How to Order Low Carb at Chili’s: 13 Menu Items Worth Trying

You’ve been trying a new low-carb meal plan and it’s been smooth sailing...but your book club just made plans to hit Chili’s for your next meeting. Before you throw caution to the wind and order Texas cheese fries and a margarita like you usually do, hear me out: It’s easier than you think to go low carb at Chili’s. There are plenty of tasty menu options worth indulging in that won’t break your diet, whether you’re just cutting back on carbs or going keto .

Based on the NIH recommendation that “low carb” = getting 26 percent or less of the calories you consume from carbohydrates (more on that at the bottom of this story), I focused on meals that contained 40 grams of carbs or less. Read on for 13 of my favorite options, from steak to fajitas. (P.S.: You can find the restaurant’s full nutritional information here ; the stats listed below don’t account for modifications.)

Hungry for Low-Carb Fast Food? Here Are 15 Options We Love, from McDonald’s to Chipotle

1. Classic Sirloin with Avocado (13g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information (10-ounce): 510 calories, 26g fat, 13g carbs, 60g protein, 3g sugar, 6g fiber
• Modifications: none

Available in 6- or 10-ounce sizes, this meaty main is part of the Guiltless Grill menu , which features lower-calorie options for more mindful eating. This steak is seasoned and topped with cilantro pesto, then crowned with avocado slices, cilantro and pico de gallo and served with roasted asparagus. It’s keto-friendly and packed with protein.

2. Santa Fe Salad (24g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information (with grilled chicken): 550 calories, 39g fat, 24g carbs, 30g protein, 6g sugar, 7g fiber
• Modifications: none

Pico de gallo, avocado, cilantro, crunchy tortilla strips, house ranch and spicy Santa Fe sauce unite atop a bed of greens, along with your choice of protein. I’m partial to grilled chicken for its smokiness, but shrimp and ancho salmon are two other low-carb options worth considering.

3. Ancho Salmon (40g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information: 620 calories, 31g fat, 40g carbs, 48g protein, 3g sugar, 5g fiber
• Modifications: substitute Mexican rice with double broccoli

Once you remove the grains, this seafood entrée is very low in carbs. Think seared, chile-rubbed Atlantic salmon topped with cilantro pesto and cilantro. It’s served with steamed broccoli , so just ask for a double helping of the veggie instead of a 50/50 split of rice and broccoli.

4. House BBQ Babyback Ribs (36g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information (full rack, no sides): 1,480 calories, 106g fat, 36g carbs, 98g protein, 33g sugar, 0g fiber
• Modifications: none

No matter what variety or size ribs you get, they’re all relatively low carb. It’s pairing the ribs with sides like fries, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese and Mexican rice that will make the meal high in carbs. If you stick to vegetables, like garlic butter mushrooms or steamed broccoli, you’ll be good to go. I’m tempted to try the new house BBQ sauce, but honey-chipotle sauce and Texas dry rub are also fair game for low-carb dieters.

5. Fajita Trio (24g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information (no toppings or sides): 590 calories, 25g fat, 24g carbs, 69g protein, 11g sugar, 3g fiber
• Modifications: none

Steak , chicken and seared shrimp await on this massive fajita platter. The cheese, salsa, sour cream , pico and guacamole are all fair game. You’ll just need to nix (or go easy on) the flour tortillas, rice and beans to keep the carbs to a minimum.

6. Bone-In Wings (0g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information (eight-count, no sauce): 610 calories, 36g fat, 0g carbs, 72g protein, 0g sugar, 0g fiber
• Modifications: none

Chili’s boneless wings are breaded, so they’re high in carbs. But the bone-in wings aren’t, so they’re carb-free when sauceless. Buffalo, garlic Parmesan, Nashville hot, house BBQ, mango habanero, ranch , sweet chili zing and Santa Fe sauce are the lowest in carbs, but even the honey chipotle and honey sriracha will keep the meal under 40 grams of carbs.

7. Chicken Enchilada Soup (24g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information (bowl): 410 calories, 26g fat, 24g carbs, 20g protein, 3g sugar, 3g fiber
• Modifications: none

Zesty, comforting and packed with protein, this timeless soup is fair game for low-carb eaters—even with those crunchy tortilla strips on top. I wouldn’t blame you for asking for sides of sour cream or cheddar cheese to sprinkle on top.

8. Oldtimer with Cheese (45g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information (no fries): 840 calories, 53g fat, 45g carbs, 48g protein, 11g sugar, 4g fiber
• Modifications: no bun

Beef , cheddar cheese, pickles, lettuce, tomato, red onion and mustard are all solid choices for keto and low-carb dieters—it’s the bun that’s the issue here. Ask for a few lettuce leaves on the side to make the burger a wrap, or eat it with a fork and knife. As for the fries, they contain a whopping 60 grams of carbs, so skip them entirely (in favor of broccoli or another low-carb side) or only have a small portion.

9. Classic Ribeye (0g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information (no sides): 620 calories, 39g fat, 0g carbs, 67g protein, 0g sugar, 0g fiber
• Modifications: none

If you’re feeling extra hungry, savor this thick-cut steak slathered in garlic butter. It comes with sides of loaded mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli, which amount to 41 grams carbs together. But feel free to opt for something else, like mushrooms or house salad.

10. Loaded Baked Potato Soup (25g carbs)

• Nutritional Information (bowl): 430 calories, 30g fat, 25g carbs, 17g protein, 7g sugar, 2g fiber
• Modifications: none

Spuds, cheese, chives, bacon —what’s not to like? Even though potatoes are carb-heavy, a large portion of this soul-soother still only contains 25 grams of carbs, so if you pair it with other low-carb dishes or have it as your main, you’re in the clear.

11. The Original Chili (26g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information (bowl): 420 calories, 24g fat, 26g carbs, 22g protein, 4g sugar, 1g fiber
• Modifications: none

It’s in the name, so you know it must be good. Loaded with beef, onions, cheese, tortilla strips and a flurry of spices, this chili is sure to satisfy. Get the tortilla strips on the side if you want to bring the carbs down even more.

12. Side Caesar Salad (13g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information: 310 calories, 27g fat, 13g carbs, 5g protein, 3g sugar, 1g fiber
• Modifications: none

The combination of fresh greens, Parmesan cheese, croutons and creamy Caesar dressing never gets old. It only contains 13 grams of carbs, so you can sub it in for fries or pair it with a variety of low-carb mains, if you feel so inclined. (BTW, the side house salad is also fair game at 15 grams carbs per serving.)

13. Pepper Pals Crispy Crispers (21g carbs)

Chili’s

• Nutritional Information: 570 calories, 43g fat, 21g carbs, 24g protein, 2g sugar, 1g fiber
• Modifications: none

Ordering off the kids’ menu is an age-old trick for shrinking your portion at a restaurant. Even though these chicken fingers are breaded, the smaller serving size brings the carb count low enough that you can still get your fix without breaking your diet.

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