Weight Loss
Best Low-Calorie Chili's Orders in 2026
The best low-calorie Chili's orders in 2026, from the 300-calorie Guiltless Sirloin to chicken fajitas with corn tortillas, with calories and protein.
The short answer
The best low-calorie order at Chili's in 2026 is the 6 oz Guiltless Sirloin: 300 calories and 38 grams of protein as served, according to Chili's nutrition information. For a bigger plate, chicken fajitas with four corn tortillas come to about 720 calories and 67 grams of protein. The Bottomless Chips and Salsa alone is 910 calories.
Chili's is a tough place to eat light. Many of the appetizers and pastas pass 1,000 calories, and the bottomless chips and salsa can add almost as much before the food arrives. But the menu has a Guiltless Grill section and a few build-your-own options that stay well under 700 calories.
Here's what to order, using the nutrition information Chili's publishes through its online nutrition calculator. If you like Tex-Mex, our guide to high-protein Mexican restaurant orders covers the same dishes at other restaurants.
What is the lowest-calorie meal at Chili's?#
The lowest-calorie full entree at Chili's is the 6 oz Guiltless Sirloin, at 300 calories with 38 grams of protein as served. Chili's lists its Guiltless Grill items as served, while steaks and fajitas from the main menu are listed without their sides. Here are the lightest entrees:
| Entree | Calories | Protein | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Sirloin, 6 oz (no sides) | 250 | 34 g | 630 mg |
| Guiltless 6 oz Sirloin (as served) | 300 | 38 g | 1,010 mg |
| Fajita Shrimp (no tortillas or toppings) | 310 | 25 g | 2,280 mg |
| Guiltless 10 oz Sirloin (as served) | 450 | 59 g | 1,310 mg |
| Fajita Grilled Chicken (no tortillas or toppings) | 480 | 62 g | 2,180 mg |
| Santa Fe Chicken Salad with Grilled Chicken | 540 | 35 g | 1,580 mg |
| Fajita Grilled Steak (no tortillas or toppings) | 570 | 57 g | 1,850 mg |
| Ancho Salmon (as served) | 590 | 48 g | 1,770 mg |
| Margarita Grilled Chicken (as served) | 640 | 69 g | 2,660 mg |
Nutrition from Chili's online nutrition calculator, checked October 2026. Menus and recipes vary by location.
What is the best low-calorie meal at Chili's?#
The best low-calorie meal at Chili's is a lean protein with vegetable sides, or fajitas with corn tortillas instead of flour. These meals are added up from Chili's published values:
| Order | Calories | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Sirloin, 6 oz + Steamed Broccoli | 290 | 37 g |
| Guiltless 6 oz Sirloin | 300 | 38 g |
| Classic Sirloin, 6 oz + Steamed Broccoli + Asparagus | 330 | 40 g |
| Shrimp Fajitas + 4 Corn Tortillas | 550 | 30 g |
| Chicken Fajitas + 4 Corn Tortillas | 720 | 67 g |
| Chicken Fajitas + 4 Corn Tortillas + Black Beans | 830 | 73 g |
A 6 oz sirloin with steamed broccoli is the lightest real dinner on the menu, at about 290 calories. If you want something more filling, chicken fajitas with corn tortillas give you 67 grams of protein for about 720 calories.
Are Chili's Guiltless Grill items low in calories?#
Mostly, yes. The Guiltless Grill section is Chili's lighter menu, and its items are listed as served:
- Guiltless 6 oz Sirloin: 300 calories, 38 grams of protein.
- Guiltless 10 oz Sirloin: 450 calories, 59 grams.
- Ancho Salmon: 590 calories, 48 grams.
- Margarita Grilled Chicken: 640 calories, 69 grams.
The Margarita Grilled Chicken has the most protein, but it also has 2,660 mg of sodium, more than the FDA's 2,300 mg daily limit in one plate. The 6 oz Guiltless Sirloin has 1,010 mg.
How many calories are in Chili's fajitas?#
Chili's fajita meats are 310 to 570 calories before tortillas and toppings: shrimp is 310 calories, veggie 340, grilled chicken 480 and grilled steak 570. The extras are where the calories climb:
- 4 corn tortillas: 240 calories.
