· Modified: · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment
“This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.”
If you thought eating Keto at Zaxby's was impossible, think again!
This southern-based chain is known for it's crispy chicken fingers and delectable dipping sauces. While these foods may not typically be associated with the ketogenic diet, I was shocked to discover the amount of low carb meal options available.
Overview: Keto at Zaxby's
- Avoid the obvious carb sources -- Texas toast, buns, crinkle cut fries, and sugary sauces.
- Despite being breaded and fried, the chicken fingers at Zaxby's aren't super high in carbs. The boneless wings are a separate story -- they're loaded with carbohydrates.
- Some locations may let you order the chicken fingers without breading. This information isn't listed on the website, but it may be a good option if you want to keep your carbs super low.
- Amp up your chicken fingers by ordering them tossed in buffalo sauce. This adds a negligible amount of calories, but a ton of flavor! It's even better paired with ranch to dip.
- The side/appetizer options are somewhat unique at Zaxby's. In addition to celery sticks, where else can you get buffalo chicken dip or chicken saladin a drive-thru?
What fast food can I eat on a Keto diet?
The beauty of a ketogenic diet is that you can make it work just about anywhere. Some of my favorite Keto fast food meals include:
- Buffalo Chicken Tenders from Zaxby's (below)
- Blackened Tenders from Popeyes
- Bacon Burger Bowl from Five Guys (+ learn how to get FREE bacon!)
- Bunless Baconator from Wendy's
- Chicken Piccata from Olive Garden
- Italian Night Club Unwich from Jimmy John's
Through the years, I've compiled a collection of eating out guides for some of my favorite spots. This makes it super easy to reference and helps me make a smart choice on the go. The list can be found at the bottom of this post.
Salads
Picking up a salad at Zaxby's is one of the easiest ways to order.
Garden Salads
- Garden House Zalad, no Texas toast or fried onions
(170 calories, 11g fat, 7g carbs, 3g fiber, 9g protein) 4g NET - Garden Cobb Zalad, no Texas toast or fried onions
(290 calories, 19g fat, 8g carbs, 3g fiber, 19g protein) 5g NET - Garden Caesar Zalad /w dressing, no croutons
(170 calories, 9g fat, 5g carbs, 2g fiber, 15g protein) 3g NET
Grilled Chicken Salads
- Grilled Caesar Zalad /w dressing, no croutons
(330 calories, 13g fat, 7g carbs, 2g fiber, 46g protein) 5g NET - Grilled House Zalad, no Texas toast or fried onions
(330 calories, 15g fat, 9g carbs, 3g fiber, 40g protein) 6g NET - Grilled Cobb Zalad, no Texas toast or fried onions
(450 calories, 22g fat, 10g carbs, 3g fiber, 50g protein) 7g NET
Fried Chicken Salads
- Fried Caesar Zalad /w dressing, no croutons
(470 calories, 23g fat, 15g carbs, 4g fiber, 49g protein) 11g NET - Fried House Zalad, no Texas toast or fried onions
(470 calories, 25g fat, 17g carbs, 5g fiber, 43g protein) 12g NET - Fried Cobb Zalad, no Texas toast or fried onions
(590 calories, 33g fat, 18g carbs, 3g fiber, 53g protein) 15g NET
Blue Chicken Salads
Blue salads come with a generous helping of blue cheese.
