Madeleine Hull
Sticking to a keto diet can be challenging, especially when eating out. However, with careful ordering and some tweaks, it is possible to stay keto at Zaxby's. The key is to avoid obvious carb sources like Texas toast, buns, fries, and sugary sauces. While Zaxby's is known for its crispy chicken fingers, keto dieters can opt for traditional wings or one of the low-carb salad options, known as Zalads. For those who don't mind skipping the bread, Zaxby's also offers bunless sandwiches filled with grilled chicken or Cajun club. With a little creativity and flexibility, maintaining a keto diet at Zaxby's is achievable.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Keto-friendly salads at Zaxby's
Zaxby's offers a variety of keto-friendly salads, or as they call them, "Zalads". Here are some options:
Grilled House Zalad
The Grilled House Zalad is a popular choice for those on a keto diet. It consists of leafy greens, cucumbers, Roma tomatoes, cheddar cheese, fried onions, Texas toast, grilled or fried chicken, and your choice of dressing. To make it keto-friendly, simply omit the Texas toast and fried onions, and opt for grilled chicken instead. This salad is a good source of fats while not adding too many carbs to your daily count.
Garden House Zalad
The Garden House Zalad is another option, but remember to skip the Texas toast and fried onions to make it keto-friendly. This salad has 170 calories, 11g fat, 7g carbs, 3g fiber, and 9g protein, with a net carb count of 4g.
Grilled Cobb Zalad
The Grilled Cobb Zalad is similar to the Grilled House Zalad but includes additional ingredients like bacon and hard-boiled egg. To keep it keto, avoid the Texas toast and fried onions, and choose grilled chicken. This salad provides a good balance of fats and carbs.
Regular House Zalad
If you're looking for a salad without chicken, you can opt for the regular House Zalad with no chicken. Remember to skip the Texas toast and fried onions to keep it keto-friendly.
Chicken Salad
Zaxby's also offers a cup of chicken salad, made with all white meat chicken, mayo, and various spices. This option requires no modifications and is a convenient keto choice. You can order one or two cups, depending on your caloric intake preferences.
When ordering salads at Zaxby's, it's important to remember to avoid breaded items, fried options, and high-carb salad dressings. You can also add extra fat to your salad by choosing a dressing with more fat content or ordering an extra packet of mayo on the side.
Lemon on Keto: Safe to Eat?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Chicken salad
Zaxby's is a southern-based chain known for its crispy chicken fingers and dipping sauces. While these foods are not typically associated with the ketogenic diet, Zaxby's offers several keto-friendly options.
The cup of chicken salad is a simple, easy, low-carb, and cheap option. It is made with all white meat chicken, mayo, and a few other spices and ingredients. You can add an extra packet of mayo to increase the fat content and flavour. The nutritional information for the chicken salad is as follows: 230 calories, 17g fat, 3g carbs, 1g fibre, and 15g protein.
Another option is the Chicken Salad Sandwich, ordered without bread and with mayo on the side. The sandwich is made with all white meat chicken and comes with lettuce and tomato. It is served between two slices of honey wheat bread, but you can remove the bread to make it keto-friendly. The nutritional information for the Chicken Salad Sandwich, ordered as mentioned, is as follows: 230 calories, 17g fat, 3g carbs, 1g fibre, and 15g protein.
In addition to the chicken salad options, Zaxby's offers several keto-friendly salads, or "Zalads." These include the Grilled House Zalad, Grilled Cobb Zalad, and regular House Zalad. When ordering these salads, it is recommended to omit the Texas toast and fried onions, and choose grilled chicken instead of fried. You can also add a keto-friendly dressing such as ranch, Caesar, or blue cheese.
While Zaxby's does offer some keto options, it is always a good idea to prepare your meals at home whenever possible. This allows you to have more control over the ingredients and nutritional content of your meals.
Celeriac and Keto: A Good Mix?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$25.99 $29.99
Sandwiches without bread
Zaxby's offers keto-friendly and low-carb options such as salads ("Zalads"), sandwiches without bread, and traditional wings. While it is challenging to eat keto at Zaxby's, it is not impossible.
