Weight Loss
Best Low-Calorie Cheesecake Factory Orders in 2026
The best low-calorie Cheesecake Factory orders in 2026, from SkinnyLicious steak and Tuscan Chicken to the Low-Licious Cheesecake, with official calories.
The short answer
The best low-calorie order at The Cheesecake Factory in 2026 is the Grilled Steak Medallions from the SkinnyLicious menu: 440 calories and 45 grams of protein, based on the chain's nutritional guide. For the most protein, the Tuscan Chicken is 590 calories with 81 grams. Skip the regular pastas (1,270 calories and up at dinner) and the cheesecake slices (830 to 1,580).
The Cheesecake Factory has a reputation for huge portions, and the nutritional guide backs it up: most dinner entrées run well over 1,000 calories. The Louisiana Chicken Pasta alone is 2,270. But the chain also runs a SkinnyLicious menu, and every item in the guide's SkinnyLicious sections is 590 calories or less.
That's where to order. The Grilled Steak Medallions are 440 calories with 45 grams of protein, and the Tuscan Chicken packs 81 grams into 590. Here's what to pick, using The Cheesecake Factory's nutritional guide (version 8.26, summer 2026).
What are the lowest calorie entrées at The Cheesecake Factory?#
The lowest calorie entrée on the SkinnyLicious Specialties menu is the Grilled Steak Medallions, at 440 calories and 45 grams of protein. The Asian Chicken Lettuce Wrap Tacos and the Seared Tuna Tataki Salad are close behind at 450. Here's how the SkinnyLicious mains compare, from the official guide:
| Item | Calories | Protein | Protein per 100 cal | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscan Chicken | 590 | 81 g | 13.7 g | 1,560 mg |
| Grilled Steak Medallions | 440 | 45 g | 10.2 g | 1,320 mg |
| SkinnyLicious Chicken Pasta | 590 | 46 g | 7.8 g | 1,760 mg |
| Sesame Ginger Chicken | 590 | 46 g | 7.8 g | 2,320 mg |
| SkinnyLicious Grilled Salmon | 590 | 45 g | 7.6 g | 1,020 mg |
| Seared Tuna Tataki Salad | 450 | 34 g | 7.6 g | 1,280 mg |
| SkinnyLicious Turkey & Avocado Sandwich | 550 | 38 g | 6.9 g | 1,650 mg |
| SkinnyLicious Grilled Branzino | 530 | 36 g | 6.8 g | 1,250 mg |
| Asian Chicken Lettuce Wrap Tacos | 450 | 29 g | 6.4 g | 1,040 mg |
| SkinnyLicious Factory Chopped Salad | 530 | 34 g | 6.4 g | 1,660 mg |
| SkinnyLicious Chicken Soft Tacos | 520 | 32 g | 6.2 g | 1,050 mg |
| SkinnyLicious Hamburger | 570 | 35 g | 6.1 g | 1,180 mg |
| Lemon-Garlic Shrimp | 550 | 32 g | 5.8 g | 2,320 mg |
Nutrition from The Cheesecake Factory's nutritional guide (8.26). The guide notes that recipes are prepared to order, so actual values can differ, and that modifications change them.
What is the best low-calorie meal at The Cheesecake Factory?#
The best low-calorie meal at The Cheesecake Factory is the Grilled Steak Medallions with a side of grilled asparagus: about 560 calories and 50 grams of protein. These orders are added up from the guide's published values:
| Order | Calories | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Grilled Steak Medallions | 440 | 45 g |
| Seared Tuna Tataki Salad | 450 | 34 g |
| Asian Chicken Lettuce Wrap Tacos | 450 | 29 g |
| Grilled Steak Medallions + Grilled Asparagus | 560 | 50 g |
| Tuscan Chicken | 590 | 81 g |
| SkinnyLicious Grilled Salmon | 590 | 45 g |
The Tuscan Chicken is the standout for protein: 81 grams for 590 calories is more than most regular entrées, which cost twice the calories or more. The Chicken Madeira, for example, has 89 grams for 1,300 calories. If you're watching sodium, the SkinnyLicious Grilled Salmon is the lowest of these at 1,020 mg.
What is on the SkinnyLicious menu at The Cheesecake Factory?#
The SkinnyLicious menu covers small plates, salads, burgers and sandwiches, tacos, specialties and cocktails, and every item in those sections of the nutritional guide is 590 calories or less. Several of its dishes are lighter versions of regular ones.
The gap is large. The SkinnyLicious Factory Chopped Salad is 530 calories, against 780 for the regular Factory Chopped Salad, and the SkinnyLicious Grilled Salmon is 590 against 1,270 for the dinner Grilled Salmon. The SkinnyLicious cocktails run 110 to 150 calories: the Long Island Iced Tea and Cosmopolitan are 110, the Sangria 130, and the Margarita and Mojito 150.
