Salads are often perceived as the healthier choice on a restaurant menu, a lighter alternative to heavier dishes like burgers. While many salads indeed offer a nutritious option, some chain restaurant creations can surprisingly pack a caloric punch far exceeding that of a typical cheeseburger. The culprit often lies not in the fresh ingredients themselves, but in the generous additions of rich dressings, crispy toppings, cheeses, and fried components that transform a seemingly light meal into a high-calorie indulgence.
Here are five restaurant salads that defy expectations, containing more calories than an average cheeseburger, making them a less-than-ideal choice for those watching their intake.
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory’s Santa Fe Salad is a prime example of a salad that can be a caloric powerhouse, weighing in at 1670 calories. This substantial dish features marinated chicken, fresh corn, black beans, cheese, tortilla strips, tomato, and romaine lettuce, all tossed in a spicy peanut-cilantro vinaigrette. Remarkably, this isn’t even the most calorific salad on their menu; the Sheila’s Chicken and Avocado Salad surpasses it with an astonishing 1820 calories.
Applebee’s
A popular menu item, Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad, comes with a significant calorie count of 1550. This salad combines crispy breaded chicken tenders with fresh Asian greens, crunchy noodles, and almonds, all coated in an Oriental vinaigrette. It is typically served alongside a signature breadstick brushed with buttery garlic and parsley, further contributing to its overall calorie total.
Chili’s
Chili’s Quesadilla Explosion Crispers® Salad offers a hearty meal at 1420 calories. This salad is built with hand-battered Chicken Crispers, cheese, tomatoes, corn salsa, tortilla strips, and cilantro, dressed with a citrus-balsamic vinaigrette. Topping off this already substantial dish are cheese quesadillas, making it a particularly rich and filling option.
Buffalo Wild Wings
The Honey BBQ Chicken Salad at Buffalo Wild Wings totals 1060 calories. This salad features grilled chicken, a generous drizzle of honey BBQ sauce, romaine lettuce, cabbage, shredded carrots, ranch dressing, cheddar-jack cheese, tomatoes, bacon crumbles, croutons, green onions, and a hint of lime, creating a complex flavor profile with a high calorie count.
California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen’s Charcuterie Salad stands out with an exceptionally high calorie count, reaching a staggering 2540 calories for the full portion. This elaborate salad combines mixed greens and fresh basil tossed in a mustard herb vinaigrette. It is then generously topped with applewood smoked ham, salami, sliced creamy Brie, cubed Parmesan, sliced green apples, and candied walnuts, and served with housemade toasted sesame crackers on the side, making it one of the most calorically dense salads available.
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