- Garden Blue Zalad, no Texas toast or fried onions
(140 calories, 10g fat, 6g carbs, 4g fiber, 8g protein) 2g NET - Blackened Blue Zalad, no Texas toast or fried onions
(460 calories, 14g fat, 8g carbs, 4g fiber, 40g protein) 4g NET - Buffalo Blue Zalad, no Texas toast or fried onions
(460 calories, 24g fat, 19g carbs, 6g fiber, 42g protein) 13g NET
Side Salads
- Side Salad, no dressing
(15 calories, 0g fat, 4g carbs, 2g fiber, 1g protein) 2g NET - Caesar Side Salad, no croutons or dressing
(100 calories, 6.5g fat, 4g carbs, 1g fiber, 8g protein) 3g NET
Salad Dressings
- Caesar
(90 calories, 8g fat, 2g carbs, 2g protein) - Ranch
(160 calories, 16g fat, 2g carbs, 1g protein) - Blue Cheese
(180 calories, 19g fat, 2g carbs, 1g protein) - Thousand Island
(230 calories, 24g fat, 3g carbs, 0g protein) - Lite Ranch
(90 calories, 8g fat, 3g carbs, 1g protein) - Mediterranean
(140 calories, 14g fat, 4g carbs, 1g fiber, 0g protein) 3g NET - Honey Mustard
(150 calories, 13g fat, 6g carbs, 0g protein) - Lite Vinaigrette
(35 calories, 0g fat, 8g carbs, 0g protein) - Honey French
(150 calories, 12g fat, 9g carbs, 0g protein)
Sandwiches
There are plenty of bunless sandwich options as well!
- Chicken Salad Sandwich, no bread
(440 calories, 40g fat, 5g carbs, 1g fiber, 15g protein) 4g NET - Cajun Club Sandwich, no bun
(410 calories, 24g fat, 5g carbs, 42g protein) - Chicken Finger Sandwich, no bun
(270 calories, 13g fat, 9g carbs, 2g fiber, 31g protein) 7g NET - Chicken Finger Sandwich, no bun or Zax sauce
(300 calories, 14g fat, 11g carbs, 2g fiber, 34g protein) 9g NET - Southern T.L.C. Sandwich, no bun
(450 calories, 33.5g fat, 10g carbs, 28g protein) - Zaxby's Club Sandwich, no bread
(620 calories, 45g fat, 13g carbs, 2g fiber, 43g protein) 11g NET - Kickin Chicken Sandwich, no bread
(450 calories, 27g fat, 14g carbs, 2g fiber, 35g protein) 12g NET - Southern Sweet & Smoky Sandwich, no bun
(420 calories, 29.5g fat, 14g carbs, 28g protein) 14g NET
Chicken Fingers
The chicken fingers are breaded and fried. As mentioned earlier, some locations may let you order them fried without breading for an even lower carb count. Unfortunately, I don't have the nutritional information for those.
- Chicken Finger, 1 piece
(100 calories, 5g fat, 3g carbs, 1g fiber, 11g protein) 2g NET - Chicken Fingers, 4 piece
(400 calories, 19g fat, 14g carbs, 3g fiber, 45g protein) 11g NET - Chicken Fingers, 5 piece
(500 calories, 23g fat, 17g carbs, 3g fiber, 56g protein) 14g NET - Chicken Fingers, 6 piece
(600 calories, 33g fat, 24g carbs, 5g fiber, 56g protein) 19g NET
Buffalo Chicken Fingers
- Buffalo Chicken Finger, 1 piece
(100 calories, 5g fat, 3g carbs, 1g fiber, 11g protein) 2g NET - Buffalo Chicken Fingers, 4 piece
(400 calories, 19g fat, 14g carbs, 3g fiber, 45g protein) 11g NET - Buffalo Chicken Fingers, 5 piece
(500 calories, 23g fat, 17g carbs, 3g fiber, 56g protein) 14g NET - Buffalo Chicken Fingers, 6 piece
(600 calories, 33g fat, 24g carbs, 5g fiber, 56g protein) 19g NET
Traditional Wings
For low carb wing options, stick with the traditional wings only.
- Traditional Wings, 5 + no sauce
(290 calories, 19g fat, 0g carbs, 30g protein) - Traditional Wings, 10 + no sauce
(580 calories, 38g fat, 0g carbs, 60g protein) - Traditional Wings, 20 + no sauce
(1160 calories, 76g fat, 0g carbs, 120g protein)
The boneless wings are loaded with extra carbohydrates. In other words, they aren't a great choice for Keto.
