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Many diners opt for salads at chain restaurants, assuming they’re choosing a lighter, healthier meal. However, some salads can surprisingly rival or even exceed the calorie content of a traditional cheeseburger. This isn’t always due to unhealthy ingredients; rather, it’s often the addition of rich dressings and sauces that significantly boost the calorie count. Here are five salads that pack more calories than your average burger.
The Santa Fe Salad from The Cheesecake Factory is a prime example, clocking in at a staggering 1,670 calories. To put that into perspective, it’s almost as calorific as three McDonald’s Big Macs combined. This salad is loaded with marinated chicken, fresh corn, black beans, cheese, tortilla strips, tomatoes, and romaine lettuce, all tossed in a spicy peanut-cilantro vinaigrette. Yet, it isn’t the highest-calorie option on the menu; that title goes to Sheila’s Chicken and Avocado Salad, which contains an even heftier 1,820 calories.
Salads are supposed to be a healthy, lower-calorie option at any restaurant (and for the most part they are) but some are absolutely calorie-bombs with more calories than traditionally “unhealthy” items like cheeseburgers. These salads aren’t necessarily made of unhealthy ingredients, but once there are dressings and sauces in the mix, the calorie count can go through the roof. Here are five restaurant salads with more calories than an average cheeseburger.
The Cheesecake Factory Santa Fe Salad
The Santa Fe Salad at The Cheesecake Factory is 1670 Calories—that’s only slightly less calories than three McDonald’s Big Macs. This salad contains marinated chicken, fresh corn, black beans, cheese, tortilla strips, tomato and romaine with a spicy peanut-cilantro vinaigrette. It’s not even the most calorific salad on the menu—the Sheila’s Chicken and Avocado Salad is 1820 calories.
Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad
Applebee’s Oriental Chicken Salad is a hefty 1550 calories, but that doesn’t stop fans raving about this favorite menu item. Made with crispy breaded chicken tenders on a bed of fresh Asian greens, crunchy noodles and almonds tossed in Oriental vinaigrette, this salad is served with a golden brown signature breadstick brushed with buttery garlic and parsley.
Chili’s Quesadilla Explosion Crispers® Salad
Chili’s Quesadilla Explosion Crispers® Salad is 1420 calories, for a salad made with hand-battered Chicken Crispers, cheese, tomatoes, corn salsa, tortilla strips, and cilantro with citrus-balsamic. This salad is topped with cheese quesadillas for a cheesy, filling meal. The citrus-balsamic dressing is a fan-favorite menu item.
Buffalo Wild Wings Honey BBQ Chicken Salad
The Honey BBQ Chicken Salad at Buffalo Wild Wings is 1060 calories. This salad is made with grilled chicken, honey bbq sauce, romaine, cabbage, shredded carrots, ranch dressing, cheddar-jack cheese, tomatoes, bacon crumbles, croutons, green onions, and lime.
California Pizza Kitchen’s new Charcuterie Salad
California Pizza Kitchen‘s new Charcuterie Salad is a whopping 2540 calories for the full salad. This mixed greens and fresh basil salad is tossed in mustard herb vinaigrette and topped with applewood smoked ham, salami, sliced creamy Brie, cubed Parmesan, sliced green apples, and candied walnuts. The salad also comes with housemade toasted sesame crackers on the side.