Pilot has “reimagined” its chicken tenders, the company announced Tuesday.
“We fine-tuned texture, size and flavor to create heartier, meatier Pilot eats chicken tenders worth pulling over for,” the Knoxville, Tennessee-based company said. “They stay juicy and full of flavor, bite after bite.”
The buttermilk-breaded crispy tenders are “especially made for dipping,” Pilot said.
- Pilot is No. 16 on CSP’s 2026 Top 40 update to the 2025 Top 202 ranking of U.S. c-store chains by store count.
In addition, Pilot is introducing a new Pilot eats Signature Sauce designed to go with the new tenders.
“This sauce is thick and creamy with a bold, smoky flavor,” Pilot said. “It has just the right touch of heat and zest to keep you coming back for more.”
Pilot Co. in March introduced two new food concepts, Pilot eats and Pilot eats Express. The c-store chain said at the time that it aims for the concepts to add more consistency across locations in how its food looks, feels and travels.
Pilot eats expands availability of the company’s full hot deli menu to about 400 locations, offering items such as:
- Southern Chicken Sandwich: A new, meatier, crispier chicken breast filet
- Hand-Roped Pizza: Hand-roped crusts with cheese and pepperoni, available by the extra-large slice or whole pie
- Freshly prepared deli entrees: Homestyle meals such as meatloaf, roasted chicken and mac and cheese
Pilot eats Express focuses on grab-and-go items like artisan pizza, chicken wings and tenders and snackable sides at about 200 locations, Pilot said.
Pilot currently is offering a deal through June 30 on the chicken tenders and signature sauce. The company’s $8 Lunch and Dinner Deal is a chicken tenders and potato wedges box plus a 20-ounce fountain drink for $8. Customers can choose the tenders and/or wings.
Pilot Co. is the largest operator of travel centers in North America, with more than 750 locations across 44 states and six Canadian provinces, selling about 14 billion gallons of fuel a year and about $3 billion in food and merchandise.
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