Which Cheesecake Factory salads are lowest in calories?#
The Tossed Green Salad is the lowest calorie salad at 190 calories, or 280 with the SkinnyLicious Mustard Vinaigrette. For a salad that works as a meal, the Seared Tuna Tataki Salad is 450 calories with 34 grams of protein.
Dressing and the regular-menu salads are where calories jump. The same Tossed Green Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette is 660 calories. On the regular menu, the Caesar Salad with Chicken is 1,090 calories, the Cobb Salad 1,480 and Sheila's Chicken and Avocado Salad 1,820. The SkinnyLicious Asian Chicken Salad is 570 calories with 37 grams of protein, but it has 2,810 mg of sodium. For a similar approach at an Italian chain, see our best low-calorie Olive Garden orders.
Is there a low-calorie cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory?#
Yes. The Low-Licious Cheesecake is 570 calories with 5 grams of sugar, the lowest calorie cheesecake in the guide. The Original Cheesecake is 830 calories, and most other slices run from about 1,000 to 1,580 calories.
The Low-Licious is still a full dessert's worth of calories, with 26 grams of saturated fat, so it's worth splitting. The Bowl of Fresh Strawberries is 250 calories as served. At the other end, the Ultimate Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake is 1,580 calories and the Cookie Dough Lover's Cheesecake with Pecans is 1,550.
What should you skip at The Cheesecake Factory when you're trying to lose weight?#
Skip the cream pastas, the fried entrées and the big sides. These cost the most calories:
- Louisiana Chicken Pasta: 2,270 calories and 4,660 mg of sodium.
- Fettuccini Alfredo with Chicken: 2,120 calories.
- Chicken Parmesan "Pizza Style": 1,940 calories.
- Fish & Chips: 1,930 calories.
- Famous Factory Meatloaf: 1,930 calories.
Sides matter too. A side of French Fries is 1,060 calories and Macaroni & Cheese is 1,550, while Grilled Asparagus is 120 and Green Beans are 140. The Broccoli side is 260 calories as prepared. Our best low-calorie Chili's orders cover another sit-down chain with a lighter menu.
Is The Cheesecake Factory good for weight loss?#
The Cheesecake Factory can fit a weight-loss plan if you order from the SkinnyLicious menu and skip dessert, or share one. A 440-calorie Steak Medallions plate uses about a quarter of an 1,800-calorie day; the Louisiana Chicken Pasta uses more than the whole day.
Protein helps here. Higher-protein diets help preserve lean muscle and improve fullness during weight loss, according to a review in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and the SkinnyLicious mains in the table above have 29 to 81 grams. The weak spot is sodium: every one of those mains is over 1,000 mg, and the Chicken Pot Stickers small plate has 2,550 mg, more than the FDA's 2,300 mg daily limit. Our guide to eating out on a calorie deficit shows how to plan the rest of the day.
At a local restaurant that doesn't post nutrition, Menu Scan AI can help. Snap the menu with your iPhone and it estimates calories, protein, carbs and fat for each dish from the menu descriptions, then labels the best matches for a weight-loss goal. Treat the results as estimates, not lab values. The app is free to download; its listing says an annual subscription is required for full access, including menu scanning and AI nutrition analysis.
Frequently asked questions#
What is the lowest calorie entrée at The Cheesecake Factory?#
The Grilled Steak Medallions are the lowest calorie SkinnyLicious Specialty, at 440 calories with 45 grams of protein. The Asian Chicken Lettuce Wrap Tacos and Seared Tuna Tataki Salad are 450 each.
How many calories are in the Cheesecake Factory Tuscan Chicken?#
The Tuscan Chicken has 590 calories, 81 grams of protein and 1,560 mg of sodium, according to The Cheesecake Factory's nutritional guide.
How many calories are in the Low-Licious Cheesecake?#
A slice of Low-Licious Cheesecake has 570 calories, 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of sugar. The Original Cheesecake has 830 calories.
Are SkinnyLicious items under 600 calories?#
Yes. Every item in the SkinnyLicious sections of the current nutritional guide is 590 calories or less, from 110-calorie cocktails to 590-calorie mains like the Tuscan Chicken.
What is the lowest calorie salad at The Cheesecake Factory?#
The Tossed Green Salad is the lowest at 190 calories before dressing, or 280 with the SkinnyLicious Mustard Vinaigrette. The Seared Tuna Tataki Salad is the lightest meal-size salad at 450 calories.
Sources#
- The Cheesecake Factory: Nutritional Guide, official values (version 8.26) for SkinnyLicious items, entrées, salads, sides, cheesecakes and drinks
- The Cheesecake Factory: Menu, the current menu, including SkinnyLicious
- Leidy et al., American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2015), the role of protein in weight loss and maintenance
- FDA: Sodium in Your Diet, the 2,300 mg daily sodium limit