Sides
I highly recommend the buffalo chicken dip if you can fit it into your macros.
- Chicken Salad
(230 calories, 17g fat, 3g carbs, 1g fiber, 15g protein) 2g NET - Celery, side
(10 calories, 0g fat, 2g carbs, 0g protein) - Side Salad, no dressing
(15 calories, 0g fat, 4g carbs, 2g fiber, 1g protein) 2g NET - Caesar Side Salad, no croutons or dressing
(100 calories, 6.5g fat, 4g carbs, 1g fiber, 8g protein) 3g NET - Celery, side + ranch dip
(200 calories, 20g fat, 4g carbs, 2g protein) - Celery, basket
(20 calories, 0g fat, 4g carbs, 0g protein) - Celery, basket + ranch dip
(400 calories, 40g fat, 8g carbs, 2g fiber, 3g protein) 6g NET - Coleslaw
(140 calories, 10g fat, 13g carbs, 2g fiber, 1g protein) 11g NET - Buffalo Chicken Dip
(330 calories, 26g fat, 9g carbs, 2g fiber, 14g protein) 7g NET
Dipping Sauces
Ranch is your best bet for dipping sauces at Zaxby's because the other sauces have quite a bit more sugar.
- Ranch
(190 calories, 20g fat, 2g carbs, 1g protein) - Zestable
(190 calories, 19g fat, 5g carbs, 1g protein) - Zax Sauce
(180 calories, 18g fat, 5g carbs, 1g protein) - Honey Mustard Sauce
(160 calories, 13g fat, 11g carbs, 2g fiber, 1g protein) 9g NET CARBS
Source: Zaxby's
What's your favorite Keto meal at Zaxby's?
« Keto Krate November 2019 Unboxing
Keto Diet for Beginners Guide: A Simplified Approach »
Reader Interactions
Leave a Reply
FAQs
What should macros be for keto? ›
What is the recommended keto macros ratio? We've already mentioned that the most common ratio for macronutrients during a ketogenic diet is 70% fats, 5% carbohydrates, and 25% protein. Some dietitians recommend increasing the proportion of fats even higher, to 75%, and cutting protein down to 20%.
What foods can you eat unlimited amounts of on keto? ›Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.
Is a Big Mac no bun keto? ›Big Mac Without the Bun
While it's certainly not the healthiest item or even the most keto-friendly on the menu, you can still enjoy the sandwich minus the bun without worrying that you're cheating your diet. Without the bun, the Big Mac offers only 5 grams of carbs, 25 grams of fat, and 18 grams of protein.
- Burgers with no bun. Burgers are a fast-food staple, though the bun and some added condiments may make them inappropriate for people on keto diets. ...
- Breadless subs and sandwiches. ...
- Burrito bowls. ...
- Grilled chicken. ...
- Egg-based meals. ...
- Nuggets. ...
- Salad. ...
- Buffalo wings.
Fat Macros: Can I Go Over Them? Fat is the most ketogenic macro. Eating more of it will not interfere with ketone production. But overeating fat will cause weight gain or difficulty with weight loss.
What foods keep you full the longest keto? ›...
Just because you're cutting carbs doesn't mean you should be starving.
- Eggs. Chris Jackson / Getty. ...
- Almonds. Hollis Johnson. ...
- Avocados. ...
- Cream Cheese. ...
- Coconut oil. ...
- Butter. ...
- Sardines. ...
- Peanut or almond butter.
Ernst says that during the initial stages of the keto diet, many people lose weight quickly at the beginning as water loss. She typically sees clients shed between two and 10 pounds, but notes that this is very individualized.
Is a Whopper with no bun keto? ›A plain Burger King Whopper has no carbs once you take away the bun. A plain Whopper with no bun has 240 calories, 18 grams of fat, no carbs, and 20 grams of protein.
