Taco John's under 500 calories: 42 orders, ranked

Of the 62 single orders we track at Taco John's, 42 come in at or under 500 calories — 68%. The most protein in one item under 500 is the Crispy Chicken Tenders, 3-piece, with Ranch, 25 g for 490 calories; the most filling by protein and fiber per calorie is the Refried Beans (19 g protein, 16 g fiber, 320 cal). 29 entrées fit under 500; 17 do not.

Source: Taco John's nutrition guide (official), September 9, 2026 edition · Data refreshed September 15, 2026

• 42 orders under 500
• 25g most protein in one item
• 28g protein in a full meal
• 17 entrées over 500

As of September 2026, 42 of the 62 Taco John's single orders we track come in at or under 500 calories, and the most protein in a complete Taco John's meal under 500 is 28 g (A Chicken Fiesta Softshell Taco, a side of Black Beans, and a large Diet Pepsi).

Three complete Taco John's meals under 500 calories

Under 500, the most-protein meal is built on the Fiesta Softshell Taco, Chicken (250 cal), which leaves 250 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 Taco John's order under 500 calories → Swap any item, add a side, share the link.

Every Taco John'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 335 calories and 29 of the 42 are entrées. Figures as Taco John's published them, rounded to whole numbers (how we check them).

What 500 calories buys at Taco John's

Going from 400 to 500 calories adds 14 orders: Bean Burrito (410), Chips & Nacho Cheese (410), Four Cheese Quesadilla (420), Combination Burrito (440), Beef Burrito (460), Mexi Rolls, Chipotle Chicken (4) (at select locations) (limited time) (460), Potato Olés (Small) (460) and Super Burrito, Beef (460) and 6 more.

What doesn't fit under 500

17 of 46 Taco John's entrées are over 500 calories; the lightest of them, the Meat & Potato Burrito, Beef, misses by 10 calories at 510. With more room, see Taco John's under 600. Tighter budget: Taco John's under 400. Closest misses: Meat & Potato Burrito, Beef (510), Stuffed Grilled Taco, Beef (540), Stuffed Grilled Taco, Chicken (570), Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla (at select locations) (limited time) (590) and Crispy Chicken Tenders, 4-piece, with Ranch (590).

More at Taco John's

• Taco John's calories & nutrition (75 items listed)
• Taco John's under 300 calories (16 orders)
• Taco John's under 400 calories (28 orders)
• Taco John's under 600 calories (47 orders)
• High-protein Taco John's orders (8 items)
• Taco John's calorie calculator (build an order under your cap)

Under 500 calories at other chains

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

• Taco Bell under 500
• Del Taco under 500
• El Pollo Loco under 500