The quick answer to the question “Do Arby’s chicken tenders have dairy?” is no, Arby’s chicken tenders do not contain any dairy ingredients. Arby’s chicken tenders are breaded and fried pieces of chicken breast without any dairy additives like milk or cheese. Some fast food chicken tenders do contain dairy as part of the breading or sauce, but Arby’s keeps their standard chicken tenders dairy-free.
Ingredients in Arby’s Chicken Tenders
According to the Arby’s website, the ingredients in their classic chicken tenders include:
- Chicken breast meat
- Water
- Seasoning (salt, maltodextrin, natural flavors, spices, modified corn starch, onion powder, garlic powder, yeast extract, chicken stock, potassium chloride, vinegar powder, citric acid, chicken fat, acetylated tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, grill flavor, wheat starch)
- Breading (bleached wheat flour, water, wheat flour, leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate), salt, spices, soybean oil, extractives of paprika)
- Batter (water, wheat flour, leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate), egg whites, salt, natural flavor, yellow corn flour, xanthan gum, extractives of paprika)
- Coating (bleached wheat flour, yellow corn flour, spices, salt, baking soda, nonfat dry milk, soybean oil, extractives of paprika)
- Predusted (bleached wheat flour, wheat flour, soybean oil, salt, leavening (sodium acid pyrophosphate, sodium bicarbonate), buttermilk powder, spice extractives, extractives of paprika)
As you can see from the ingredient lists, Arby’s chicken tenders do not contain any dairy products like milk, cheese, cream or butter. The batter contains egg whites, but egg whites are not considered a dairy ingredient. All other ingredients are typical breading components like wheat flour, corn flour, spices, leavening agents and oils. The traditional Arby’s chicken tenders are breaded and fried but do not have added dairy as part of the recipe.
Potential Sources of Dairy in Chicken Tenders
While Arby’s standard chicken tenders avoid dairy, some fast food chains do incorporate milk or cheese products into their chicken strips and nuggets. Here are some ways that dairy ingredients can find their way into chicken tender recipes:
- Buttermilk marinade or batter – Many fried chicken recipes call for soaking or battering the chicken in buttermilk before breading. The lactose in buttermilk adds moisture, flavor and tenderizes the chicken. Chains like Chick-fil-A are known for using buttermilk in their chicken batter.
- Cheese stuffed – Some appetizer-style chicken tenders are filled or stuffed with cheese like cheddar, Monterey jack or cream cheese. These cheese-stuffed tenders will obviously contain dairy.
- Cheese breading – For extra flavor, some recipes add shredded cheese like parmesan or cheddar to the breading mix. The melted cheese helps adhere the breading to the chicken.
- Ranch seasoning – Dry ranch seasoning mixes often contain buttermilk powder or dried milk products. If ranch seasoning is added to the breading, it could add a small amount of dairy.
- Blue cheese dip – Chicken tenders are often served with blue cheese or ranch dipping sauce, which typically contain dairy ingredients like sour cream, cream cheese or buttermilk.
For anyone with a dairy allergy or sensitivity, it is important to ask about ingredients and preparation when ordering chicken tenders. Many brands use buttermilk or cheese products to make their chicken more moist, tender and flavorful. Thankfully Arby’s classic chicken tenders avoid this by using a simple egg and flour batter.
Ingredients in Arby’s Dipping Sauces
While Arby’s chicken tenders contain no dairy, some of Arby’s dipping sauces do include milk, cheese or cream ingredients.
| Dipping Sauce | Ingredients | Contains Dairy? |
|---|---|---|
| Arby’s Sauce | Soybean oil, corn syrup, water, distilled vinegar, egg yolk, high fructose corn syrup, salt, contains 2% or less of: mustard flour, onion powder, dried garlic, propylene glycol alginate, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), mustard seed, red bell pepper, xanthan gum, spices, paprika, natural flavor (includes milk), calcium disodium EDTA added to protect flavor. | Yes |
| Buffalo Sauce | Cayenne red pepper, distilled vinegar, water, salt, soybean oil, aged cayenne red peppers, egg yolks, natural flavor (milk), xanthan gum, calcium disodium edta added as preservative. | Yes |
| Buttermilk Ranch | Soybean oil, buttermilk, water, egg yolk, distilled vinegar, contains less than 2% of: salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, spice, natural flavor (milk), onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, sodium phosphates, lemon juice concentrate. | Yes |
| Sweet & Bold BBQ Sauce | High fructose corn syrup, water, tomato paste, distilled vinegar, molasses, modified food starch, salt, pineapple juice concentrate, spices, onion powder, potassium sorbate & sodium benzoate (preservatives), garlic powder, natural smoke flavor, polysorbate 80, xanthan gum, natural flavor (milk). | Yes |
| Horsey Sauce | Soybean oil, water, high fructose corn syrup, distilled vinegar, egg yolks, corn syrup, contains 2% or less of salt, flavor (milk), onion powder, polysorbate 60, garlic juice, xanthan gum, mustard flour, propylene glycol alginate, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), calcium disodium edta added to protect flavor. | Yes |
| Jalapeno Bites Sauce | Soybean oil, jalapeno puree (jalapeno peppers, salt, vinegar, natural flavor [milk], citric acid), water, vinegar, egg yolk, contains 2% or less of: corn syrup, salt, sugar, mono & diglycerides, natural flavor (milk), mustard flour, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), propylene glycol alginate, extractives of paprika, calcium disodium edta added to protect flavor, xanthan gum, spices. | Yes |
As you can see, most Arby’s dipping sauces do contain some dairy ingredients like milk, cream, egg yolks or natural butterflavors. The exceptions are the ketchup and barbecue sauce options like Arby’s Sauce and Sweet & Bold BBQ – these do not contain any dairy products. If you have an allergy or sensitivity to dairy, your best bet is to get Arby’s chicken tenders with ketchup, barbecue sauce or no sauce at all.
