Category
5 items in this category, with current prices and details.
Star Pals is the Hardee's kids meal program. Each box pairs a smaller entree with a side, a kid-sized drink, and a toy. It's the same setup most parents already know from other chains, with one difference worth noting: the entree options lean toward the chain's charbroiled burgers and hand-breaded tenders rather than nuggets alone.
Here's what goes in the box, what you can swap, and what to expect from the toy.
Most parents ordering here are juggling two things at once: keeping a kid happy and not overordering. Star Pals is built around that trade-off — smaller portions than the adult menu, a toy to make the stop feel like an event, and enough entree choice that pickier eaters aren't stuck with one option.
490 Cal
This kid’s meal made with heart features a charbroiled all-beef patty topped with dill pickles, ketchup and mustard on a plain bun. It all comes with organic apple sauce, a kid's drink, and a kid's fry.
530 Cal
We top our charbroiled all-beef patty with American cheese, dill pickles, ketchup and mustard all served on a plain bun. A side of organic apple sauce, a kid's drink, and a kid's fry help complete this kid’s meal the right way.
410 Cal
Get ready for double-dippable goodness when you order our premium, all-white meat chicken that’s hand dipped in buttermilk, lightly breaded and fried to a golden brown. We complete the meal with organic apple sauce, a kid's drink, and a kid's fry.
570 Cal
For a good-til-the-last crumb kid’s meal, try our grilled cheese sandwich served on toasted sourdough. We complete the meal with organic applesauce, a kid's drink, and a kid's fry.
650 Cal
This kid’s meal made with heart features a plain hot dog. It all comes with organic apple sauce, a kid's drink, and a kid's fry.
The entree is where you have the most choice. Typical options include:
Portion sizes are set for children, so a Star Pals entree is smaller than the same item ordered on its own. If you have an older child who eats an adult portion, a value combo often works out cheaper than a kids meal plus extra food.
Availability of specific entrees varies by franchise. Some locations offer three choices, others two.
| Box component | Common options |
|---|---|
| Entree | Chicken tenders or a small burger |
| Side | Kids-size Natural-Cut French Fries |
| Drink | Milk, juice, water, or a small fountain drink |
| Extra | Toy included with the meal |
Milk and juice are the standard non-soda choices and are usually available at no extra cost, which is the easiest swap to make if you'd rather skip the soft drink. A few locations also allow apple slices or another lighter side, but that isn't a national offering and shouldn't be assumed.
For dessert, the usual add-ons are a cookie or a small shake, ordered separately rather than included in the box.
Nutrition is the other thing parents check before ordering. A Star Pals entree runs lighter than the same item off the adult menu simply because the portion is smaller, but the tenders and small burger are still fried or griddled items, not a grilled or steamed option. If you're managing a child's diet closely, the fries are the easiest place to cut calories — swapping in apple slices where offered, or splitting the side, does more than changing the entree. Cheese, sauces, and buns are also where most of the sodium and added sugar sit, so a plain burger or tenders without dipping sauce is the lighter order by a meaningful margin.
Toys rotate on a schedule set by the brand, often tied to a film release, a character line, or a seasonal theme. Two practical things parents run into:
If you're collecting a set, the drive-thru is the harder route. Ordering inside lets you see what's actually in the bin.
Usually a choice between hand-breaded chicken tenders and a small burger, with exact options depending on the location.
A toy is part of the meal, though supply can run short during a popular promotion. Ask before ordering if the toy is the point of the visit.
Milk, juice, bottled water, and small fountain drinks are the common choices.
Kids meals are primarily a lunch and dinner offering. Breakfast kids options are not standard across locations, so check your restaurant's menu.
Portions and toys are aimed at younger children, roughly preschool through early elementary age. Older kids usually eat better off the value menu.
Hardee's publishes nutrition and allergen details for its menu online and through the app. Since kids meal components are shared with the regular menu, check the listing for the specific entree, side, and drink you're ordering rather than the kids meal as a single line item.
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