Chick-fil-A is my favorite fast food joint with friends and family who are not on a low-carb diet, because it has a varied menu that caters to everyone. Moreover, they have impeccable customer service and addictively delicious chicken and sauces.
Unlike many fast-food chains, Chick-fil-A has a few low-carb-friendly menu items that a low-carb or keto dieter can enjoy. While the Low-Carb Options at Chick-fil-A may be limited, making a low-carb-conscious order is certainly possible.
In this post, I'll explain some tips and tricks for ordering low-carb hacks at Chick-fil-A. Keep reading to see how you can enjoy a meal at this fast-food restaurant without compromising your keto goals.
Table of Contents
Why Choose Low-Carb at Chick-fil-A?
Following the principles of low-carb eating is crucial if you want to see results. A low-carb diet has numerous benefits. Ever since I adopted it, it has changed my life significantly.
If you want to dine out, you have to ensure your food choices align with your dietary goals. Luckily, restaurants like Chick-fil-A have low-carb food options that fit the keto lifestyle.
Advantages of Choosing Chick-fil-A for Low-Carb Options.
- Customization: Chick-fil-A has an enhanced ordering experience on the company's latest app. You can easily modify your order in the app to suit your dietary needs.
- Low-carb options: The Chick-fil-A menu has low-carb food options, dressings, and sauces that fit the low-carb lifestyle.
- Consistent quality: Chick-fil-A is one of the most famous fast food chains because of its unmatched consistency in quality products and customer service. You can rely on its menu when following a low-carb diet because the quality and nutritional value of its menu items are similar in all locations.
- Nutritional information: The restaurant provides detailed nutritional information for all the restaurant's menu items, allowing you to easily make informed choices that align with your dietary needs.
Navigating Chick-fil-A's Menu
Chick-fil-A's menu is easily navigable. It has 9 sections:
- breakfast
- entrées
- salads
- sides
- kids' meals
- beverages
- treats
- catering
- dipping sauces and dressings.
Each section lists the menu items with nutritional information underneath. Before placing an order, you will know the item's total calories, carbs, protein, and fat content.
Understanding Low-Carb Diets
A low-carb diet focuses on reducing carb intake, especially from processed foods, while emphasizing whole foods rich in protein, fiber, and healthy fats. This diet offers several health benefits and has a huge impact on the body. Read my article on Beginning a Low-Carb Diet for more on the potential benefits of a low-carb diet, and what to look out for.
Importance of Carb Counting
According to what the definition of low carb diet set by our nutritionist, carb counting is essential in a low-carb lifestyle to stay within your daily limit, typically 20-130g net carbs. Net carbs are calculated by subtracting dietary fiber from total carbs. For example, Chick-fil-A's Spicy Southwest Salad has 18g net carbs (25g total carbs minus 7g fiber). Depending on your daily limit, this could be a good option.
Chick-fil-A's Low-Carb Options
Chick-fil-A is committed to serving customers with various dietary needs and thus is open to order customizations. On the company's app, you can easily modify your order to remove high-carb items and increase protein, fiber, and healthy fats.That said, some low-carb-friendly menu items at Chick-fil-A include:
Breakfast:
- Breakfast sandwich: Any sandwich without the English muffin or biscuit is incredibly low-carb.
- Hash brown scramble bowl: Eliminate the hash browns and eat the scramble bowl with either grilled chicken or sausage.
- Grilled breakfast filet: This has 1 g net carbs.
Lunch and Dinner:
- Grilled chicken sandwich: Without the bun or sauce, the sandwich only has 3 g net carbs.
- Grilled chicken club sandwich: Eliminate the bun and sauce to remain with 4 g net carbs.
- Grilled nuggets: 8 nuggets contain 1 g net carbs.
- Market salad: Combine with grilled filet and remove the dressing or toppings to have 10 g net carbs
- Side salad: This has a mere 2 g net carbs if you remove the crispy bell pepper toppings or dressing.
Dressing, Sauces, Beverages:
- Zesty buffalo sauce: This is a delicious low-carb wing sauce with only 1 g net of carbs.
- Honey roasted BBQ sauce: 3 g net carbs. (Avoid this if you are on a strict keto diet since honey is not keto-friendly. Find out more in this article: Is Honey Keto?.)
- Creamy salsa dressing: 2 g net carbs.