Cross-Contamination Risks
For those with severe dairy allergies, there can still be a risk of cross-contamination when ordering Arby’s chicken tenders. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- The chicken tenders are cooked in the same fryers as menu items that may contain dairy like mozzarella sticks.
- Employees may use the same tongs, trays, bags and gloves when handling tenders and dairy-containing items.
- Dairy-based sauces like ranch and cheese sauce are nearby at the condiment station.
- If ordering a combo meal, fries may be seasoned with a ranch spice mix that contains dairy.
- The restaurant grill is used to make melts and sandwiches with cheese.
To minimize cross-contact, make sure to clearly state your dairy allergy when ordering. Request that your tenders are prepared separately from dairy items. And avoid combo meals and fries seasoned with potential dairy-based spices. Overall it’s safest to get your tenders without sauce and specify the allergy each time you order.
Non-Dairy Alternatives
If you do need to avoid all dairy ingredients, Arby’s has a few alternative dipping sauce options:
- Ketchup – Arby’s serves regular ketchup packets which contain no dairy.
- Barbecue sauce – The Sweet & Bold BBQ and bourbon BBQ sauce are dairy-free.
- Mustard – Yellow mustard contains no milk ingredients.
- Buffalo sauce – Order buffalo sauce without butter to avoid dairy.
- Vinegar – Arby’s provides vinegar as a condiment option.
You can also request that your chicken tenders are prepared and served without any seasonings to minimize cross-contact with dairy ingredients. Overall it’s best to customize your order based on your allergy needs. Let the staff know about your dairy restriction when ordering at the counter or drive-thru.
Dairy-Free Sides
To complete your dairy-free Arby’s meal, opt for fry and side options that don’t contain milk ingredients:
- French fries – Arby’s standard fries are dairy-free, but avoid seasoned fries.
- Potato cakes – These crunchy potato discs contain no dairy.
- Corn dog nuggets – The mini corn dogs contain no milk products.
- Steak fries – Arby’s steak fries contain no dairy except the cheese sauce on the side.
- Chocolate or vanilla shake – Arby’s shakes are dairy-free, made with soft serve that doesn’t contain milk or cream.
With plain fries, potato cakes, corn dog nuggets or a shake, you can create a full fast food meal at Arby’s that is safe for those avoiding milk. Just be aware of potential cross-contact if food prep surfaces and fryers are shared with dairy menu items.
Non-Dairy Chicken Tender Options
Along with the classic tenders, Arby’s has some additional chicken items that don’t contain dairy:
- Chicken Cordon Bleu – Breaded chicken breast filled with sliced ham and Swiss cheese. Avoid the cheese to keep it dairy-free.
- Buttermilk Chicken Cordon Bleu Sandwich – Chicken, ham, swiss cheese and dijon mayo. Omit cheese and mayo.
- Crispy Chicken Sandwich – Chicken fillet, lettuce and mayo. Ask for no mayo.
- Chicken Bacon Swiss Sandwich – Grilled chicken, bacon and Swiss cheese. Hold the cheese.
The main thing is to order any fried chicken sandwich or tender meal without cheese or creamy sauces and condiments. This restricts your choices a bit, but you can still enjoy the crispy breaded chicken tenders or sandwiches at Arby’s as a dairy-free fast food option.
Summary
Arby’s classic chicken tenders contain no dairy ingredients so they can be eaten without concern by those with milk allergies or sensitivities. However, many Arby’s sauces and dipping options do include milk, cream and cheese products. For a completely dairy-free chicken meal, order the tenders by themselves or with ketchup, barbecue sauce, mustard or vinegar. And opt for fries, potato cakes or shakes with no creamy add-ons. With some customizations and awareness at ordering, people who avoid dairy can still enjoy the signature chicken tenders at Arby’s.
Conclusion
To conclude, Arby’s classic chicken tenders do not contain any dairy ingredients like milk, cheese or cream. The tenders are simply breaded and fried chicken breast with a typical flour and egg based batter. However, many of Arby’s signature dipping sauces do include dairy products. To enjoy their chicken tenders dairy-free, opt for ketchup, mustard, vinegar or barbecue sauce on the side. And avoid fries with creamy ranch seasoning or cheese sauce. With some adjustments, people with dairy restrictions can still safely eat and enjoy the crispy chicken tenders from Arby’s.
