Chicken Critters Price 2026
Texas Roadhouse Chicken Critters cost $14.49 for the regular dinner with two sides and free rolls in 2026. The same tenders are $10.99 on the Early Dine menu, and a family-size pack of 24 tenders runs about $39.99. Prices vary by location.
Real talk: I’m a grown adult with a food channel, and I will happily order chicken tenders at a restaurant without a shred of shame. The Texas Roadhouse Chicken Critters are the reason. These aren’t the sad freezer-bag nuggets of your childhood nightmares. They’re hand-battered, fried-to-order, all-white-meat tenders with a craggy, seasoned crust that crackles when you bite in. The first time I dipped one in that peppery cream gravy, I understood why this dish has its own fan club. Chowhound wrote a whole article about it. A whole article. About tenders.
So how much do Chicken Critters cost at Texas Roadhouse? Less than you’d expect for how much food you get, and they show up in more places on the menu than almost any other item: the dinner plate, the combos, the salads, the kids menu, and the family packs. Let me map out every way to order them and what each one costs.
How Much Are Chicken Critters at Texas Roadhouse?
The Texas Roadhouse Chicken Critters price for the standard dinner is $14.49 in 2026. That’s a generous basket of all-white-meat tenders with your choice of two sides and the free rolls, and it lands at about 480 calories for the chicken itself. For fried chicken done fresh, those are honest numbers and a fair price.
| Serving | What’s Included | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken Critters Dinner | All-white-meat tenders, 2 sides, rolls | $14.49 |
| Early Dine Special | Same dinner, weekdays 3pm to 6pm | $10.99 |
| Chicken Critters & Sirloin Combo | Critters plus 6 oz sirloin, 2 sides | $19.99 |
| Family-Sized Chicken Critters | About 24 tenders, family sides, rolls (feeds 4-6) | $39.99 |
The dinner price floats between about $13.99 and $15.99 depending on location, with $14.49 as the national average. The Early Dine version at $10.99 is the budget play, same tenders, same sides, five bucks less. And that combo at $19.99? The Critters dinner and the 6 oz sirloin would cost nearly $29 separately, so the combo saves you about nine dollars. That is the value king of the entire combo menu, and nobody talks about it enough.
What Are Chicken Critters, Exactly?
Chicken Critters are just Texas Roadhouse’s name for chicken tenders, but the execution is what matters. They take all-white-meat chicken tenderloins, soak them in buttermilk, hand-bread them in seasoned flour, and fry them fresh when you order. The coating is thick and craggy, the kind that holds sauce in every ridge. They’re served with your pick of dipping sauce, and the cream gravy is the legendary choice, but the honey mustard has its own devoted following. My order: cream gravy for the first half, honey mustard for the second half. Best of both worlds.
Here’s why I keep coming back to them: they never taste frozen because they aren’t. The chicken is juicy, the crust is crunchy, and they hold their heat.
Chicken Critters vs. Other Chicken: Where Do They Rank?
On the chicken roster, the Critters at $14.49 sit between the Grilled BBQ Chicken (around $13.99) and the Country Fried Chicken ($15.49). The grilled options are leaner, the country fried is richer, but the Critters are the crowd-pleaser: kids love them, picky eaters love them, and adults who claim they “don’t really like tenders” end up stealing them off the plate. If your table can’t agree on anything, order the Critters. They’re the Switzerland of chicken.
The Family Pack: Feeding the Whole Crew
The Family-Sized Chicken Critters pack at $39.99 is built for 4 to 6 people and includes roughly 24 tenders, family-size sides, a big salad, and a dozen rolls with that famous cinnamon honey butter. If you’ve got kids or you’re hosting game night, this is the move. Do the math: that’s under $10 per person for a full Texas Roadhouse dinner. The tenders reheat fine in an air fryer if you have leftovers, though in my house there are never leftovers.
Related Texas Roadhouse Guides
How much are Texas Roadhouse Chicken Critters?
The regular Chicken Critters dinner is $14.49 with two sides and rolls. Early Dine is $10.99. The family-size pack is $39.99. Prices vary by location, roughly $13.99 to $15.99 for the dinner.
What are Chicken Critters at Texas Roadhouse?
All-white-meat chicken tenderloins, buttermilk-soaked, hand-breaded, and fried fresh to order. Served with your choice of dipping sauce, with cream gravy the most popular pick.
How many calories are in Chicken Critters?
About 480 calories for the chicken itself, before sides. It’s fried chicken, so plan for a full dinner around 900 to 1,100 calories with sides and rolls.
What is the Chicken Critters and sirloin combo price?
The Chicken Critters and 6 oz Sirloin combo is $19.99 with two sides, saving about $9 versus ordering both separately. It’s the best-value combo on the menu.
Can kids get Chicken Critters?
Yes, tenders appear on the kids menu in smaller Ranger baskets, and the regular dinner portion is shareable enough for a parent and a small child to split.
Are Texas Roadhouse Chicken Critters Worth the Price?
At $14.49, the Texas Roadhouse Chicken Critters are some of the best tenders you’ll get at any national chain, full stop. Hand-battered, fried fresh, juicy inside, shattering outside, with that peppery cream gravy for dipping. The Early Dine version at $10.99 is a steal, the $19.99 combo with sirloin is the smartest order on the menu, and the $39.99 family pack feeds a crowd for under ten bucks a head. Whether you’re ordering for picky kids or for yourself, no judgment here, the Critters deliver every single time. Now tell me in the comments: cream gravy team or honey mustard team? Choose wisely.
Prices last verified: October 10, 2026. Source: texasroadhouse.com
