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 20g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2g |
| Total Sugars | <1g |
| Protein | 16g |
A wee bit salty. And as we mentioned above, not the most ideal source of fats. But hey, it’s a solid protein boost, and a nice calorie staple for a vegan meal.
How to Cook Beyond Chicken Tenders
Here are the top three ways to prep these chicken fingers:
- Oven: Bake at 450 for 8 minutes. Flip ‘em over, and bake for 4 more minutes.
- Airfryer: Heat them up for 7 minutes at 400
Microwave: Heat on high for 1.5 minutes. I haven’t tried microwaving, but TBH, my guess is they’d come out a little too mushy.
Interestingly, the package explicitly says: “NOT RECOMMENDED Boiling.”
Boiling wasn’t my first instinct for chicken tenders, but I’ll take their word for it.
That said, the all-caps warning got me extremely curious about what would happen if I boiled them… Tell you what, if I find myself in a naughty mood and itching to break some rules, I’ll keep you posted 😈
Where can I buy Beyond Chicken Tenders?
I bought these chicken tenders at Whole Foods. Unlike some of the more popular Beyond products, they aren’t sold at most stores.
The website does have a store locator feature you can check out here. However, when I tried it, the site (falsely) showed that no retailers were selling the product in my area 🤷🏻♂️. So use at your own risk.
How did EV eat Beyond Chicken Tenders?
I baked my tenders in the oven, and then ate them classic style: just plain old chicken and ketchup.
But I started to crave a fuller meal, so I decided to convert them into a salad topping.
My salad was pretty simple: arugula, avo, radish, celery, cherry tomatoes, hemp seeds, and pepper.
And it was good! I don’t often go for salad as a main course, because they don’t always scratch the depths of my hunger itch. But coupled with these chicken tenders, I left this salad meal feeling sated.
What do you think?
Have you tried Beyond Chicken Tenders? Did you think they were too chewy, or just the right texture? Let us know in the comments!