Is a burger without bun keto? ›Most fast-food establishments will be happy to serve you a bunless burger. Boost your fiber intake by adding a simple side salad topped with a high-fat dressing to your meal. Bunless burgers are a simple, keto-friendly fast-food that will keep you satisfied when eating on the go.
Is KFC chicken keto friendly? ›Though other chicken options at KFC may not be keto-friendly, the grilled chicken is. KFC Fried Chicken is not a healthy choice at all as it contains about 8-11 grams of carbs per medium-size piece whereas KFC Grilled Chicken is the healthiest option to consider when you are following a low-carb diet.
What did you eat on keto to lose weight? ›
Choose keto-friendly foods that are very low in carbs, like meat, fish, seafood, cheese, and vegetables with real butter. Avoid bread, potatoes, rice, sweets, and other foods that are high in carbs. Eating keto foods can help you lose weight, improve your health, and feel better without ever counting a single calorie!
What kind of bread is keto friendly? ›Cloud bread, or oopsie bread, is very popular with low-carb and keto dieters. Cloud bread is a protein-rich alternative to regular bread and makes an excellent sandwich base or English muffin replacement. There are various recipes for cloud bread, but a simple version is as follows.
What are the best macros for weight loss? ›For weight loss purposes, a moderate-fat (20% to 30% of calories), moderate carb (30% to 40% of calories), and a high protein diet (25% to 35% of calories) tend to work for most people.
What is the highest protein lowest carb food? ›- eggs.
- fish and shellfish.
- meat.
- poultry.
- certain dairy.
- nonstarchy vegetables.
- seeds.
- soy.
The most reliable and accurate method of measuring ketosis is to measure your blood ketone levels using a specialized meter. This is the method is used in most research studies (7). The meter measures your ketone levels by calculating the amount of beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in your blood.
What veggies are unlimited on keto? ›Vegetables form a large part of a ketogenic, or keto, diet. Healthful options include celery, tomatoes, spinach, and mushrooms. A person may wish to avoid starchy vegetables, such as beets, potatoes, and sweetcorn. Keto diets restrict the amount of carbohydrates a person can eat.
What is the most filling low-carb snack? ›Protein: cottage cheese, hard-boiled eggs, grilled chicken, cheese squares. Nuts: almonds, walnuts, macadamia nuts, peanuts. Fresh veggies: celery sticks, sliced cucumber, bell pepper slices, broccoli. Low carb fruits: berries, cantaloupe, avocado slices, olives.
What is the maximum amount of carbs you can eat to stay in ketosis? ›There is not one “standard” ketogenic diet with a specific ratio of macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, fat). The ketogenic diet typically reduces total carbohydrate intake to less than 50 grams a day—less than the amount found in a medium plain bagel—and can be as low as 20 grams a day.
What week do you lose the most weight on keto? ›- Weeks 1–2: rapid weight reduction phase due to water loss – up to ten pounds.
- Weeks 2–4: standard weight reduction – between one and two pounds per week.
- After the first month – slow weight loss – around one pound per week.
A healthy weight loss of 1–3 pounds or about 0.5–1 kg per week can help you stay on track and maintain weight loss over time.
What week do you start losing weight on keto? ›
In general, it takes about two to four days to enter ketosis and begin losing weight. However, some people may see a rapid weight loss in the first week or two, followed by a slower rate of weight loss after that.
How long to lose 40 pounds on keto? ›With a rate of weight loss of 1-2 pounds each week, about 5-6 months is how long to lose 40 pounds on keto.
Is 1200 calories enough on keto? ›Basically, the keto diet is still a diet, and losing weight typically happens when there's a calorie deficit (1,200 to 1,500 calories a day is the sweet spot for weight loss)—so go ahead and cut carbs to under 50 grams a day and up your fat—but if you want to lose weight, make sure you're keeping an eye on calories, ...
Why am I gaining weight on keto? ›One of the biggest culprits of weight gain on keto is not tracking your food intake. It's important to track everything you eat to be sure you're not overdoing it in any area. You also want to ensure you're keeping your macros in check.