- 4 flour tortillas: 390 calories.
- Fresh fajita toppings: 260 calories.
- Mexican rice: 160 calories.
- Black beans: 110 calories, 6 grams of protein.
Corn tortillas instead of flour save 150 calories. Use the toppings sparingly, and pick black beans over rice for a little more protein. Chili's menu lists its standard fajita plates ("The Classics") at 910 to 1,190 calories with everything included, so these swaps make a real difference.
What are the lowest-calorie sides at Chili's?#
Asparagus and steamed broccoli are the lowest-calorie sides at Chili's, at 35 and 40 calories. Here's how the sides compare:
- Asparagus: 35 calories.
- Steamed Broccoli: 40 calories.
- Black Beans: 110 calories.
- Mexican Rice: 160 calories.
- Loaded Mashed Potatoes: 320 calories.
- Homestyle Fries: 420 calories.
A cup of Chicken Enchilada Soup is 200 calories, and the House Side Salad is 130 calories before dressing. Ranch adds 170 calories per 1.5 oz. The Santa Fe dressing is listed at 230 calories per 1.5 oz, so ask for dressings on the side.
What should you skip at Chili's when counting calories?#
Skip the shareable appetizers, loaded fries and most burgers and pastas. Some of the highest-calorie items on the menu:
- Chicken Bacon Ranch Nachos: 2,260 calories.
- Texas Cheese Fries: 1,790 calories.
- Bacon Rancher Burger: 1,710 calories, without fries.
- Smoked Cajun Pasta: 1,540 calories.
- Quesadilla Explosion Salad with Crispers: 1,420 calories.
- Bottomless Chips and Salsa: 910 calories.
Desserts are just as heavy. The Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie is 1,210 calories and the Molten Chocolate Cake is 1,140. If you want a drink, the Skinny Marg is 150 calories versus 300 for a Patron Marg, and a 12 oz Michelob Ultra is 100.
How do you eat at Chili's on a calorie deficit?#
Order the protein first, then build sides around it. Ask for vegetables in place of fries, corn tortillas in place of flour, and dressings on the side, and decide before you sit down whether the chips are part of the meal. Our guide to eating out on a calorie deficit covers how to fit a restaurant meal into the rest of your day, and our tips on how to eat healthy at restaurants apply to any sit-down chain.
The FDA notes that food prepared away from home generally provides more calories, sodium and saturated fat than meals eaten at home, which is why the choices above matter.
At a local Tex-Mex place without posted 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 your goal. 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 entree at Chili's?#
The 6 oz Classic Sirloin is 250 calories on its own, and the 6 oz Guiltless Sirloin is 300 calories as served. Both have well over 30 grams of protein.
How many calories are in Chili's chicken fajitas?#
The grilled chicken fajita meat is 480 calories with 62 grams of protein before tortillas and toppings. With four corn tortillas it's about 720 calories; four flour tortillas instead bring it to about 870.
Is Chili's Margarita Grilled Chicken healthy?#
It's 640 calories with 69 grams of protein, which is a good ratio. The downside is sodium: 2,660 mg, more than the FDA's 2,300 mg daily limit.
How many calories are in Chili's chips and salsa?#
Chili's lists its Bottomless Chips and Salsa at 910 calories, with 1,920 mg of sodium. That's more than three 6 oz Guiltless Sirloins.
What is the lowest-calorie drink at Chili's?#
Unsweetened iced tea is 5 calories. Among alcoholic drinks, a 12 oz Michelob Ultra or Miller Lite is 100 calories and the Skinny Marg is 150.
Sources#
- Chili's: Nutrition, Chili's nutrition page linking to its online nutrition calculator
- Chili's Nutrition Calculator (Nutritionix), calories, protein and sodium for entrees, fajitas, sides, desserts and drinks
- Chili's: Menu, menu calorie ranges for fajita plates and Guiltless Grill items
- FDA: Sodium in Your Diet, the 2,300 mg daily sodium limit
- FDA: Calories on the Menu, why meals eaten out tend to carry more calories, sodium and saturated fat