How to eat low carb at Chili's? A complete guide to enjoying your meal

October 27, 2025 •

3 min read

Over 1.5 million people in the U.S. alone follow a low-carb diet. For many, the challenge of dining out persists, but with a few simple modifications, you can learn how to eat low carb at Chili's? with confidence and ease.

Quick Summary

This article outlines menu modifications, smart substitutions, and ordering strategies to help you navigate Chili's menu while adhering to a low-carb diet. Focus on grilled proteins, low-carb sides, and mindful sauce choices to create a satisfying meal.

Key Points

Skip the Bun: For any burger or sandwich, ask for it without the bun and request a lettuce wrap or bowl instead.
Choose Grilled Over Fried: Always opt for grilled chicken, fish, or steak instead of crispy, breaded, or fried options.
Modify Fajitas: To reduce carbs, order fajitas without the tortillas, rice, or beans, enjoying just the meat and veggies.
Select Low-Carb Sides: Replace fries or mashed potatoes with healthier alternatives like steamed broccoli, asparagus, or a side salad (no croutons).
Control Your Sauces: Ask for dressings and sauces on the side to manage your intake, as many contain hidden sugars and carbs.
Be Aware of Hidden Carbs: Some ribs are slathered in sugary BBQ sauce and soups may contain thickeners, so ask questions or stick to safer options.

Navigating the Chili's Menu for Low-Carb Dining

Eating low-carb at a chain restaurant known for burgers, fries, and nachos might seem daunting, but it's entirely manageable with the right strategy. The key is to focus on whole foods, protein-rich entrées, and low-carb vegetables while customizing your order to remove high-carb elements like buns, breading, and sugary sauces. Planning ahead by looking at the online menu and nutrition information can make the process smoother.

Appetizers: Starting Your Meal Low-Carb

Most traditional appetizers at Chili's, such as chips, fried items, and quesadillas, are off-limits for low-carb dieters. However, a few solid options exist with simple tweaks:

Classic Bone-In Wings: Order with Buffalo sauce, ranch, or blue cheese on the side. Avoid boneless wings, which are breaded and higher in carbs. A full order of bone-in Buffalo wings can have as few as 4 grams of carbohydrates.
Fresh Guacamole: Ask for this delicious appetizer with celery sticks instead of tortilla chips.
Bacon Ranch Cheddar Bites: You can order these without the breading for a cheesy, savory start to your meal.

Main Courses: Protein-Packed and Adaptable

Your best bet for an entrée is a simple, grilled protein that you can customize. Many of the steaks, fajitas, and burgers can be easily adapted to fit a low-carb plan.

Bunless Burgers: Order any of the Big Mouth Burgers® without the bun. Request a lettuce wrap or ask for it to be served in a bowl. Stick to low-carb toppings like cheese, bacon, and avocado, and use mayo or mustard instead of sugary sauces. For example, the Mushroom Swiss Burger is a great option bunless.
Classic Sirloin Steaks: A plain 6-ounce Classic Sirloin contains only 1 gram of carbohydrates, making it an excellent choice. Top it with grilled avocado for healthy fats.
Fajitas: This can be a fantastic low-carb meal if ordered correctly. Request your chicken, steak, or shrimp fajitas without the tortillas, rice, or beans. Enjoy the meat, grilled peppers, and onions with all the low-carb-friendly toppings like sour cream, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, and guacamole.
Ancho Salmon: Choose the Ancho Salmon but ask for it without the rice. You can substitute the rice for a double portion of steamed broccoli or asparagus.

Sauces and Dressings: The Hidden Carb Traps

Sauces and dressings are where many hidden sugars and thickeners can surprise you. Always ask for dressings and sauces on the side so you can control the amount. Stick to these lower-carb options:

Ranch
Blue Cheese
Caesar
Plain Buffalo Sauce
Butter or Garlic Butter
Pico de Gallo
Sour Cream and Guacamole

Low-Carb Side Dishes

Instead of high-carb sides like fries, mashed potatoes, or corn, opt for these greener, healthier alternatives:

Steamed Broccoli: A very safe and low-carb option.
Asparagus: Another great choice with minimal carbohydrates.
Side House or Caesar Salad: Order without croutons and with a low-carb dressing like ranch on the side.
Sautéed Mushrooms: A flavorful, low-carb addition to any meal.

Comparison Table: Standard vs. Low-Carb Orders


Menu Item	Standard High-Carb Order	Low-Carb Modified Order	Key Changes
Big Mouth Burger®	Served with a bun and fries	Served without a bun, in a lettuce wrap or bowl, with steamed broccoli	Eliminates the bun (carbs), substitutes high-carb fries for low-carb broccoli.
Fajitas	Served with flour tortillas, rice, and beans	Served without tortillas, rice, or beans	Eliminates the highest-carb components (tortillas, rice, beans).
Ancho Salmon	Served with rice and steamed broccoli	Served with steamed broccoli only (double portion)	Removes the rice to reduce carb count.
Bone-In Wings	Served with high-sugar sauces (e.g., Honey-Chipotle)	Served with Buffalo sauce on the side	Swaps sugary sauces for low-carb Buffalo and allows portion control.

Conclusion: Enjoying Your Meal with Confidence

With a little planning and smart ordering, adhering to a low-carb diet at Chili's is completely achievable. By focusing on grilled meats, customized burgers, and veggie-forward sides, you can construct a delicious and satisfying meal without derailing your nutritional goals. Remember to communicate clearly with your server about your modifications, especially when it comes to buns, sides, and sauces, and don't be afraid to ask for items to be served on the side. For more detailed nutritional information, you can always check Chili's official nutrition page before you go. With these simple steps, you can enjoy a flavorful restaurant experience while staying on track with your low-carb lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you can order any Big Mouth Burger® without the bun. Ask for a lettuce wrap or have it served in a bowl to keep your meal low-carb.

Bone-in wings with Buffalo sauce are a good low-carb option. However, avoid boneless wings, as they are breaded and contain a significant amount of carbs.

Excellent low-carb side options include steamed broccoli, asparagus, or a side salad without croutons. These can replace high-carb items like fries or rice.

Order fajitas without the tortillas, rice, or beans. You can still enjoy the grilled meat, peppers, onions, and toppings like guacamole, salsa, and sour cream.

Opt for low-sugar, high-fat dressings like ranch, blue cheese, or Caesar, and always ask for them on the side. Avoid sweet sauces like BBQ or honey-chipotle.

Yes, the 6-ounce Classic Sirloin contains only 1 gram of total carbohydrates when ordered without high-carb sides. It's a great, simple entrée choice.

Besides the bone-in wings, you can order Fresh Guacamole with celery sticks instead of chips or Bacon Ranch Cheddar Bites without the breading for a low-carb appetizer.