Keto-Friendly Options: Chick-Fil-A Chicken Strips For A Low-Carb Diet

Chick-fil-A's menu offers a variety of keto-friendly options, but are their famous chicken strips keto? Unfortunately, the answer is no. The chicken strips are breaded and fried, making them too high in carbs for a keto diet. However, there are still plenty of other keto-friendly options at Chick-fil-A, including grilled chicken nuggets, sandwiches without the bun, and salads with grilled chicken. So, while you may have to skip the chicken strips, you can still enjoy a delicious keto-friendly meal at Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A's keto-friendly options

Chick-fil-A offers a variety of keto-friendly options, although most require some customisation. Here is a list of keto-friendly options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner:

Breakfast

• Any breakfast sandwich without the English Muffin or biscuit. For example, the Egg White Grill without the English muffin has 0g net carbs, 6g of fat, and 21g of protein.
• Hash Brown Scramble Bowl with either grilled chicken or sausage and without hash browns (0-1g net carbs).
• Grilled Breakfast Filet: 0g net carbs.
• Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit without the biscuit (1g net carbs).
• Sausage, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit without the biscuit (1g net carbs).

Lunch and Dinner

• Grilled Chicken Sandwich without the bun or sauce (2-3g net carbs).
• Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich without the bun or sauce (2-4g net carbs).
• Grilled Nuggets (8-count) (0-1g net carbs).
• Cobb Salad with Grilled Chicken without dressing, crispy bell pepper toppings, or corn (10-12g net carbs).
• Market Salad with Grilled Filet and without dressing or toppings (10g net carbs).
• Side Salad without crispy bell pepper toppings or dressing (2-9g net carbs).
• Side Kale Crunch (8g net carbs).

Sauces and Dressings

• Garden Herb Ranch Sauce (1-2g net carbs).
• Zesty Buffalo Sauce (0-1g net carbs).
• Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce (3g net carbs).
• Creamy Salsa Dressing (2g net carbs).
• Light Italian Dressing (3g net carbs).
• Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing (2-3g net carbs).
• Garden Herb Ranch Dressing (2g net carbs).

Drinks

• Unsweetened Iced Tea (0g net carbs).
• Diet Lemonade (8g net carbs).
• Coke Zero (0g net carbs).
• Black Coffee (0g net carbs).

It is important to note that Chick-fil-A's menu items may contain soybean oil, and you should always check the ingredients of each item against the requirements of your specific keto plan.

Keto sauces and dressings

When it comes to keto-friendly sauces and dressings, there are a variety of options to choose from. Here are some recommendations:

Sauces

• Mayonnaise: Avocado oil mayonnaise is a tasty, keto-friendly option. You can also make your own mayonnaise at home to ensure it is keto-compliant.
• Mustard: A tangy and spicy condiment that goes well with various dishes. Avoid honey mustard, which contains sugar.
• BBQ Sauce: Unsweetened BBQ sauce is perfect for grilling. It adds flavour to chicken, burgers, ribs, and steaks without the extra carbs.
• Hot Sauce: A keto pantry staple, it goes well with almost anything.
• Steak Sauce: A sugar-free, natural alternative to traditional steak sauce.
• Coconut Aminos: A gluten-free soy sauce alternative that is a good source of sodium and electrolytes.

Dressings

• Ranch: A classic, creamy dressing that pairs well with many dishes.
• Italian Vinaigrette: A tasty, sugar-free option for your salads.
• Green Goddess Dressing: A healthy and flavourful option for your salads, chicken, or pork.
• Avocado Sauce: A versatile sauce that can be used as a dip or dressing.
• Caesar Dressing: A keto-friendly option for your salads or as a sauce for leftovers.

When choosing keto-friendly sauces and dressings, it is important to read the labels and check the nutritional information. Some general guidelines to follow are to avoid flour-based products, breaded items, and desserts when eating at Chick-Fil-A or following a keto diet.

Keto drinks

While on the keto diet, it is important to stay hydrated, and there are plenty of keto-friendly drinks to choose from. Here are some of the best options:

Water

Water is the best beverage option for those on a keto diet. It has no carbs and is a great way to quench your thirst. Adding a sprinkle of salt can be beneficial if you are experiencing keto flu or a headache.

Tea and Coffee

Unsweetened tea and coffee are excellent choices, as they contain no carbs and no calories. Tea comes in a variety of flavours, such as black tea, green tea, and herbal tea. Coffee can be consumed black or with a small amount of heavy cream.

