CHICAGO – As Americans look to add protein to their diets, the nation's appetite for chicken is reaching new heights. Among the most popular ways to enjoy chicken are crispy tenders, a category that has grown to $1.8 billion in annual retail sales. To meet the nation's insatiable appetite for this beloved food, Banquet, a brand of Conagra Brands, Inc. has debuted Banquet MEGA Crispy Chicken Tenders, available in Original and Spicy varieties. Perfect for a weeknight meal during the busy back-to-school season, Banquet MEGA Crispy Chicken Tenders provide 16g of protein per serving.
"Chicken tenders provide so much of what Americans seek in a meal," said Ayesha Narula, VP/GM, Conagra Brands. "Convenient protein, easy prep, and delicious taste are among the many reasons consumers enjoy chicken tenders. As we prepared for the arrival of our Banquet MEGA Crispy Chicken Tenders, we found some fascinating insights on their broad popularity."
Chicken in America: A Closer Look
Since the 1940s, chicken has steadily risen to become America's most widely available protein. In 1996, chicken moved past pork to become the second-most available protein then overtook beef in 2010. The average American's total chicken consumption first surpassed 100 pounds in 2024 and is projected at 106.8 pounds per American in 2027.
Driving the appetite for chicken are Gen Z consumers seeking protein. Half of Gen Z adults are looking to add more protein to their diets, up 14% versus year ago. With 23% of Gen Z's annual eating occasions marked as "Heat & Eat" meals, chicken tenders are an ideal mealtime solution. Nationwide, 48% of all consumers say they are actively seeking more protein, a figure that is up 6.8 points versus a year ago.
The following stats further illustrate the depth of America's appetite for chicken and chicken tenders.
- $1.8 billion: Annual retail sales for frozen chicken tenders and strips
- 3%: Three-year compound annual dollar growth for frozen chicken tenders and strips
- 62.3%: Share of U.S. households buying frozen prepared chicken at least once a year
- 27%: Tenders' menu penetration rate; more than a quarter of all U.S. restaurant menus
- $56.5 billion: Consumer spending at chicken-focused quick-service restaurants over the 12-month period ending June 2026, up 5% over the previous year
- 38%: Percentage of frozen chicken prepared at home in an oven, narrowly topping air fryers (37%) as the top prep method11
Adding to chicken tenders' universal appeal is their ability to be customized with dipping sauces. Recent research found that top menu pairings include ranch (21% of menu pairings), Buffalo (18%), honey mustard (17%) and BBQ (7%); while at home ketchup (51%) accounts for more than half of the condiment or sauce pairings with chicken tenders.
The Banquet MEGA Crispy Chicken Tenders are now available in Original and Spicy varieties for a suggested retail price of $7.49.
