Original Recipe® Tenders Calories & Nutrition
World Famous Chicken · KFC Menu Item
Item Overview
Original Recipe® Tenders is a world famous chicken option on the KFC menu with 170 calories, 11g protein, 20g carbs, and 6g fat per listed serving.
Based on macro profile, this item is a lower-sugar and moderate-sodium choice. It delivers around 6.5g protein per 100 calories.
Calories per serving
9% of 2,000 kcal daily goal
Macronutrient breakdown
- Protein11g25%
- Fat6g30%
- Carbs20g45%
Protein
11g
22% DV
Total Fat
6g
8% DV
Carbohydrates
20g
7% DV
Full Nutrition Facts
% Daily Value based on a 2,000 calorie diet
| Calories | 170 kcal9% DV |
| Total Fat | 6 g8% DV |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5 g3% DV |
| Total Carbohydrates | 20 g7% DV |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 g0% DV |
| Sugars | 0 g |
| Protein | 11 g22% DV |
| Sodium | 400 mg17% DV |
What the Calories Are Made Of
Of the 170 calories in Original Recipe® Tenders, approximately 30% come from fat (6g × 9 kcal/g = 54 kcal), 45% from carbohydrates (20g × 4 kcal/g = 80 kcal), and 25% from protein (11g × 4 kcal/g = 44 kcal).
This makes Original Recipe® Tenders a carb-forward item — the majority of its calories come from carbohydrates. The macro donut chart above shows this split visually.
How It Compares
Compared with Chicken On The Bone - Kentucky Grilled® Chicken: Kentucky Grilled Chicken® Breast, Original Recipe® Tenders has around 19% fewer calories. Protein is 11g vs 38g, and carbs are 20g vs 0g.
Best choice if you are trying to keep meal calories lower.
Where It Ranks in World Famous Chicken
Original Recipe® Tenders ranks 5th out of 6 items in the World Famous Chicken category by calorie count. It has more calories than 1 item in this category and fewer than 4.
The lowest-calorie option in this category is Kentucky Fried Nuggets at 35 kcal. The highest-calorie option is Chicken On The Bone - Extra Crispy™: Extra Crispy™ Chicken Breast at 530 kcal. The World Famous Chicken category averages 281 kcal.
How Long to Burn Off Original Recipe® Tenders
At 170 calories, here is roughly how long common activities would take to burn this off, based on a 70 kg (154 lb) person at moderate intensity.
Walking
49 min
Running
24 min
Cycling
31 min
Swimming
26 min
Burn estimates are approximate and vary with body weight, fitness level, and exact pace.
Ingredient And Allergen Note
Ingredient composition and allergens can vary by restaurant and customization choices. Use this nutrition page as planning guidance, then confirm allergens and preparation details at checkout.
Build your meal using the KFC Calories Calculator.
Go To KFC Calories CalculatorRelated KFC Calories Pages
Lower Calorie Alternatives
Higher Calorie Alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in Original Recipe® Tenders?
Original Recipe® Tenders contains about 170 calories per listed serving.
Is Original Recipe® Tenders high in protein?
Original Recipe® Tenders provides 11g of protein and around 6.5g protein per 100 calories.
How much sodium is in Original Recipe® Tenders?
Original Recipe® Tenders contains 400mg of sodium per serving — about 17% of the 2300mg recommended daily limit. This is high for a single item; nutrition guidance generally suggests keeping individual meals under 600–800mg of sodium when possible.
What are the carbs in Original Recipe® Tenders?
Original Recipe® Tenders has 20g of total carbohydrates, which is about 7% of the 275g recommended daily intake.
Is Original Recipe® Tenders high in saturated fat?
Original Recipe® Tenders contains 1g of saturated fat per serving — 3% of the recommended 20g daily limit. This is moderate relative to other fried KFC items but worth accounting for if you are managing saturated fat intake.
Is Original Recipe® Tenders suitable for a low-calorie diet?
At 170 calories, Original Recipe® Tenders accounts for about 9% of a standard 2000-calorie daily goal. That's a substantial share for a single item — most low-calorie meal plans target 400–500 calories per meal. If you're aiming for lighter options, the KFC Calories Calculator can help you find alternatives and track your full meal total.
How many calories are in a KFC Original Recipe® Tenders?
A KFC Original Recipe® Tenders has 170 calories per serving. The exact value can vary slightly by location and preparation, but 170 kcal is the standard reference value from KFC's published nutrition data. This covers all standard components as listed in KFC's published nutrition data.
% Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA reference values). Actual nutritional needs may vary.