Applebee's Keto Meals: What You Need To Know

Applebee's is best known for its happy hour deals, cocktails, and hefty portions, but it also offers a variety of keto-friendly meals. While it may be tricky to eat out while on a keto diet, it's not impossible. With a little creativity, you can enjoy a comforting meal at Applebee's without breaking your ketosis. The key is to focus on protein and high-fat content, and to avoid high-carb foods like buns, fries, mashed potatoes, and sweetened drinks.

- Burgers: Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, Classic Burger, Whiskey Bacon Burger, Classic Cheeseburger, and Bacon Cheddar Grilled Chicken Sandwich (without the bun and fries).

- Salads: Caesar Salad with Blackened Shrimp or Grilled Chicken, Grilled Chicken Salad, Tuscan Garden Chicken Salad, and House Salad (without croutons and with low-carb dressings).

- Entrées: Top Sirloin, Ribeye, Double-glazed Baby Back Ribs, Bourbon Street Steak, Shrimp 'N Parmesan Sirloin, Grilled Chicken Breast, Blackened Cajun Salmon, and Fiesta Lime Chicken (with low-carb side dishes).

- Side Dishes: Steamed Broccoli, Garlicky Green Beans, Homestyle Cheesy Broccoli, and Caesar Salad (without croutons).

Keto-friendly Applebee's meals

If you're on a keto diet, eating out can be tricky, but it's not impossible. Applebee's has a long and varied menu, so with a little creative ordering, you can enjoy a keto-friendly meal.

What to avoid

First, let's look at what to avoid when ordering keto at Applebee's:

• High-carb foods like buns, soup, crispy and fried meals, mashed potatoes, fries, sweetened drinks, and breadsticks.
• Sauces and dressings can contain hidden carbs, so opt for low-carb options and ask for no sauce if in doubt.
• Cocktails and other sugary drinks are also best avoided. Instead, go for plain spirits, low-carb mixers, or a small glass of wine or light beer.

Keto-friendly options

Now, here are some keto-friendly meal options at Applebee's:

Salads

• Caesar Salad with Blackened Shrimp or Grilled Chicken (no croutons)
• Grilled Chicken Salad (no honey Dijon mustard)
• Tuscan Garden Chicken Salad (without croutons and dressing for stricter keto)
• House Salad (no croutons or dressing)
• Small Caesar Salad (no croutons or dressing)

Entrees

• Double-glazed Baby Back Ribs (no coleslaw or fries)
• Top Sirloin (6 or 8 oz) with Steamed Broccoli (no mashed potatoes)
• Grilled Chicken Breast with Steamed Broccoli
• Blackened Cajun Salmon with Steamed Broccoli (no potatoes)
• Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp (no crispy red potatoes)
• Shrimp 'N Parmesan Sirloin with Steamed Broccoli (no mashed potatoes)
• Fiesta Lime Chicken (no rice, tortilla strips, or ranch)
• Bourbon Street Steak (no mashed potatoes)

Burgers

• Classic Bacon Cheeseburger (no bun or fries)
• Classic Cheeseburger (no bun or fries)
• Whiskey Bacon Burger (no bun, crispy onions, or whiskey sauce)
• Classic Burger (no bun or fries)
• Bacon Cheddar Grilled Chicken Sandwich (no bun or BBQ ranch sauce)
• Clubhouse Grille (no bread or honey BBQ)
• Quesadilla Burger (no tortilla or ranch)

Sides

• Steamed Broccoli
• Garlicky Green Beans
• Homestyle Cheesy Broccoli
• Caesar Salad (no croutons)
• House Salad (no croutons)

Customise your meal

Remember, you can always customise your meal at Applebee's. Swap out the bun for a lettuce wrap, choose low-carb dressings, and opt for keto-approved side dishes.

Happy dining!

Keto drinks at Applebee's

While Applebee's is known for its happy hour deals, sugary cocktails, and hefty food portions, it can be surprisingly keto-friendly with a little creative ordering.

