McAlister's Deli under 500 calories: 30 orders, ranked

Of the 73 single orders we track at McAlister's Deli, 30 come in at or under 500 calories — 41%. The most protein in one item under 500 is the Grilled Chicken Salad, 47 g for 490 calories; the most filling by protein and fiber per calorie is the Grilled Chicken Salad (47 g protein, 4 g fiber, 490 cal). 10 entrées fit under 500; 43 do not.

Source: McAlister's Deli nutrition guide (official) · Data refreshed October 13, 2026

• 30 orders under 500
• 47g most protein in one item
• 47g protein in a full meal
• 43 entrées over 500

As of October 2026, 30 of the 73 McAlister's Deli single orders we track come in at or under 500 calories, and the most protein in a complete McAlister's Deli meal under 500 is 47 g (A Grilled Chicken Salad and a Decaffeinated Coffee).

Three complete McAlister's Deli meals under 500 calories

Under 500, the most-protein meal is built on the Grilled Chicken Salad (490 cal), which leaves 10 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 McAlister's Deli order under 500 calories → Swap any item, add a side, share the link.

Every McAlister's Deli 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 255 calories and 10 of the 30 are entrées. Figures as McAlister's Deli published them, rounded to whole numbers (how we check them).

What 500 calories buys at McAlister's Deli

Going from 400 to 500 calories adds 5 orders: Broccoli Cheddar, Bowl (420), Traditional Chili, Bowl (420), Savannah Chopped Salad (450), McAlister's Chef Salad (480) and Grilled Chicken Salad (490).

What doesn't fit under 500

43 of 53 McAlister's Deli entrées are over 500 calories; the lightest of them, the Grilled Chicken Sandwich, misses by 90 calories at 590. With more room, see McAlister's Deli under 600. Tighter budget: McAlister's Deli under 400. Closest misses: Grilled Chicken Sandwich (590) and Southwest Chicken & Avocado Salad (600).

More at McAlister's Deli

• McAlister's Deli calories & nutrition (197 items listed)
• McAlister's Deli under 400 calories (25 orders)
• McAlister's Deli under 600 calories (32 orders)
• High-protein McAlister's Deli orders (11 items)
• McAlister's Deli calorie calculator (build an order under your cap)

Under 500 calories at other chains

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

• Potbelly under 500
• QuickChek under 500
• Port of Subs under 500