"Healthy" isn't really a yes-or-no question for a menu this large - Texas Roadhouse serves everything from a 260-calorie Herb Crusted Chicken to a Big Ol' Brownie topped with ice cream and hot chocolate sauce. The more useful question is which specific choices are lighter and which ones are worth treating as an occasional splurge. All the numbers below come from Texas Roadhouse's own published nutrition data, which we track on our nutrition page and let you total up on the nutrition calculator.
The Short Version
Lean, grilled proteins and a plain baked potato or steamed vegetables make for one of the more reasonable meals on the menu, often landing well under 800 calories total. Shared appetizers, fried entrees, and dessert are where calorie counts climb fastest - a single order of Cactus Blossom alone runs about 2,250 calories.
Lighter Choices, By the Numbers
| Item | Calories | Why It's Lighter |
|---|---|---|
| Herb Crusted Chicken | 260 | Grilled, not fried, with a light herb seasoning instead of a heavy sauce |
| Grilled BBQ Chicken | 300 | Grilled breast with BBQ sauce brushed on rather than fried |
| Hand-Cut Sirloin* | 340 | The leanest of the hand-cut steaks |
| Dallas Filet* | 270 | Lean cut, smaller portion than the ribeye options |
| Grilled Salmon* | 560 | Higher than the leanest chicken, but a solid protein-to-calorie ratio |
| Steamed Vegetables (side) | 190 | The lightest side on the menu |
| Green Beans (side) | 100 | Cooked with bacon for flavor, but still one of the lower-calorie sides |
Where Calories Add Up Fast
| Item | Calories | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Cactus Blossom (whole order) | 2,250 | Meant to be shared - one full order is more than a full day's calories for many people |
| Bone-In Ribeye* (20oz) | 1,480 | The largest steak on the menu, before sides |
| Big Ol' Brownie | 1,200 | Brownie plus ice cream plus hot chocolate sauce |
| Granny's Apple Classic | 1,110 | Pie plus ice cream plus caramel |
| Chicken Caesar Salad | 1,100 | The dressing and croutons on Caesar-style salads add up quickly - not always the "light" option it looks like |
| Cheese Fries | 1,240 | Steak fries loaded with cheese and bacon |
That Chicken Caesar Salad line is worth calling out specifically: at 1,100 calories, it's actually higher than several steak entrees. Salads with a Caesar dressing and a full portion of protein aren't automatically the lighter choice on this menu - the House Salad (230 calories) and Grilled Chicken Salad (520 calories) are the better bets if you're specifically trying to keep calories down.
How to Build a Lighter Plate
- Choose a grilled, non-breaded protein - sirloin, filet, grilled chicken, or grilled salmon rather than anything fried or "country fried"
- Pick steamed vegetables, green beans, or a plain baked potato over cheese fries, mac and cheese, or a loaded baked potato
- Split an appetizer instead of ordering one per person, or skip it and fill up on the free rolls in moderation
- If you want dessert, split one order between the table rather than everyone ordering their own
- Use the nutrition calculator to add up your exact order before you go, since combinations add up faster than they look on paper
