The #1 Unhealthiest Order at Texas Roadhouse in 2024

Hand-cut steaks, ribs and Texas-sized combo meals are some of the featured menu categories at Texas Roadhouse. The meat-heavy menu and generous portions mean many of the popular restaurant chain’s meals are high in calories, unhealthy fats and sodium.

With so many unhealthy options on the menu, identifying Texas Roadhouse’s #1 unhealthiest order is a lot trickier than you think. That’s because the unhealthiest item on the menu is deceptive: It looks like a healthy meal, but instead it’s my pick for the unhealthiest Texas Roadhouse meal you can order. Find out why I recommend avoiding this menu item, plus my pick for a healthier alternative at the popular steakhouse chain.

The Unhealthiest Order at Texas Roadhouse Is… Steakhouse Tenderloin Salad with Bacon and Blue Cheese Crumbles

Nutrition (per order):
CALORIES: 1,340
FAT: 103 g (Saturated fat: 25 g, Trans fat: 2.5 g)
SODIUM: 2,870mg
CRABS: 42 g (Fibre: 8 g, Sugar: 21 g)
PROTEIN: 71g

Like any salad, the Steakhouse Filet Salad comes with a generous portion of fresh, crunchy greens, diced tomatoes and onions. The vegetarian portion of this salad contains only 60 calories, 13 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of protein, 35 grams of sodium and less than 1 gram of fat. It’s what the restaurant puts on the vegetables that make it an unhealthy choice, including filet strips, blue cheese crumbles, bacon bits, croutons, Italian dressing and blue cheese vinaigrette, thus increasing the total calories to 1,340. If you follow a 2,000 calorie diet, the Steakhouse Salad covers 68% of your daily needs.

The 25 Saltiest Restaurant Meals in America

Surprisingly – or perhaps not, given the meat, cheese and dressings – 68% of the salad’s calories come from fat. Beyond total fat, this salad is high in saturated fat, with 25 grams per serving. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat intake to 5 to 6 percent of total calories, or no more than 13 grams on a 2,000-calorie diet. Texas Roadhouse Steakhouse Filet Salad provides two days of saturated fat. High intake of saturated fats from red meat and cheese increases levels of bad cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which sticks to artery walls, narrowing or blocking blood flow) and the risk of heart disease. .

This salad contains 2,870 milligrams of sodium, more than the recommended daily limit of 2,300 milligrams. Too much sodium in the diet is a risk factor for high blood pressure, the leading cause of stroke in the United States.

The salad provides 8 grams of fiber, or 32% of the daily intake thanks to vegetables. However, the calories, fat and sodium cancel out all the benefits of fiber.

You can modify the salad to make it a little healthier, like asking for dressings on the side and removing the bacon and blue cheese crumbles.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

The Healthiest Order at Texas Roadhouse, According to a Dietitian

A healthier option is… 6 ounce sirloin steak with green beans and a baked sweet potato

Nutrition (per order):
CALORIES: 700
FAT: 19 g (Saturated fat: 7 g, Trans fat: 0)
SODIUM: 1,730mg
CRABS: 78 g (Fiber: 13 g, Sugar: 25 g)
PROTEIN: 58g

One of the features of the Texas Roadhouse menu is that you can create your own meal, selecting sauces and sides that give you more control over the nutrition of your meal. Sirloin is one of the hand-cut steak options on the Texas Steakhouse menu and one of the leanest cuts of beef. The sirloin comes in different sizes and the 6 ounce steak is the smallest but still generous portion. The steak comes with two sides and I selected green beans and a sweet potato to balance the meal and improve the overall nutrition.

I tried all the steaks at Texas Roadhouse and one blew me away

The 6-ounce sirloin steak alone has 250 calories; green beans add 110 calories; and sweet potato adds 340 calories (not the fully loaded sweet potato). Green beans are also the main source of sodium, adding more than 1,000 milligrams to the meal. Although vegetables add calories and sodium, they increase the nutritional value of the meal by adding fiber, vitamins A and C, and potassium.

Baked potato, steamed broccoli, and house salad are other healthy side options for your steak. Choking options and companions are also available. To keep your steak healthier, smother it with onions or mushrooms. Charred jalapeno peppers are the best side option.

Sirloin steak is a good source of protein, zinc and iron, but it also contains unhealthy saturated fats. Although not all health authorities agree on how much red meat is safe to eat, the American Heart Association recommends limiting red meat consumption to 7 ounces per week. If you have high cholesterol, heart disease, or concerns about heart health, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian for personalized advice on how much red meat you can eat per week based on your health and your goals.