- Light Italian dressing: Order this separately and control the portion size yourself. One serving contains 3 g net carbs.
- Avocado lime ranch dressing: This is my favorite Chick-fil-A ranch dressing. It only has 2 g net carbs.
- Garden herb ranch dressing: An aromatic and delightful dressing with only 2 g net carbs.
- Cheese sauce: Although it is only available at select joints, the cheese sauce is a wonderful condiment.
- Jalapeño peppers: For an extra kick of heat at zero-carb cost.
- Iced tea unsweetened: A zero-carb beverage.
How to Order Low Carb at Chick-fil-A
Here are some general guidelines for how to order delicious low-carb meals at Chick-fil-A:
- Sandwiches without the bun: Most of the sandwiches on Chick-fil-A's menu are low-carb if you remove the bun. Replace the bun with other low-carb menu items like lettuce. For example, you can order a grilled chicken sandwich on a bed of lettuce, and you will have less than 4 g of net carbs.
- Grilled meats: Choose grilled meats over breaded and fried options. Grilled menu items like the grilled chicken sandwich, grilled chicken club, and grilled nuggets will fill you up quickly and keep you sated for a long time because they are lower in carbs and higher in protein.
- Extra veggies: Load up with extra vegetables to enhance your order's nutritional value, flavor, and texture. Request extra lettuce, tomatoes, or pickles when you order a sandwich. They are good sources of fiber and will help keep you sated longer.
- Be careful with the sauces and dressings: Chick-fil-A has various flavorful low-carb sauces and dressings, including zesty buffalo sauce and avocado lime ranch dressing. Use them to enhance your meal's flavors without risking a carb spike. Before adding a sauce or dressing to your order, read its nutritional information to be sure of its carb content.
- Drinks: Avoid hidden carbs by drinking water and low-carb drinks like unsweetened iced tea or sugar-free lemonade.
When customizing your order, check the menu items in Chick-fil-A's nutrition information to ensure the ingredients' nutritional value.
Low-Carb Chick-fil-A Menu Analysis
Chick-fil-A is a renowned fast-food chain for top-notch service and a varied menu with flavor-packed goodies. Let's take a closer look at some of the restaurant's famous menu items and break them down in detail:
- Grilled chicken sandwich: Calories 390, Carbs 42 g, Protein 28 g, Fat 12 g.
Remove the bun and sauce to remain with 3 g net carbs. You can order the sandwich on a bed of lettuce and pair it with the side salad, which is only 2 g net carbs if you eliminate the crispy bell pepper toppings and dressing. - Grilled chicken club sandwich: Calories 520, Carbs 42 g, Protein 38 g, Fat 22 g. Eliminate the bun and sauce to remain with 4 g net carbs. You may also pair it with the side salad or order pickles, lettuce, and tomatoes to increase fiber content.
- Market salad: Calories 550, Carbs 37 g, Protein 28 g, Fat 31g.
Order the market salad without the toppings and dressings to remain with 10 g net carbs then add extra blue cheese, mixed greens and grilled fillet, for extra protein, fiber, and healthy fats. - Cobb salad with grilled chicken: Calories 830, Carbs 26 g, Protein 42 g, Fat 60 g. Remove the crispy bell pepper toppings to reduce the carbs to 20 g net. Alternatively, replace the grilled chicken fillet with grilled nuggets to lower the carbs to 14 g net.
- Egg white grill: Calories 300, Carbs 28 g, Protein 27 g, Fat 8 g.
Eliminate the high-carb English muffins and have the egg white and grilled chicken served on a bed of lettuce. - Kale crunch side: This is a perfect low-carb side dish with only 9 g net carbs per serving. Pair it with the modified grilled chicken sandwich or grilled filet for a delicious low-carb meal.
- Side salad: Calories 530, Carbs 11 g, Protein 8 g, Fat 47 g.
Remove the carb-heavy crispy bell pepper toppings to lower the carb count to 5 g net. Add more flavor with the avocado lime dressing and enjoy the salad as a complete meal, or pair it with a protein like the famous grilled filet.
Dos and Don'ts for Low-Carb Dining at Chick-fil-A
Dos: Tips for Ordering and Customizing
- Modify your order: Use Chick-fil-A's order customization options to create an order that suits your tastes and low-carb dietary goals. For instance, when you order a sandwich, you can replace buns with lettuce wraps instead or skip the sauce to reduce sugar and carb intake.