Diet Soda

While diet soda is technically keto-friendly, it may not be the best choice due to the use of artificial sweeteners. However, there are some diet sodas sweetened with natural zero-calorie sweeteners like stevia or erythritol, which are better options.

Sparkling Water

Sparkling water is another good option, as it is typically unsweetened and has no net carbs.

Vegetable and Fruit Juices

While fruit juices are typically high in sugar, lemon and lime juices are low in carbs and can be added to water or tea for flavour. Some vegetables can also be juiced, such as leafy greens like kale and spinach, but be mindful of the carb content.

Milk Alternatives

Cow's milk is not recommended on keto due to its natural sugar content. However, unsweetened plant-based milk alternatives like almond milk and coconut milk are perfect keto-friendly options.

Energy Drinks and Sports Drinks

Energy drinks and sports drinks can be keto-friendly, but it is important to choose those sweetened with natural sweeteners like stevia. Be cautious of the caffeine content in energy drinks, and always prioritise your health and well-being.

Alcoholic Beverages

Alcoholic drinks like vodka, whiskey, rum, and tequila are naturally carb-free and suitable for keto. Wine is also an option, but beer is typically high in carbs. Low-carb beers are available, but be mindful of the amount you consume.

Keto-friendly breakfast options

Chick-fil-A does offer keto-friendly options, but the selection is limited. For breakfast, you can try the following:

• Hash Brown Scramble Bowl without the hash browns, with either grilled chicken or sausage.
• Grilled Breakfast Filet, which has 0g net carbs.
• Any breakfast sandwich without the English muffin or biscuit.
• Egg White Grill without the English muffin, which has 0g net carbs, 6g of fat, and 21g of protein.
• Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit without the biscuit, which has 1g net carb, 28g of fat, and 19g of protein.
• Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit without the biscuit, which has 1g net carb, 16g of fat, and 11g of protein.

If you're looking for keto-friendly breakfast options in general, here are some ideas:

• Bacon and eggs, as long as the bacon doesn't have added sugar or maple syrup.
• Ham, Egg, and Cheese Wraps, using low-carb flour alternatives like almond or coconut flour.
• Keto oatmeal made with flax seeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds.
• Keto avocado toast, using low-carb bread made with almond flour.
• Keto pancakes made with almond flour, eggs, and cream cheese.
• Keto smoothies made with avocado, coconut milk, and keto-friendly protein powder.
• Keto cereal made with granola.
• Keto French toast made with keto bread, egg, and cinnamon.
• Keto banana bread, which doesn't actually contain bananas.

Keto-friendly lunch and dinner options

Chick-fil-A's menu offers a variety of keto-friendly options for lunch and dinner. Here are some suggestions:

Lunch and Dinner Options:

• Grilled Chicken Sandwich (without the bun): This option provides 2g net carbs, 1.5g of fat, and 24g of protein.
• Grilled Nuggets (eight-count, without sauces): These grilled nuggets have 0g net carbs, 2.5g of fat, and 21g of protein.
• Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich (without the bun): Enjoy this sandwich with 2g net carbs, 12.5g of fat, and 31g of protein.
• Cobb Salad with Grilled Chicken (without corn): A refreshing salad option with 10g net carbs, 19g of fat, and 36g of protein.
• Side Salad with Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing: This option will give you 13g net carbs, 42g of fat, and 7g of protein.

Sauces and Dressings:

When ordering your meal at Chick-fil-A, you can boost the fat content by adding one of their keto-friendly sauces or dressings:

• Zesty Buffalo Sauce: This sauce has 0g net carbs and 2.5g of fat.
• Garden Herb Ranch Sauce: With 1g net carb and 14g of fat, this sauce is a tasty option.
• Garlic and Herb Ranch Sauce: Another ranch option with 1g net carb.
• Creamy Salsa Dressing: This dressing provides 2g net carbs and satisfies your craving for something creamy.
• Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing: For a more unique flavour, try this dressing with 2g net carbs and 32g of fat.

Drinks:

It's important to choose keto-friendly drinks to accompany your meal. Here are some options:

• Unsweetened Iced Tea: A refreshing choice with 0g net carbs.
• Diet Lemonade: Be mindful of the 8g net carbs in a small size.
• Coke Zero: Enjoy this drink with 0g net carbs.
• Black Coffee: Coffee ordered without any additions has 0g net carbs.

General Tips:

When ordering at Chick-fil-A, remember to avoid breaded items, flour-based products, and desserts. These are typically high in carbs and will disrupt your ketosis. Instead, opt for grilled or naked chicken options and customise your meal by removing non-keto ingredients.

Frequently asked questions