Dining out can be a pleasurable experience, offering a break from cooking and the chance to indulge in your favorite flavors. However, many dishes at chain restaurants are calorie bombs, packed with hidden sugars, heavy sauces, and oversized portions that can sabotage your weight loss efforts. To help you make smarter dining choices, we’ve ranked 15 of the highest-calorie dishes from popular chain restaurants—going from bad to the absolute worst.
Whether you’re aiming to shed pounds, maintain a balanced diet, or simply stay informed, these dishes should be skipped or swapped for healthier options to keep your weight loss goals on track.
IHOP Country Fried Steak & Eggs with Sausage Gravy
- Calories: 1,370
- Fat: 85 g (Saturated Fat: 26 g)
- Sodium: 3,350 mg
- Carbs: 108 g (Sugar: 9 g)
- Protein: 44 g
While it’s the lowest-calorie option on this list, this dish is still loaded with fat and sodium, easily surpassing daily recommended limits.
TGI Fridays Cajun Shrimp and Chicken Pasta
- Calories: 1,390
- Fat: 60 g (Saturated Fat: 28 g)
- Sodium: 3,230 mg
- Carbs: 132 g (Sugar: 13 g)
- Protein: 72 g
This dish is a protein powerhouse but contains an overwhelming amount of fat and sodium, making it unsuitable for those trying to lose weight.
Bonefish Grill Half-Pound Beef Burger with French Fries
- Calories: 1,410
- Fat: 84 g (Saturated Fat: 27 g)
- Sodium: 2,550 mg
- Carbs: 107 g (Sugar: 11 g)
- Protein: 57 g
With a massive calorie count and high fat content, this burger and fries combo is one of Bonefish’s most indulgent meals.
Denny’s Double Bacon Avocado Cheeseburger
- Calories: 1,420
- Fat: 69 g (Saturated Fat: 24 g)
- Sodium: 1,420 mg
- Carbs: 54 g (Sugar: 11 g)
- Protein: 48 g
This calorie-dense burger is high in fat and sodium, and adding fries or sides only increases the calorie load.
LongHorn Steakhouse Parmesan Crusted Chicken with Half-Rack Baby Back Ribs
- Calories: 1,470
- Fat: 92 g (Saturated Fat: 36 g)
- Sodium: 2,600 mg
- Carbs: 28 g (Sugar: 17 g)
- Protein: 130 g
Combo meals often pack in extra calories, and this dish is no exception, with a staggering amount of fat and sodium.
Outback Steakhouse Queensland Chicken & Shrimp Pasta
- Calories: 1,510
- Fat: 73 g (Saturated Fat: 23 g)
- Sodium: 1,810 mg
- Carbs: 122 g (Sugar: 9 g)
- Protein: 82 g
While rich in protein, this pasta dish is still high in fat and carbs, making it a poor choice for weight loss.
Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole Shepherd’s Pie
- Calories: 1,530
- Fat: 99 g (Saturated Fat: 32 g)
- Sodium: 2,100 mg
- Carbs: 91 g (Sugar: 13 g)
- Protein: 73 g
Cracker Barrel’s indulgent Southern comfort food packs a huge calorie punch, making it a dish to avoid for weight-conscious diners.
Olive Garden Tour of Italy
- Calories: 1,550
- Fat: 97 g (Saturated Fat: 50 g)
- Sodium: 3,220 mg
- Carbs: 99 g (Sugar: 12 g)
- Protein: 72 g
Combining three rich Italian classics, this dish is extremely high in fat and sodium, making it a poor choice for weight loss.
Ruby Tuesday Rib Eye, Ribs, and Crispy Shrimp Combo
- Calories: 1,650
- Fat: 87 g (Saturated Fat: 30 g)
- Sodium: 4,240 mg
- Carbs: 101 g (Sugar: 20 g)
- Protein: 91 g
A protein-heavy combo, but the excessive fat, sodium, and calories make this a meal to steer clear of when dieting.
Chili’s Bacon Rancher
- Calories: 1,690
- Fat: 123 g (Saturated Fat: 49 g)
- Sodium: 2,720 mg
- Carbs: 48 g (Sugar: 13 g)
- Protein: 104 g
This double burger is one of the highest-fat items, with a shocking amount of saturated fat and calories.
Red Lobster Crunch-Fried Flounder Sandwich
- Calories: 1,770
- Fat: 100 g (Saturated Fat: 17 g)
- Sodium: 4,040 mg
- Carbs: 179 g (Sugar: 26 g)
- Protein: 38 g
Despite being a fish dish, this sandwich is loaded with calories, fat, and sodium, making it a poor choice.
Maggiano’s Italy Eggplant Parmesan
- Calories: 2,130
- Fat: 124 g (Saturated Fat: 29 g)
- Sodium: 3,720 mg
- Carbs: 214 g (Sugar: 23 g)
- Protein: 42 g
This Italian dish is packed with more than 2,000 calories, nearly a whole day’s worth of food in one meal.
Cheesecake Factory Bruléed French Toast with Bacon
- Calories: 2,110
- Fat: 182 g (Saturated Fat: 96 g)
- Sodium: 530 mg
- Carbs: 90 g (Sugar: 62 g)
- Protein: 25 g
Loaded with fats and sugars, this breakfast dish is one of the highest-calorie items on the Cheesecake Factory menu.
Buffalo Wild Wings Buffalo Chicken Tots
- Calories: 2,410
- Fat: 144 g (Saturated Fat: 51 g)
- Sodium: 7,360 mg
- Carbs: 147 g (Sugar: 3 g)
- Protein: 57 g
A shocking sodium overload and a massive fat content make these tater tots a terrible choice for weight-conscious diners.
Cheesecake Factory Chicken Katsu
- Calories: 2,620
- Fat: 142 g (Saturated Fat: 51 g)
- Sodium: 5,220 mg
- Carbs: 201 g (Sugar: 40 g)
- Protein: 112 g
This dish ranks as the highest-calorie on the list, with excessive carbs, fats, and sodium that can hinder your weight loss progress.
Choosing healthier options or smaller portions when dining out can help you stay on track with your weight loss goals. Look for dishes with lean proteins, fewer calories, and less saturated fat to make dining out both enjoyable and conducive to a healthy lifestyle.
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