- Order salads: Choose low-carb salads with rich protein sources like grilled chicken. Get low-carb dressings like vinaigrette on the side and control the portions yourself.
- Incorporate low-carb sides: Order low-carb food items like salads or fruit cups as your side for satiety.
- Check nutritional information: Review the nutritional information of each food item to make informed choices about your order. Look for items with lower carbohydrate content and adjust your order accordingly.
- Hydrate: Drink water or unsweetened beverages to avoid an extra carb-load from sugary drinks and fruit juice.
- Control your portions: Mind your portion sizes, especially with higher-calorie items like nuts or cheese. While they are low in carbs, consuming them in excess adds up to your overall carb intake.
Don'ts: Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Avoid breaded food items: All the breaded food options may be tantalizingly delicious but they are carb-heavy. Keep off anything breaded, like breaded chicken strips.
- Avoid flour-based items: Anything made with flour, including biscuits, buns, and muffins is carb-loaded. Eliminate all the flour-based foods from your order and replace them with low-carb options.
- Skip dessert: Chick-fil-A has no low-carb-friendly dessert options. All the options available are too sugary and carb-heavy.
Low-Carb Recipes Inspired by Chick-fil-A
Some famous Chick-fil-A menu items are deliciously tempting but super high-carb for anyone on a strict low-carb diet. While they are off-limits at Chick-fil-A, all hope is not lost as you can creatively replicate the delicious flavors with low-carb ingredients at home.
- Grilled avocado chicken salad: This is an amazing low-carb twist to the famous Chick-fil-A cobb salad. Keep all the Chick-fil-A ingredients except the corn kernels and crispy red bell peppers. Add avocado to the fresh bed of mixed greens, hard-boiled egg, grilled chicken, and crumbled bacon. Top it with a blend of shredded Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses.
- Low-carb chicken cobb wrap: Wrap the homemade low-carb version of the Chick-fil-A cobb salad in lettuce and serve with avocado lime crema as a dip.
- Keto-friendly Chick-fil-A sauce recipe: It is easy to replicate the flavors of Chick-fil-A's sauces and dressing with low-carb ingredients. For instance, my flavorful Avocado Lime Crema Recipe is a delightful low-carb twist on Chick-fil-A's avocado ranch dressing.
- Copycat low-carb Chick-fil-A nuggets: The Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets are remarkably low-carb. 8 pieces only have 11 g net of carbs. Copy the recipe and enjoy the flavors at home. You only need chicken breast cut to bite sizes, almond flour, parmesan cheese, two eggs, a blend of seasoning for the delicious coating, and avocado or olive oil for frying.
Tips for Eating Out on A Low-Carb Diet
Navigating a low-carb diet while eating out can be challenging, especially for beginners. However, with some creativity and mindful choices, you can enjoy dining out without compromising your diet goals. Here are a few tips:
- Research Menus: Plan ahead by checking the restaurant’s menu and nutritional information online. Look for customization options and pre-select dishes within your carb limits.
- Communicate Needs: Inform the wait staff about your dietary requirements. Ask for low-carb substitutions and modifications, and they can help you make the best choices.
- Make Smart Choices: Focus on grilled or roasted meats, vegetables, salads, and fruits. Avoid high-carb items like bread, rice, pasta, and sugary drinks. Check sauces and dressings for hidden sugars.
Bonus Section
Stay on track with your low-carb goals even when dining out! Download my "Low-Carb Chick-Fil-A Cheat Sheet" now and get clarity on all your favorite Chick-Fil-A items. Grab your cheat sheet today and savor every bite!
Conclusion
Thanks to the Low-Carb Options at Chick-fil-A, people can enjoy a few keto options to satisfy their cravings. Now that you know what low-carb at Chick-fil-A is, go on and explore the restaurant's famous flavors. My favorite options are the grilled chicken nuggets and avocado ranch dressing. They will have you licking your fingers, with minimal carbs! Share your dining experience and other tricks you discover on my socials.
FAQs
Yes, Chick-fil-A has several keto-friendly menu items, which you can creatively combine to create a delicious keto meal.
Yes, Chick-fil-A has order customization options catering to different customers with special dietary needs. You can modify your order for low-carb or keto-friendly options.
Chick-fil-A is consistent with its food quality and services in all locations. However, just to be sure, check the menu in your location to see if they have the specific low-carb menu item you want.
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