Is a Quarter Pounder with no bun keto? ›Quarter Pounder
Honestly, this has got to be my favorite keto option from everything I've tried so far on the McDonald's menu. Minus the buns and ketchup, you get lettuce, pickles, onions, mustard, cheese, and a way better quality beef patty. Honestly, it's one of the nicer looking burgers on this list!
Mcdonald's Big Mac Without Bun (1 sandwich) contains 7g total carbs, 6g net carbs, 25g fat, 18g protein, and 330 calories.
Can you order no bun at mcdonalds? ›Though we don't serve 'bunless burger' per se, you can simply order a burger without the bun - just ask your server when ordering and they'll take care of it.
What can I use instead of a bun for burgers? ›- Try tomatoes instead of burger buns. ...
- Use lettuce instead of burger buns. ...
- Portobello mushroom as a hamburger bun. ...
- Eggplant for burger buns. ...
- Red peppers for burger buns.
At In-N-Out, you can order "The Flying Dutchman" and get a burger that's just two patties and cheese. No bun, no spread, no lettuce, no onions. Just meat and cheese.
How many carbs in a Mcdouble with no bun? ›Mcdonald's Mcdouble No Bun (1 serving) contains 5g total carbs, 4g net carbs, 16g fat, 17g protein, and 240 calories.
Is rotisserie chicken keto? ›
Is rotisserie chicken keto? Yes, a rotisserie chicken is keto. A whole roast chicken is perfect for the low-carb diet and keto diet and is a great way to prep healthy meals ahead of time.
Can I eat Chinese fried chicken on keto? ›Avoid breaded and water-velveted meats
Breaded and fried meats are common at Chinese buffets, especially in dishes like General Tso's chicken, butterfly shrimp, and sweet and sour chicken. Thick breading and sugary sauces make these dishes too high in carbs to be keto-friendly.
With up to 44 grams of carbs apiece, none are a good fit for a keto diet as-is. But since this is Subway, it's easy to tailor your meal to your preferences. Just order your wrap without the bread. Eggs, cheese, and meat are all keto-friendly.
How do I speed up weight loss on keto? ›- Fasting.
- Avoid snacking.
- Reduce calories.
- Sleep more.
- Quit alcohol.
- Exercise more.
- Watch out for your medications.
'I Did The Keto Diet To Support My Partner—And I Ended Up Losing 75 Pounds In 11 Months' “Being a part of the keto community on Instagram also helps me stay consistent.”
What sweets can be eaten on keto? ›- SmartSweets Gummy Bears.
- ChocZero White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.
- Lily's Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels.
- Go Better Keto Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Cups.
- Stevita Naturals Hard Candy.
- Cocomels Coconut Milk Caramels in Sea Salt.
- Dr. ...
- BHU Keto Truffle Fat Bombs.
Mistake #1: Too much protein, not enough fat
Most healthy individuals require between 1.5 and 1.75 grams of protein per kg of 'reference body weight' (Phinney 1983, Davis 1990) to maintain lean body mass and function during a ketogenic diet. Intakes above 2.0 g/kg reference weight show no additional benefit.
- Corn, reduced-carb or whole-grain tortillas.
- Cheese wraps or cheese slices.
- Coconut wraps.
- Cauliflower bread.
- Cucumber slices.
- Sweet potato slices.
- Bell pepper slices.
- Portobello mushrooms.
Eating plant-based proteins such as nuts, beans and lentils can help. Lean meat and fish also can be good sources of healthy protein to include in your diet instead of rice, pasta, bread and potatoes.
How many slices of bread can you eat in keto? ›You can, maybe a slice or two here and there, but you ideally don't want to be eating too much of it. This is because a keto diet involves eating minimal carbs; less than 50g a day. However, a slice of bread contains around 20g of carbs, which is quite a chunk of your daily carbohydrate allocation.
