Dave's Hot Chicken Calories: Tender, Slider and Fries Nutrition

Summarize with:

ChatGPT

Claude

AI Mode

Perplexity

A Dave's Hot Chicken Single Tender (216g) has 490 calories, 25g protein, 29g fat and 1,210 mg sodium; a Single Slider has 620 calories and 31g protein. Spice level moves the numbers by about 60 calories, but sodium is the main issue.

Quick Nutrition Facts

Per 1 Single Tender (no sides), Not Hot & Lite Mild spice

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	490 kcal
Protein	25g
Carbohydrates	30g
Fiber	0g
Sugars	3g
Fat	29g
Sodium	1,210 mg

Macronutrient Breakdown

Start NutriScan onboarding to personalize your plan

NUTRITIONIST'S INSIGHT

The calories are fair for a fried chicken meal, but the sodium is the number to watch. One tender carries 1,210 mg and one slider 1,150 mg, and the fries add another 1,200 mg, which puts a tender-and-fries order at about 2,400 mg, above the 2,300 mg daily limit. Protein is decent at 25g per tender and 31g per slider. Spice level matters less than people think: Mild-Reaper adds about 60 calories and 270 mg sodium over Not Hot. The easy gain is to skip the fries or split them, order the tender or slider on its own, and drink water.

Myth Busters

MYTH #1: Hotter spice levels have many more calories.

TRUTH: The spice adds a hot oil glaze, but the change is small. A Single Tender is 490 calories at Not Hot and 550 at Mild-Reaper, and a Single Slider goes from 620 to 680. Sodium moves more, from 1,210 to 1,480 mg for the tender. Dave's Hot Chicken: Nutrition Chart, Foods (revised 3/16/26)

MYTH #2: A tender is the lighter pick compared with a slider.

TRUTH: The tender is lower in calories (490 against 620) but also lower in protein (25g against 31g). The slider adds a bun and extra sauce. Sodium is close, at 1,210 mg for the tender and 1,150 mg for the slider. Dave's Hot Chicken: Nutrition Chart, Foods (revised 3/16/26); FatSecret: Dave's Hot Chicken Single Slider

MYTH #3: The Not Chicken slider is the light option.

TRUTH: The plant-based Not Chicken Slider at Mild-Reaper is 520 calories with 37g fat and only 8g protein per the official chart. It saves about 160 calories against the chicken slider but gives up about 23g of protein. Dave's Hot Chicken: Nutrition Chart, Foods (revised 3/16/26)

MYTH #4: The fries are a small side.

TRUTH: A portion of French Fries is 170g, 440 calories and 1,200 mg sodium, about as much sodium as the tender itself. A tender with fries reaches roughly 930 calories and 2,400 mg sodium. Dave's Hot Chicken: Nutrition Chart, Foods (revised 3/16/26); Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025

NutriScore by Health Goals

Health Goal	NutriScore	Why This Score?
Weight Loss		490 kcal for one tender with 25g protein is manageable on its own, but fries and a slider quickly pass 1,000 kcal. Dave's Hot Chicken: Nutrition Chart, Foods (revised 3/16/26)
Muscle Gain		25g protein per tender and 31g per slider with 30 to 41g of carbs suits a post-training meal, with high fat. Dave's Hot Chicken: Nutrition Chart, Foods (revised 3/16/26)
Diabetes Management		30g of carbs per tender is moderate with 3g sugar, but the breading and fries add carbs and the fat slows digestion. Dave's Hot Chicken: Nutrition Chart, Foods (revised 3/16/26); FatSecret: Dave's Hot Chicken Single Slider
Heart Health		1,210 mg sodium in one tender is more than half the daily limit, with 5g saturated fat from frying. American Heart Association: How much sodium should I eat per day?; Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Types of Fat; Dave's Hot Chicken: Nutrition Chart, Foods (revised 3/16/26)
PCOS Management		Moderate carbs, but deep-fried and high in sodium and refined bread. Better as an occasional meal. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Types of Fat

PERSONALIZED NUTRITION

Track your meals with NutriScan for personalized NutriScores based on your specific health goals!

Blood Sugar Response to Dave's Hot Chicken

A tender has 30g of carbs from the breading with 29g of fat and 25g of protein, so glucose rises slowly and peaks at about 60 to 75 minutes. A slider or fries add more carbs and a higher, longer peak. Dave's Hot Chicken: Nutrition Chart, Foods (revised 3/16/26)

Estimated Blood Sugar Response (1 Single Tender)

Modeled estimate for a person without diabetes, not a measured trace. Individual responses vary.

How to flatten the spike

Order tenders without fries, or share the fries.
Add a side salad or coleslaw-style vegetable to slow absorption.
Take a 10 to 15 minute walk after the meal.
Drink water; the sodium load is the bigger issue than the carbs.

Cultural Significance

Dave's Hot Chicken started as a Los Angeles parking-lot pop-up in 2017 and grew into a national chain, serving Nashville-style hot chicken in seven spice levels, from No Spice to Reaper. The tenders and sliders are its two core items, served with pickles and Dave's Sauce. It became one of the fastest-growing fast-food chains in the US and has expanded to Canada, the UK and the Middle East.

Compare & Substitute

Dave's Hot Chicken vs Similar Foods

Nutrient	Grilled chicken breast, plain (4 oz)	Homemade baked chicken tenders (3 pieces)	Dave's Not Chicken Slider, Mild-Reaper (no sides)	Dave's Single Slider, Not Hot (no sides)
Calories	187 kcal	270 kcal	520 kcal	620 kcal
Protein	35g	28g	8g	31g
Carbohydrates	0g	14g	40g	41g
Fat	4g	11g	37g	37g

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in a Dave's Hot Chicken tender?

A Single Tender (no sides) has 490 calories at Not Hot & Lite Mild and 550 calories at Mild-Reaper spice, per the official nutrition chart revised in March 2026. It includes bread, pickles and Dave's Sauce.

How many calories are in a Dave's Hot Chicken slider?

A Single Slider (no sides) is 620 calories at Not Hot & Lite Mild and 680 calories at Mild-Reaper, with 31g of protein and 1,150 to 1,420 mg of sodium.

How much protein is in Dave's Hot Chicken?

A Single Tender has 25g of protein and a Single Slider has 31g. A 10-piece Dave's Bites with fries has 47g.

How much sodium is in Dave's Hot Chicken?

A Single Tender has 1,210 mg and a Single Slider has 1,150 mg at Not Hot, and the fries add 1,200 mg. The daily limit is 2,300 mg, so a tender with fries goes past that limit in one meal.