What are Beyond Chicken Tenders?
Beyond Meat has recently brought its “chicken tenders” direct to consumers after testing them out at nearly 400 restaurants earlier this year. Found in the freezer section, these tenders are certified 100% vegan, getting their protein from the humble faba bean.
How are they?
Generally speaking, Beyond has had some really good products. It’s been mostly focused on beef/pork replacements (burgers, sausage, brats), but these tenders are its first entry into the chicken side of meatless.
Opening the package, I was struck by how much of a chicken smell there was. They are a bit larger than most veggie tenders on the market. As I am in the air fryer cult, it was nice to see air fryer instructions on the packaging. Further proof it’s not JUST A PHASE.
Biting into them, they were fairly thicker than other meatless tenders I’ve had. The breading is quite crispy, but despite there being visible black pepper pieces, there wasn’t much flavor. The “meat” itself was okay in both taste and texture. As I chewed, it felt like a weird blend of chicken tenderloins and the mixed and pressed meat nuggets you find for cheap. Not unpleasant, just odd.
The flavor of the “meat” was almost non-existent, especially considering how strong of a chicken smell they had out of the package. They also were a bit dry, but this might be due to slightly overcooking them on my part. Once I started dipping them into Chicken Sauce, my enjoyment went up tenfold.
Anything else you need to know?
The density of the “meat” and the crispiness of the breading makes me think these would do well being tossed in a buffalo sauce.
Conclusion:
While not terrible, in a market so flooded with different choices, the Beyond Tenders don’t really stand out for me. I think they will be a good entry point for people exploring meatless through the Beyond brand, but might underwhelm those already familiar with different meatless chicken products.
Purchased Price: $4.99
Size: 8 oz bag
Purchased at: Walmart
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (2 pieces) 210 calories, 12 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 450 milligrams of sodium, 15 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 11 grams of protein.