Can you eat unlimited calories on keto? ›
Does this mean you can eat as much as you want and never gain weight on a ketogenic diet? Of course not. Even on a zero-carb diet, overeating calories will cause you to gain weight. If cutting carbs isn't working as expected, your overall calorie intake may be the reason why.
Can you still eat a lot on keto? ›Most people feel more satisfied after eating ketogenic meals and snacks due to the filling effects of fat and protein. However, it's entirely possible to consume too many calories on a ketogenic diet by eating portions that are too large or by snacking on high-calorie foods throughout the day.
How do you survive a cheat day on keto? ›The trick to remaining in ketosis and still getting to enjoy a cheat day involves limiting the number of carbs that you eat on that cheat day. Also, you can minimize the usual amount of carbs that you eat for several days before your cheat day, so you have a little leeway and can remain in ketosis.
Can I have unlimited veggies on keto? ›Not Paying Attention to Your Veggie Intake
Vegetables have carbohydrates. And that means that you have to watch how much you eat — even lettuce. If you're not careful or are eating them as a free-for-all, you could overconsume carbs, and thus get kicked out of ketosis.
- Significantly reducing the carbohydrate intake. ...
- Increasing physical activity. ...
- Fasting for short periods. ...
- Increasing healthful fat intake. ...
- Testing ketone levels. ...
- Checking protein intake. ...
- Consuming more MCT oil.
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, the macros for a 1500-calorie keto diet are 70-80% fats, 5-10% carbs, and 10-20% protein (2), which is about 1,050-1,200 calories from fat, 75-150 calories from carbs, and 150-300 calories from protein.
What time should I stop eating on keto? ›Try to avoid eating for three or four hours before bedtime. This can be a helpful strategy for those who feel especially energetic on a keto diet. Another reason you may be feeling too alert at night is if you exercise in the evening.
Why am I not losing weight on keto anymore? ›Usually, when a person does not lose weight on the keto diet, it is because they have not achieved ketosis. The most common reason for not getting into ketosis is not cutting back enough on carbs. According to a 2019 article on the ketogenic diet, carbohydrates should represent only 5–10% of a person's calorie intake.
How much weight can you lose in 2 weeks on keto? ›The lowdown. The keto diet changes the way your metabolism works by encouraging it to use ketone bodies instead of glucose for energy production. In the first couple of weeks, it's possible to lose up to ten pounds. After that, you could be losing one to two pounds per week.
What sweets can I eat on keto? ›- SmartSweets Gummy Bears.
- ChocZero White Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.
- Lily's Dark Chocolate Covered Caramels.
- Go Better Keto Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Butter Cups.
- Stevita Naturals Hard Candy.
- Cocomels Coconut Milk Caramels in Sea Salt.
- Dr. ...
- BHU Keto Truffle Fat Bombs.
Can you do keto 5 days on 2 days off? ›
Keto cycling doesn't have a set definition. Some people choose to have five or six days on keto followed by a day or two off. Others will do keto for 10 to 12 days followed by three to four days off. Devine typically doesn't recommend taking more than two days off keto.
What are the biggest keto mistakes? ›- Not Eating Enough Fat. The keto diet isn't just low-carb, it's high-fat. ...
- Eating Too Much Protein. ...
- Eating Too Many Calories. ...
- Not Drinking Enough Water. ...
- Not Replenishing Your Electrolytes. ...
- Eating Too Much Dairy. ...
- Eating Too Many Keto Sweets. ...
- Snacking Too Much.
Look for low-carb, high-fiber fruits that are low in net carbs. A few keto friendly fruits include: avocados, lemons, limes and berries such as blackberries, raspberries and strawberries. Avoid dried fruits, fruit juices and high-sugar fruits like bananas, grapes and mangoes.
Can you have pickles on keto? ›Pickles can be keto-friendly as long as they don't contain added sugar. In general, you should select dill or sour pickles but avoid sweet, candied, and bread and butter ones.