• Plain spirits: Vodka, tequila, or whiskey are carb-free.
• Mixers: Use low-carb mixers like soda water (plain or flavored) or diet soda.
• Wine and beer: Opt for a small glass of white wine or a light beer.
• Coffee and tea: Brewed coffee and tea are available, but avoid adding sugar.
• Water: Opt for bottled water or flavored water.
• Low-carb cocktails: Ask your server for dry wine or try a vodka soda with a squeeze of lime.

Additional Tips for Keto at Applebee's:

• Salads: Opt for a salad as a starter, but skip the breadstick and croutons. Choose a keto-friendly dressing like blue cheese or Caesar.
• Entrees: Stick to veggies and meats. Avoid sweet and creamy sauces, as well as breaded options.
• Customization: Customize menu items by removing high-carb sides and opting for low-carb alternatives.
• Burgers: Remove the bun and high-carb sauces. Add extra beef patties or high-fat toppings like cheese and bacon.
• Side dishes: Choose steamed broccoli, garlicky green beans, or a side salad without croutons.

Keto-Friendly Meal Examples:

• Double-glazed baby back ribs (without coleslaw or fries)
• Grilled chicken breast with steamed broccoli
• Blackened Cajun salmon with steamed broccoli
• Classic Bacon Cheeseburger without the bun and fries

Keto Applebee's burgers

Applebee's is known for its classic American food, including juicy burgers. The good news is that you can still enjoy a burger while sticking to your keto diet—you'll just need to make a few adjustments. Here are some tips and options for ordering keto-friendly burgers at Applebee's:

Customizing Your Order

To make your Applebee's burger keto-friendly, the key is to skip the high-carb bun and fries. Instead, opt for a lettuce wrap or go bunless and pair your burger with a low-carb side dish. Here are some specific recommendations:

• Classic Bacon Cheeseburger: Remove the bun and fries. This option provides 45 grams of fat, 6 grams of carbs, and 45 grams of protein.
• Classic Cheeseburger: Remove the bun and fries. This burger has 39 grams of fat, 5 grams of carbs, and 37 grams of protein.
• Classic Burger: Remove the bun and fries. It contains 31 grams of fat, 3 grams of carbs, and 32 grams of protein.
• Whiskey Bacon Burger: For this option, remove the bun, crispy onions, and whiskey sauce. It has 51 grams of fat, 6 grams of carbs, and 49 grams of protein.
• Bacon Cheddar Grilled Chicken Sandwich: Remove the bun and BBQ ranch sauce. This sandwich includes grilled chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, and more. It has 24 grams of fat, 5 grams of carbs, and 57 grams of protein.
• Clubhouse Grille: Remove the bread and honey BBQ sauce. This option includes ham, turkey, bacon, cheddar and Swiss cheese, lettuce, mayo, and tomatoes. It has 42 grams of fat, 9 grams of carbs, and 40 grams of protein.
• Quesadilla Burger: Remove the tortilla and ranch dressing. This unique burger features a beef patty, bacon, pepper jack and shredded cheese, lettuce, and pico de gallo. It has 68 grams of fat, 12 grams of carbs, and 60 grams of protein.

Extra Tips

• If you're extra hungry, consider adding an extra beef patty to your burger for more protein and fat.
• Be cautious with sauces and dressings. Some sauces, like BBQ and ranch, can be high in carbs and sugar. Opt for low-carb options like mustard or extra cheese.
• Choose your sides wisely. Instead of fries, go for low-carb options like steamed broccoli, garlicky green beans, or a side salad without croutons.
• Remember to check the nutrition information and ask for any necessary modifications to ensure your meal fits within your keto diet.

Keto Applebee's salads

When eating keto at Applebee's, it's important to remember to remove any croutons and choose a low-carb dressing. With that in mind, here are some keto-friendly salad options at Applebee's:

Caesar Salad

A classic choice, the Caesar salad at Applebee's can be made keto-friendly by removing the croutons and choosing a suitable dressing. The Caesar dressing itself is a good option, with only 2 grams of net carbs. A small Caesar salad without croutons or dressing has 2 grams of fat, 3 grams of carbs, and 3 grams of protein.

