Hardee's under 500 calories: 20 orders, ranked

Of the 57 single orders we track at Hardee's, 20 come in at or under 500 calories — 35%. The most protein in one item under 500 is the Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders (5), 41 g for 440 calories; the most filling by protein and fiber per calorie is the Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders (5) (41 g protein, 3 g fiber, 440 cal). 7 entrées fit under 500; 18 do not.

Source: healthyfastfood.org (third-party host) · Data refreshed October 12, 2026

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

As of October 2026, 20 of the 57 Hardee's single orders we track come in at or under 500 calories, and the most protein in a complete Hardee's meal under 500 is 43 g (5 Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders, a side of Green Beans, and a water).

Three complete Hardee's meals under 500 calories

Under 500, the most-protein meal is built on the Hand Breaded Chicken Tenders (5) (440 cal), which leaves 60 calories for its sides and drink. One meal-sized entrée, up to two different sides and a drink — the MinMax app's meal and the best under the cap, drink included (water only where no published drink fits; the lightest meal takes a zero-calorie drink, or water). 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 desserts, kids' meals, combos, sauces or toppings — by grams of protein, then calories. The median order under 500 is 340 calories and 7 of the 20 are entrées. Figures from a third-party copy of Hardee's nutrition guide, rounded to whole numbers (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) (440), Beyond Breakfast Sausage Biscuit (480) and Big Roast Beef (500).

What doesn't fit under 500

18 of 25 Hardee's entrées are over 500 calories; the lightest of them, the Big Hot Ham 'N' Cheese, misses by 30 calories at 530. With more room, see Hardee's under 600. Tighter budget: Hardee's under 400. Closest misses: Big Hot Ham 'N' Cheese (530), Double Cheeseburger (530), Redhook Beer-Battered Cod Fish Sandwich (530), Big Cheeseburger (540) and Big Chicken Fillet Sandwich (590).

More at Hardee's

• Hardee's calories & nutrition (65 items listed)
• Hardee's under 400 calories (14 orders)
• Hardee's under 600 calories (31 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