Is Applebee's Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp Keto Friendly?

December 6, 2025 •

3 min read

According to nutritional data, the standard Applebee's Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp dish contains up to 47g of total carbohydrates, which is significantly higher than the typical daily net carb limit for a ketogenic diet. This high-carb content makes the original entree non-keto-friendly for most individuals on the diet.

Quick Summary

The standard Applebee's Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp is not suitable for a keto diet due to its high carbohydrate count from mashed potatoes and marinade. Modifying the order by requesting specific substitutions can make it a viable, low-carb meal.

Key Points

High-Carb Potatoes: The standard Applebee's dish includes garlic mashed potatoes, which are high in carbohydrates and make the meal non-keto.
Hidden Sugar Alert: The marinade and glaze often contain brown sugar, adding to the dish's total carb count.
Modify Your Order: To make it keto, ask for no potatoes and substitute with a low-carb side like steamed broccoli or a side salad with ranch.
Specify No Sugary Glaze: Request the chicken and shrimp be cooked with a simple butter, garlic, and Cajun seasoning to avoid hidden sugars.
DIY is Best: For strict adherence and ingredient control, making a copycat version at home with a sugar-free marinade is the most reliable option.
Savvy Dining is Key: An informed diner can navigate restaurant menus to find or create keto-friendly versions of their favorite dishes.

The short answer is no, the traditional Applebee's Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp is not keto-friendly. Its high carbohydrate content, primarily from the garlic mashed potatoes and the marinade's brown sugar, makes it unsuitable for those following a ketogenic diet. However, with a few key modifications when you order, this popular dish can be transformed into a delicious and compliant keto meal.

Why the Standard Dish is Not Keto

The reason the original dish is off-limits is due to the carbohydrate-heavy components that come standard. The standard Applebee's version is served sizzling with garlic mashed potatoes, mushrooms, and onions, with the chicken and shrimp marinated in a bourbon and brown sugar sauce. For a strict keto dieter, who often aims for under 25-50 grams of net carbs per day, a single serving of this dish could exceed their daily carb limit.

The Carb Culprits

Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Potatoes are a starchy, high-carbohydrate vegetable and are a major contributor to the dish's carb count. This side dish is the single largest carb source and must be substituted.
Brown Sugar in Marinade: Many copycat recipes and general restaurant practices suggest a marinade or glaze that includes brown sugar to achieve the signature caramelized flavor. Even a small amount of added sugar can impact a low-carb diet.
Other Hidden Sugars: Some sauces and seasoning blends, including commercially prepared Cajun mixes, can contain hidden sugars and fillers that add to the carb total.

How to Order Keto at Applebee's

Making the Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp keto-friendly requires proactive ordering and communicating clearly with your server. This ensures you get the meal you want without any hidden carbs.

Request No Potatoes: This is the most critical step. Ask for the dish without the garlic mashed potatoes. This single change eliminates the majority of the carbohydrates.
Substitute a Keto-Friendly Side: Instead of potatoes, ask for steamed broccoli or a side salad with a keto-friendly dressing, like ranch or blue cheese. Be sure to specify no croutons on your salad.
Specify No Sugar Added: Politely ask for the chicken and shrimp to be cooked without any brown sugar glaze or marinade. While the kitchen might use a standard seasoning, many are accommodating to requests. Focus on the core components—grilled chicken, blackened shrimp, mushrooms, and onions—which are all keto staples.
Confirm the Cooking Method: Confirm that the chicken and shrimp are grilled or blackened without a sugary sauce. The buttery garlic and parsley finish is generally fine for a keto diet.

Comparison Table: Standard vs. Keto-Modified


Component	Standard Applebee's Dish	Keto-Modified Order
Protein	Cajun-seasoned chicken and blackened shrimp	Grilled/blackened chicken and shrimp
Veggies	Sautéed mushrooms & onions	Sautéed mushrooms & onions
Marinade/Sauce	Buttery garlic & parsley sauce, plus potential brown sugar glaze	Buttery garlic & parsley sauce, no added sugar
Carb Source	Garlic mashed potatoes	Eliminated
Side Dish	Garlic mashed potatoes	Steamed broccoli or side salad (no croutons)
Approximate Total Carbs	42-47g	< 10g (depending on sauce)

DIY Keto Version at Home

For ultimate control over ingredients and macros, making a keto-friendly copycat version at home is the best option. This ensures no hidden sugars and allows you to use high-quality ingredients.

Keto Bourbon Chicken and Shrimp Recipe

Ingredients: Chicken thighs, large shrimp, butter, garlic, mushrooms, onions, Cajun seasoning (check for sugar-free), chicken broth, salt, pepper, chopped parsley, and a keto-friendly sweetener (optional).
Instructions:
1. Create your own Cajun seasoning mix to avoid hidden sugars.
2. Cook the chicken and shrimp separately in butter until done, using the sugar-free Cajun seasoning and minced garlic.
3. Sauté the sliced mushrooms and onions in the same skillet to absorb the flavors.
4. Deglaze the pan with a little chicken broth and melt some extra butter for a rich, low-carb sauce.
5. Combine everything and serve with a side of steamed broccoli or cauliflower mash.

Conclusion: Savor the Flavor, Ditch the Carbs

The pre-made Applebee's Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp is unequivocally not a keto meal. However, by understanding the components and knowing how to modify your order, you can enjoy a flavorful, restaurant-prepared version that fits your dietary needs. The most effective way is to request the dish without the mashed potatoes and any sugary glazes, substituting with a low-carb vegetable. For complete control, a homemade version is always the safest bet. Enjoying a low-carb lifestyle doesn't mean you have to miss out on your favorite restaurant-style meals—it just means you need to be a savvy, informed diner.

Frequently Asked Questions

The standard Applebee's dish has around 41-42 grams of net carbs, primarily from the mashed potatoes and marinade, making it unsuitable for a keto diet.

Yes, the shrimp itself is a lean, keto-friendly protein. The concern for a keto diet is the preparation method and any sugary glaze or sauce used, so you should request plain blackened shrimp.

The best keto-friendly substitutions are steamed broccoli, a side salad with a keto-approved dressing (like ranch), or simply asking for extra of the mushrooms and onions.

While many store-bought Cajun seasonings are keto, restaurant versions can sometimes contain anti-caking agents or sugars. It's best to confirm with your server and request a simple seasoning blend with no sugar added.

Not necessarily. The dish often includes a buttery garlic and parsley pan sauce, which is keto-friendly. The main issue is the brown sugar in the marinade and the mashed potatoes, so you must specifically request the removal of those components.

Pure spirits like bourbon generally contain zero carbs. However, mixed drinks can have added sugars. In the context of the Applebee's dish, the bourbon is used in the marinade, which adds negligible carbs but is often paired with sugar.

Be specific and polite. Say, 'I'd like the Bourbon Street Chicken and Shrimp, but please serve it with steamed broccoli instead of the mashed potatoes and confirm there is no added sugar in the seasoning or marinade.' This makes your request clear.