You can also add some protein to the Caesar salad to make it a more filling meal.

Caesar Salad with Blackened Shrimp

For a seafood twist, try the Caesar Salad with Blackened Shrimp, but remember to remove the croutons. This option has 9 grams of net carbs.

Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken

For a heartier salad, opt for the Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken, again, removing the croutons. This choice has 7 grams of net carbs.

Entree Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken

If you're looking for a more substantial Caesar salad option, go for the entree-sized version with grilled chicken and Caesar dressing. Just be sure to skip the breadstick and croutons. This choice provides 49 grams of fat, 12 grams of carbs, and 48 grams of protein.

Green Goddess Wedge Salad

The Green Goddess Wedge Salad is another keto-friendly option, topped with pecans and blue cheese. While the nutritional information for this specific salad is not readily available, it's important to be mindful of the ingredients and make any necessary adjustments to fit your keto diet.

House Salad

The House Salad at Applebee's is another good base to start with. Just remember to skip the croutons and choose a keto-friendly dressing. The House Salad without croutons or dressing has 4 grams of fat, 6 grams of carbs, and 4 grams of protein.

Grilled Chicken Salad

For a keto-approved salad with a bit more substance, try the Grilled Chicken Salad, but remember to remove the honey Dijon mustard dressing. This option has 6 grams of net carbs.

Tuscan Garden Chicken Salad

The Tuscan Garden Chicken Salad is another keto-friendly choice, with 15 grams of net carbs. Just be mindful of the dressing and any other high-carb ingredients that may need to be removed.

Other Keto Tips at Applebee's

In addition to these salad options, here are some other tips for staying keto at Applebee's:

• Customise your meal: Order salads without croutons, sandwiches without bread, and swap out fries for low-carb sides like steamed broccoli or garlicky green beans.
• Choose wisely: Opt for veggies and meats when selecting your entree. Avoid sweet and creamy sauces, as well as breaded options that can add carbs.
• Be drink-wise: Skip the signature sugary cocktails. Instead, go for plain spirits like vodka, tequila, or whiskey, or choose low-carb mixes like soda water or diet soda.
• Dessert dilemma: All of Applebee's dessert options are high in carbs, so it's best to avoid the dessert menu altogether.

With a bit of creativity and customisation, you can definitely enjoy a keto-friendly meal at Applebee's.

Keto Applebee's side dishes

Keto-Friendly Side Dishes at Applebee's

If you're on a keto diet and looking for some side dish options at Applebee's, there are a few choices that can fit within your dietary restrictions. Here are some suggestions:

Steamed Broccoli

Steamed broccoli is a keto-friendly option at Applebee's, with only 3 grams of net carbs. It's a simple yet nutritious side dish that pairs well with many of the entrees.

Garlicky Green Beans

These green beans packed with flavour can be a great keto-friendly side with 5 grams of net carbs. They add a nice variety to your meal and are a good source of vitamins and minerals.

Homestyle Cheesy Broccoli

For those who want to add some extra flavour to their broccoli, Applebee's offers Homestyle Cheesy Broccoli. With 5 grams of net carbs per serving, it's a tasty and keto-friendly option.

House Salad (without croutons)

The House Salad, without the croutons, is another option to consider. It has 4 grams of fat and 6 grams of carbs. Just be sure to choose a keto-friendly dressing, such as blue cheese or Caesar.

Caesar Salad (without croutons)

A classic Caesar Salad, minus the croutons, can also be a good keto choice. It typically comes with a creamy, garlicky dressing that complements the diet. At Applebee's, the Caesar Salad without croutons has 2 grams of net carbs.

Tips for Ordering Keto at Applebee's:

• Customise your meal: Order salads without croutons, skip the bread, and choose low-carb sides instead of fries or mashed potatoes.
• Focus on protein: Opt for meals centred around protein, such as steak or grilled chicken.
• Be mindful of sauces and breading: Sweet and creamy sauces, as well as breading, can add extra carbs to your meal.
• Check nutrition information: Applebee's provides nutritional information on its menu and an interactive nutrition calculator on its website to help you plan your meal.

Frequently asked questions