Hardee's under 500 calories: 22 orders, ranked

Of the 65 Hardee's items we track, 22 are single orders at or under 500 calories — 34% of the menu. The most protein in one item under 500 is the Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders (5 Piece), 41 g for 440 calories; the most filling by protein and fiber per calorie is the Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders (5 Piece) (41 g protein, 3 g fiber, 440 cal). 10 entrées fit under 500; 31 do not.

Source: healthyfastfood.org (third-party host) · Data refreshed September 14, 2026

• 22 orders under 500
• 41g most protein in one item
• 43g protein in a full meal
• 31 entrées over 500

As of September 2026, 22 of the 65 Hardee's items we track fit under 500 calories, and the most protein in a complete Hardee's meal under 500 is 43 g (Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders (5 Piece), Green Beans, and a water).

Three complete Hardee's meals under 500 calories

Under 500, the most-protein entrée — the Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders (5 Piece), 440 cal — leaves 60 calories for a side. 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). The lightest meal is unchanged from under 400; the others use the extra 100 calories.

Build your own Hardee's order under 500 calories → Swap any item, add a side, share the link.

Every Hardee's order under 500 calories, ranked by protein

Single orders only — no kids' meals, combos, sauces or toppings — by grams of protein, then calories. The median order under 500 is 300 calories and 10 of the 22 are entrées. Figures as Hardee's published them (how we check them).

What 500 calories buys at Hardee's

Going from 400 to 500 calories adds 6 orders: Crispy Curls (Medium) (420), Sunrise Croissant (Bacon) (420), Frisco Breakfast Sandwich (430), Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders (5 Piece) (440), Beyond Breakfast Sausage Biscuit (480) and Big Roast Beef (500).

What doesn't fit under 500

31 of 41 Hardee's entrées are over 500 calories; the lightest of them, the Country Ham Biscuit, misses by 10 calories at 510. With more room, see Hardee's under 600. Tighter budget: Hardee's under 400. Closest misses: Country Ham Biscuit (510), Loaded Hash Round Bowl (510), Big Hot Ham 'N' Cheese (530), Double Cheeseburger (530) and Redhook Beer-battered Cod Fish Sandwich (530).

More at Hardee's

• Hardee's calories & nutrition (all 65 items)
• Hardee's under 300 calories (11 orders)
• Hardee's under 400 calories (16 orders)
• Hardee's under 600 calories (33 orders)
• High-protein Hardee's orders (10 items)
• Hardee's calorie calculator (build an order under your cap)

Under 500 calories at other chains

The same cap at 3 Burgers chains, or the cross-chain pillar: fast food under 500 calories.

• Shake Shack under 500
• In-N-Out Burger under 500
• Whataburger under 500