The healthiest fast food order at each chain
"Healthiest" here is a rule you can check: a real portion (150+ calories) under 600 calories with at least 20 g of protein, ranked by protein per calorie. 998 of 7,937 items across 70 chains qualify; the best at each of 63 chains is below. It ignores sodium, saturated fat and fiber, so treat it as a shortlist, not a prescription, and open any item for the full label.
The best-scoring order at each of 63 chains
Under 600 calories, 20 g+ protein, most protein per calorie first.
Buffalo Wild Wings ›
Grilled Chicken Dippers (10 pc)
per 10 pc · 123g protein · 0g carbs · 4g fat
520 kcal
Waffle House ›
Meat Lovers Chicken Dinner (excludes toast and side)
per entrée · 58g protein · 4g carbs · 2g fat
260 kcal
IHOP ›
Grilled Chicken Dinner (sides not included)
per entrée · 34g protein · 1g carbs · 3g fat
160 kcal
Smoothie King ›
Gladiator® Chocolate (20 fl oz)
per smoothie · 45g protein · 5g carbs · 4g fat
220 kcal
Olive Garden ›
Sauteed Shrimp (Create Your Own Pasta)
per serving · 33g protein · 1g carbs · 4g fat
170 kcal
Chick-fil-A ›
30 ct Grilled Nuggets (30 ct, grilled)
per 30 ct · 98g protein · 4g carbs · 11g fat
510 kcal
LongHorn Steakhouse ›
Redrock Grilled Shrimp (12 ct)
per entrée · 46g protein · 3g carbs · 5g fat
240 kcal
Texas Roadhouse ›
USDA Choice Sirloin (6 oz, without sides)
per steak · 46g protein · 3g carbs · 6g fat
250 kcal
KFC ›
Kentucky Grilled Chicken® Breast (Kentucky Grilled)
per 1 piece · 38g protein · 0g carbs · 7g fat
210 kcal
Applebee's ›
Classic Bone-In Wings (no flavor or dipping sauce)
per appetizer · 56g protein · 3g carbs · 20g fat
410 kcal
P.F. Chang's ›
Chicken with Broccoli (Traditional)
per entrée · 60g protein · 30g carbs · 14g fat
480 kcal
Jersey Mike's ›
#19 BBQ Beef (Bowl, Default build, no bread)
per bowl · 48g protein · 29g carbs · 8g fat
400 kcal
Jack in the Box ›
Garden Salad with Grilled Chicken (without dressing or crunchy toppings)
per salad · 25g protein · 9g carbs · 8g fat
210 kcal
Culver's ›
Garden Fresco Salad (Grilled chicken, no dressing)
per salad · 39g protein · 19g carbs · 12g fat
330 kcal
Portillo's ›
Classic Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken (without dressing)
per salad · 37g protein · 16g carbs · 11g fat
328 kcal
Carl's Jr. ›
Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™ (3 pc)
per 3 pc · 25g protein · 13g carbs · 13g fat
260 kcal
McAlister's ›
Grilled Chicken Salad (Choose 2 Portion)
per Choose 2 portion · 24g protein · 9g carbs · 14g fat
250 kcal
BJ's Restaurant ›
Enlightened Strawberry Fields Salad
per salad · 45g protein · 16g carbs · 26g fat
480 kcal
Little Caesars ›
Caesar Wings® Oven Roasted
per 1 order (8 pieces) · 47g protein · 3g carbs · 35g fat
510 kcal
Freddy's ›
Grilled Chicken Bowl (excludes dressing)
per bowl · 37g protein · 10g carbs · 27g fat
420 kcal
Tropical Smoothie Cafe ›
Caribbean Jerk Chicken Bowl
per bowl · 35g protein · 41g carbs · 12g fat
420 kcal
Panera ›
Green Goddess Cobb Salad with Chicken (Half)
per 1/2 salad · 20g protein · 15g carbs · 17g fat
290 kcal
Del Taco ›
Taco Salad with Fresh Guac (Carne Asada Steak)
per serving · 29g protein · 23g carbs · 26g fat
440 kcal
In-N-Out Burger ›
Double-Double® Protein Style® (bun replaced with lettuce)
per burger · 30g protein · 12g carbs · 32g fat
460 kcal
Domino's ›
Chicken Parm Oven-Baked Sandwich
per 1/2 sandwich · 24g protein · 38g carbs · 15g fat
400 kcal
Dave's Hot Chicken ›
Single Tender (no sides) (Not Hot & Lite Mild Spice)
per tender · 25g protein · 30g carbs · 29g fat
490 kcal
Questions people ask
What is the healthiest fast food?
By this rule, Buffalo Wild Wings Grilled Chicken Dippers (10 pc): 123 g of protein in 520 calories. A different rule (lowest sodium, most fiber) would pick differently; the per-chain pages let you sort by what matters to you.
Which fast food is best for weight loss?
Whatever keeps you under your calorie target with enough protein to stay full. The low-calorie list ranks by calories and the high-protein list by protein; this page combines both.
Why isn't my favorite chain here?
Either it isn't in the catalog yet (75 chains are) or none of its published items meet the rule. Coffee chains are left out of the cross-chain lists and have their own low-calorie pages.
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