News & Stories / Perfect Pairings for Chicken Tender Catering at Parties and Events
Fried chicken tenders with celery, carrots, pickled vegetables, and dipping sauces

Perfect Pairings for Chicken Tender Catering at Parties and Events

October 20, 2025

Whether fried or grilled, served with a selection of sauces or on skewers, chicken tenders are a popular choice for family parties, corporate events and other gatherings. However, chicken tender catering offers benefits beyond the guests’ excitement at the availability of this dish. Keep reading to learn more about the advantages of chicken tender catering and other pairing ideas to accompany this enticing menu selection!

 

3 Reasons to Choose Chicken Tender Catering for Parties and Events

 

Catering menus typically include an array of mouthwatering choices from comfort classics like crispy chicken tenders to gourmet creations. As various factors impact how to choose the best place for a party or event, the food selections are often dependent on the occasion, guest list and more. As you anticipate planning upcoming events, here’s why chicken tender catering might be the best choice for you:

 

1. Chicken tenders are a versatile selection. Chicken tenders can be served as an appetizer or a main course. They can be used as an ingredient in a dish, like chicken and waffles or a sandwich, or simply enjoyed on their own with a variety of flavorful seasonings, crunchy coatings or delicious dips. Beyond their use in multiple preparations, they can also suit a variety of party themes, indoor and outdoor events, and informal and formal settings.

 

2. Guests can easily customize chicken tenders to their flavor preferences. Whether they like their tenders with a little heat or some tang, chicken tender catering is a customizable dining option, as well as being a versatile one. For example, in choosing Freddy’s chicken tender trays for your upcoming event, your guests can choose from creamy ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, slightly sweet honey mustard and Freddy’s Famous Fry Sauce®, not to mention any additional sauces you might serve.

 

3. Chicken tender catering offers convenience to event hosts and guests. Chicken tenders are typically easy to serve and eat. Enjoying them as a finger food may also help reduce the necessary utensil requirements (and related cleanup) for your party. They also tend to be a crowd-pleasing choice for guests of all ages!

 

Pairing Ideas for Chicken Tender Catering

 

As Food Network’s list of chicken tender recipes reflects, there are many ways to prepare the chicken tenders themselves, not to mention the various ways to serve them. However, once you’ve decided on a catering service that offers chicken tenders, you may be wondering what else to add to your party table or menu selections for a particular event. Below, find a few ideas about what to pair with your next chicken tender catering order!

 

Multiple Sauces: The chicken tender catering trays from Freddy’s already include four different sauces. However, you can also add another sauce option to your order, like Freddy’s Famous Jalapeño Fry Sauce®, to bring spicy, tangy flavor to your party spread. You might also curate a collection of sauces relative to the event itself, such as a “family favorites” assortment for a family reunion or a tasting of the best condiments that your region has to offer for a local fundraiser.

 

Complementary sides: If you are letting the chicken tenders shine as the centerpiece of your feast, many sides pair well with this dish, as highlighted at Platings and Pairings. From a refreshing garden salad to roasted potatoes to creamy macaroni and cheese, a wide variety of foods complement chicken tenders.

 

Themed main dishes: Chicken tenders can also serve as a side dish or appetizer to accompany many other main dishes. If you are offering a variety of handheld foods at your fair-themed party, a burger bar might pair well with a chicken tender appetizer. For a food tasting festival approach to your event, a chicken tender catering spread followed by a DIY hot dog bar may be ideal for experiencing specialty condiments and toppings.

 

Decadent desserts: For chicken tender catering orders or any other savory selections, don’t forget about a sweet treat like rich chocolate brownies to complete the menu for your event. For a fun and interactive experience, sundae bar catering is another great pairing idea for your party, especially when kids are on the guest list!

 

From family gatherings to corporate events, chicken tender catering enables you to please and feed your guests, while making your hosting load a little lighter. In addition to mouthwatering menu selections and convenience, choosing catering from your local Freddy’s means you can also earn points toward FREE rewards for your own enjoyment, as a Freddy’s Rewards member. For your next event, enjoy chicken tender catering and more at Freddy’s!