Red Robin Crispy Chicken Tender Salad: Taste, Price, Calories, and a Copycat Recipe
If you want a burger-joint favorite in salad form, the Crispy Chicken Tender Salad is the one to order at Red Robin. It takes the same golden chicken tenders you know from the kids menu and drops them on a bowl of fresh greens with bacon, cheese, and a hard-boiled egg. This guide covers what is actually in the bowl, what it tastes like, how many calories it packs, what it costs in 2026, and how to build a close copycat version at home.
What Is the Crispy Chicken Tender Salad?
Red Robin builds this salad on a bed of fresh mixed greens, then tops it with hand-breaded chicken tenders that are fried until golden and crunchy. Around the chicken, you get hard-boiled egg wedges, ripe tomatoes, crunchy croutons, hardwood-smoked bacon, and a generous layer of shredded cheddar cheese. You pick your own dressing at the table, so the bowl fits whatever flavor you are craving that day.
It sits in the salad menu next to lighter options like the Simply Grilled Chicken Salad, but this one leans into comfort food. It is less "diet salad" and more "burger toppings on lettuce," which is exactly why regulars keep ordering it.
Quick Facts
What's In the Bowl
Here is the full ingredient breakdown, piece by piece:
- Fresh mixed greens base
- Hand-breaded, fried chicken tenders
- Hardwood-smoked bacon crumbles
- Hard-boiled egg wedges
- Diced fresh tomatoes
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Crunchy croutons
- Choice of Ranch, Honey Mustard, or Italian dressing
Every component adds its own texture. The greens stay crisp, the tenders bring the crunch, the bacon adds smoke, and the egg and cheddar round out the richness. It is a busy bowl, and that is the point.
Taste Review
The chicken tenders are the star here. They come straight off the same fryer Red Robin uses for its Cluck's tenders, so you get that familiar peppery, crispy coating with juicy chicken underneath. Even after they sit on top of cold lettuce for a minute, the breading holds its crunch better than most fried-chicken salads we have tried at other chains.
The bacon is smoky rather than sweet, which balances out the Honey Mustard if you choose that dressing. Ranch keeps things classic and mild, while Italian adds a sharper, tangier bite that cuts through the richness of the cheddar and egg. Our pick is Honey Mustard, since it matches the flavor of Red Robin's classic tender basket almost exactly.
The one trade-off is temperature contrast. Hot tenders on cold greens is part of the appeal, but if you eat slowly, the chicken cools and loses some crispness toward the bottom of the bowl. Eating it fresh, right when it lands on the table, gives you the best version of this salad.
Calories and Nutrition Facts
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 840 | – |
| Total Fat | 50 g | 64% |
| Saturated Fat | 16 g | 80% |
| Trans Fat | 1 g | – |
| Cholesterol | 280 mg | 93% |
| Sodium | 1,430 mg | 62% |
| Total Carbohydrate | 50 g | 18% |
| Dietary Fiber | 6 g | 21% |
| Sugars | 7 g | – |
| Protein | 39 g | – |
Daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Numbers shift slightly by location and dressing choice, so treat this as a close estimate rather than an exact count.
Most of the calories in this salad come from fat, thanks to the fried chicken, bacon, cheddar, and dressing. If you want a lighter version, ask for the dressing on the side and go easy on the cheddar, or swap in a vinaigrette if your location offers one.
How Much Does It Cost?
Pricing runs between roughly $14.49 and $15.09 for a full-size Crispy Chicken Tender Salad, depending on your state and location. Delivery apps usually add a small markup on top of that. It sits close to the price of a Gourmet Burger, so you are paying for a full entrée-size portion, not a side salad.
Pair it with a Bottomless drink and the meal feels like solid value for the amount of food you get.
Ways to Customize It
Red Robin lets you make a few easy swaps at most locations:
- Dressing on the side – control how much you actually use
- Swap cheddar for another cheese – ask your server about what is available
- Hold the bacon – trims sodium and fat if that matters to you
- Add avocado – for extra creaminess, at a small additional charge
- Grilled chicken instead of crispy – turns it into a lighter option closer to the Simply Grilled Chicken Salad
If you are craving the same chicken in a different format, the wraps and chicken sandwiches menu uses similar tenders wrapped in a tortilla instead of served over greens.
Is It Worth Ordering?
Order it if
- You want a full meal, not a light side salad
- You love crispy fried chicken tenders
- You want protein without ordering another burger
- You like a mix of textures in one bowl
Skip it if
- You are watching sodium or saturated fat closely
- You want a traditional light, low-calorie salad
- You are not a fan of fried chicken texture on salad
For most people who already enjoy Red Robin's tenders, this salad is a easy yes. It gives you the flavor of the chicken basket with a bit more balance from the vegetables, without feeling like a compromise.
Copycat Red Robin Crispy Chicken Tender Salad Recipe
Want to make it at home? This version gets you very close to the real thing, tenders and all.
Copycat Crispy Chicken Tender Salad
Golden fried chicken tenders over crisp mixed greens with bacon, egg, tomato, cheddar, and croutons, finished with a homemade honey mustard dressing.
For the chicken tenders
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Oil, for frying
For the salad
- 6 cups mixed salad greens
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, quartered
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup croutons
For the honey mustard dressing
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Place the chicken tenderloins in a bowl and cover with buttermilk. Let them sit for at least 15 minutes, or up to a few hours in the fridge, to keep the meat juicy.
- In a shallow dish, mix the flour, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, and salt.
- Pull each tender from the buttermilk, let the extra drip off, then press it into the flour mix on both sides until well coated.
- Heat about 1/2 inch of oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, around 350°F.
- Fry the tenders in batches for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Move them to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain.
- While the chicken cooks, whisk together the mayonnaise, honey, mustard, and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl to make the dressing.
- Divide the mixed greens between four bowls. Top each with tomatoes, bacon, hard-boiled egg wedges, cheddar cheese, and croutons.
- Slice the warm chicken tenders and lay them on top of each salad.
- Drizzle with the honey mustard dressing right before serving, and enjoy while the chicken is still warm.
Tip: for a lighter version, skip the fryer and bake the breaded tenders at 425°F for about 18 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in the Red Robin Crispy Chicken Tender Salad?
It has about 840 calories with dressing included, based on current nutrition data. Skipping some of the dressing or cheese brings that number down.
How much does the Crispy Chicken Tender Salad cost?
Expect to pay between about $14.49 and $15.09, depending on your location and any local pricing differences.
What dressings come with the Crispy Chicken Tender Salad?
You can choose Ranch, Honey Mustard, or Italian. Some locations also offer additional house dressings, so it is worth asking your server.
Is the Crispy Chicken Tender Salad healthy?
It is more indulgent than a typical salad because of the fried chicken, bacon, and cheddar. It is high in protein but also high in sodium and saturated fat, so it works best as an occasional treat rather than an everyday light meal.
Can I get it with grilled chicken instead of crispy?
Yes. Most locations will swap in grilled chicken breast if you ask, which lowers the fat and calorie count while keeping the rest of the toppings the same.
More Menus to Explore
Still hungry for more? Check out these other parts of the Red Robin menu.