Fast food under 500 calories: the best order at 28 chains
The best complete order — an entrée, a side and a drink — under 500 calories at 28 chains, each composed for the most protein from that chain's own published nutrition data. 24 of the 28 reach 30 g of protein under 500; the top three are Firehouse Subs (65 g), Culver's (55 g) and Chick-fil-A (51 g), and the spread from best to worst is 13–65 g. At Five Guys and Little Caesars no entrée fits under 500 at all.
2,967 items · 30 chains · each chain's own nutrition guide · Data refreshed
- 28 chains ranked
- 24 reach 30 g protein
- 65g best full meal
- 26 chain pages under 500
As of September 2026, 24 of the 30 fast-food chains we track can serve a complete meal with 30 g or more of protein under 500 calories; the best is Firehouse Subs at 65 g (A Firehouse Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken, a Chicken Noodle Soup, and a water).
The best order under 500 calories at every chain, ranked by protein
Entrée first, then a side, then a drink if there is room — the same greedy order the MinMax app uses (water unless a shake adds 10 g of protein). Click a chain for every one of its orders under 500.
| # | Chain | Order | Calories | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Firehouse Subs | A Firehouse Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken, a Chicken Noodle Soup, and a water | 495 | 65g |
| 2 | Culver's | A Cranberry Bacon Bleu Salad with Grilled Chicken, a Side of Thick Cut Bacon (2 Slices), and a water | 490 | 55g |
| 3 | Chick-fil-A | 12 ct Grilled Nuggets, a Berry Parfait, and a water | 470 | 51g |
| 4 | Subway | A Subway Club® Protein Bowl, a Soup Chicken Noodle (8 oz. bowl), and a water | 480 | 51g |
| 5 | Wendy's | A Parmesan Caesar Salad (Full), Strawberries, and a water | 500 | 50g |
| 6 | Dairy Queen | A Rotisserie-style Chicken Bites Salad Bowl, a Protein Boost, and a water | 370 | 49g |
| 7 | KFC | A Kentucky Grilled Chicken Breast, a Kentucky Grilled Chicken Whole Wing, and a water | 280 | 47g |
| 8 | Jack in the Box | Chicken Strips (Grilled), Mini Pancakes, and a water | 390 | 47g |
| 9 | Jersey Mike's | A #17 Chicken Philly (Regular) and a water | 430 | 47g |
| 10 | Panda Express | An Asian Chicken, a Super Greens Side, and a water | 430 | 47g |
| 11 | Arby's | Steak Nuggets (9), Mozzarella Sticks (2), and a water | 480 | 46g |
| 12 | Whataburger | A Cobb Salad with Grilled Chicken and a water | 430 | 44g |
| 13 | Hardee's | Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders (5 Piece), Green Beans, and a water | 500 | 43g |
| 14 | Chipotle | Chicken, a Queso Blanco (side), and a water | 420 | 42g |
| 15 | Jimmy John's | A #10 HUNTERS CLUB® (Unwich Lettuce Wrap) and a water | 480 | 42g |
| 16 | Carl's Jr. | A Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders™ (5 pieces) and a water | 440 | 41g |
| 17 | Burger King | A Chicken Garden Salad (with Grilled Chicken, no dressing), a Soft Serve Ice Cream Cup, and a water | 491 | 41g |
| 18 | Papa John's | Buffalo Wings (8 pieces) and a water | 395 | 40g |
| 19 | Panera Bread | A Homestyle Chicken Noodle Soup - Group, Egg Whites, and a water | 450 | 39g |
| 20 | Sonic Drive-In | CRISPY TENDERS (5 PC.), a HOT CHILI, and a water | 490 | 38g |
| 21 | Popeyes | A Bonafide Mild Chicken Breast and a water | 440 | 35g |
| 22 | Shake Shack | A Bacon Cheeseburger, single and a water | 500 | 35g |
| 23 | McDonald's | McCrispy® Strips, Cuties, and a water | 435 | 31g |
| 24 | In-N-Out Burger | A Double-Double ProteinStyle (Bun replaced with Lettuce) and a water | 460 | 30g |
| 25 | Domino's Pizza | A Chicken Parm, a Classic Garden Salad, and a water | 480 | 27g |
| 26 | Taco Bell | A Chicken Power Bowl and a water | 470 | 26g |
| 27 | Pizza Hut | A Meaty Marinara Pasta and a water | 450 | 22g |
| 28 | Raising Cane's | Chicken Fingers and a water | 127 | 13g |
Eat at fast food without blowing your cap
MinMax finds the best fast food meal under your calorie goal — at the location nearest you — and lets you swap items to hit your protein. Free on iPhone.
Download MinMax — free What the app doesEvery chain under 500 calories
26 chains have enough single orders under 500 for a page of their own; Five Guys, Raising Cane's, Papa John's and Little Caesars do not (fewer than 10 orders fit, or no entrée does).
- McDonald's under 500
- Burger King under 500
- Wendy's under 500
- Taco Bell under 500
- Chipotle under 500
- Subway under 500
- Chick-fil-A under 500
- KFC under 500
- Popeyes under 500
- Arby's under 500
- Sonic Drive-In under 500
- Jack in the Box under 500
- Carl's Jr. under 500
- Hardee's under 500
- Shake Shack under 500
- In-N-Out Burger under 500
- Whataburger under 500
- Culver's under 500
- Panda Express under 500
- Panera Bread under 500
- Jersey Mike's under 500
- Jimmy John's under 500
- Firehouse Subs under 500
- Domino's Pizza under 500
- Pizza Hut under 500
- Dairy Queen under 500
Other caps and the chain ranking
Every figure is from the chain's published nutrition guide or a cited copy of it; sources are linked on each chain's page and on the sources page. Read how the data is gathered and checked.