- Zaxby's Club Sandwich, no bread: This option has 620 calories, 45g fat, 13g carbs, 2g fiber, and 43g protein, with 11g NET carbs.
- Kickin' Chicken Sandwich, no bread: This sandwich has 450 calories, 27g fat, 14g carbs, 2g fiber, and 35g protein, with 12g NET carbs.
- Southern Sweet & Smoky Sandwich, no bun: This sandwich without a bun has 420 calories, 29.5g fat, 14g carbs, and 28g protein, with 14g NET carbs.
- Chicken Salad Sandwich, no bread: The Chicken Salad Sandwich at Zaxby's is made with all white meat chicken, mayo, lettuce, and tomato. It usually comes with honey wheat bread and fries, but you can order it without the bread and mayo on the side to make it keto-friendly.
When ordering sandwiches without bread, you can ask for keto-friendly alternatives such as lettuce wraps, low-carb crackers, or gluten-free bread options if available.
Additionally, you can explore other low-carb and keto-friendly options at Zaxby's, such as their traditional wings and "Zalads" (salads). Remember to avoid breaded items, fried foods, and high-carb sauces to stay within your keto macros.
Keto Movie Night: Snacks and Drinks at the Theater
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Traditional wings
When it comes to sauces, it is recommended to stay away from BBQ sauce due to its high sugar content. Instead, opt for hot sauces which have very few carbs as they are mostly made from vinegar and peppers. Some sauces you can choose from include tongue torch, hot honey mustard, and mild to spicy options. However, be cautious of sweetened sauces, as these will be higher in carbs.
If you want to add a side to your traditional wings, you can choose from keto-friendly options such as celery sticks, chicken salad, or a side salad without dressing. For dipping sauces, ranch is a good option as it has less sugar than other sauces.
Overall, while it may be challenging to stick to a keto diet at Zaxby's, traditional wings can be a suitable option when ordered without breading or high-carb sauces.
Corn Tacos: Keto-Friendly or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$20.66 $25.49
$3.37
Low-carb sauces and dips
Sticking to a keto diet at Zaxby's can be challenging, but it's not impossible. While the restaurant is known for its crispy chicken fingers and sauces, there are some low-carb options available.
When it comes to sauces and dips, it's best to avoid store-bought options that are often loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients. Instead, opt for keto-friendly choices like sugar-free BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, pesto, hollandaise, mayonnaise, and tomato sauce. You can also get creative with ingredients like avocado oil, light olive oil, coconut cream, and veggies to make your own dips and sauces.
- Buffalo Sauce: Amp up your chicken by ordering it tossed in buffalo sauce. This adds flavour without a significant amount of extra calories.
- Ranch Dip: Zaxby's offers ranch dip, which is a better option than other dips due to its lower sugar content.
- Mayonnaise: Mayonnaise is a versatile base for cold dips and dressings. You can make your own or choose a high-quality option made with avocado oil or light olive oil.
- Guacamole: This dairy-free dip is a tasty and healthy option to pair with your keto meal.
- Sugar-Free Ketchup: Ketchup is typically high in sugar, but you can find sugar-free alternatives that fit within your keto diet.
While not a sauce or dip, it's worth noting that traditional wings are a better keto option than breaded chicken or boneless wings, which are loaded with carbohydrates. You can also opt for bunless sandwiches and salads, but be mindful of the dressings and toppings to keep your meal keto-friendly.
Can Clif Bars Fit in a Keto Diet?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Some keto-friendly options at Zaxby's include salads ("Zalads"), bunless sandwiches, and traditional wings.
Yes, Zaxby's offers a variety of keto-friendly sauces, such as mild, spicy, and buffalo sauce.
While eating one chicken finger will not affect your keto diet, it is not recommended as it will not fill you up. The breaded and fried chicken fingers are not keto-friendly, but some locations may allow you to order them without breading, which would be a better option.
Yes, the traditional wings at Zaxby's are keto-friendly. However, it is recommended to avoid the boneless wings as they are loaded with carbohydrates.
Yes, Zaxby's offers a variety of keto-friendly sides, including celery sticks, chicken salad, and buffalo chicken dip.
