13 Of The Unhealthiest Things You Can Order At Texas Roadhouse
Texas Roadhouse is a popular steakhouse chain restaurant with a down-home, casual vibe and features Southwest, Tex-Mex spun recipes. But, despite its name, many of its locations are not even within the state of Texas. It actually opened its first location in Clarksville, Indiana, in 1993, currently has its corporate headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky, and is commonly found all across the United States. It even has international outposts in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
True to its namesake, everything's bigger on the Texas Roadhouse menu. The list is sprawling and spans across beverages, appetizers, entrées, salads, soups, side dishes, and desserts. If we're being honest, pretty much all the dishes on offer bend toward indulgence. The majority of the options are fried, smothered with cheese, starch heavy — or in some cases, all of the above. So, before you settle down into a booth at a Texas Roadhouse location, you should know what you're getting into, especially if you have particular dietary concerns.
Something important that we should stress is that calories, fat, carbohydrates, and sodium are just part of eating food. And health experts aren't suggesting that you cut them out completely — that would be impossible. In fact, they can be quite good for you. But, as the saying goes, everything might be better in moderation. So, here is a list of what we dishes would avoid, ask for certain ingredients to be held back or split with another guest at the table.
1. Kids meal mini-cheeseburgers
Also known as Ranger Meals, there are more than a few options for the little ones with pint-sized appetites at most Texas Roadhouse locations. The one you definitely want to avoid, though it might be the most tempting to kids, would be the mini-cheeseburger sliders. Coming in at 670 calories, 36 grams of fat, including 15 grams of saturated fat, and nearly 1000 milligrams of sodium, this meal is a whopper.
The Ranger Meal we might suggest ordering instead would be Andy's steak, which is chock full of protein and lower in fat content — the serving size might make it better for big kids, though. Lil' Dillo Steak Bites are also a good option if your tiny guest isn't ready to take on a steak yet. There's also a grilled chicken Ranger Meal that isn't overly seasoned and may appeal to more sensitive palates. And if you have an especially picky eater, you never know if Andy the Armadillo himself might show up at your table to encourage your tyke to take a bite of whatever you ordered for them.
2. Margaritas
It's no secret that alcohol is best consumed in moderation. But with a margarita from Texas Roadhouse, beyond the booze, you're getting an extra strong dose of sugar which also isn't known for being great for your health. And because those sweet drinks go down easy, you might likely order one or two more, and you're inevitably dealing with a nasty hangover in the morning.
For better or for worse, Texas Roadhouse really does have a tempting assortment of margarita flavors. If the name alone doesn't imply a looming disaster, the 18-ounce frozen Hurricane Margarita is 66 grams of sugar, and the other frozen 18-ounce margaritas only get higher in sugar content with mango, raspberry, and strawberry at the top of the heap. Maybe order these beverages if you're splitting them.
We're not teetotalers, though. Go out and have fun. But consider sticking to a 10-ounce margarita served on the rocks. And you can keep things interesting with that order — Texas Roadhouse's Jamaican Cowboy margarita and Sangria margarita are fun riffs on the classic cocktail.
3. Steakhouse filet salad
We might associate salad with health benefits because, more often than not, it's packed with fibrous lettuce and other nutrient-packed vegetable accouterments like tomatoes, radishes, or cucumbers. Beyond greens, there might also be a meaty protein, some shredded or crumbled cheese, a drizzle of dressing, and a light scattering of croutons.
Texas Roadhouse has an impressive bushel of salad options, but when you look at the nutritional facts, what's available could be better for your health. A serving of this steakhouse filet salad tops the charts at 1,340 calories. It also contains 103 grams of fat, and the news isn't great when it comes to sodium, either — it has 2,870 milligrams. Unfortunately, this salad has more steak, cheese, and dressing than veggies. The Caesar salad should also be avoided with a high-fat content due to the rich, creamy dressing.
If you want a healthy salad option, go with a grilled salmon or grilled chicken salad from Texas Roadhouse, and perhaps request dressing on the side so that you can be judicious in how much is added. That way, you're getting a boost of vitamin-rich fibers and protein with much less salt and fat, and you won't be sacrificing flavor, either.
4. Tater skins
While a variety of appetizers on the Texas Roadhouse menu aren't particularly healthy, an order of fully loaded tater skins is the one to either avoid entirely or split with a large party and try to partake in one bite. Texas Roadhouse's tater skins have a potato base and are generously topped with cheddar cheese and bacon. There's also a tempting cup of sour cream for dipping. We won't deny that it tastes amazing, but the downside is that you're looking at an array of fat, carbohydrates, sodium, and calories. And, because of the cheese and cream, think twice about having a taste if you're someone who is lactose intolerant.
Another popular appetizer from Texas Roadhouse is a platter of Rattlesnake Bites. They're fried cheese balls which makes it another dish we wouldn't recommend if you can't eat dairy products. And if your body doesn't agree with spice, that's an extra reason to pass on this app because it's punctuated by chili peppers. As long as you're not allergic to nuts, Texas Roadhouse offers peanuts that are high in protein for snacking as you wait for your entrée to arrive. And the best part? They're free.
5. Chicken wings
Whether you prefer the drumsticks or the flats, chicken wings are a scrumptious appetizer that does have something to offer in the plus column. That would be its protein. For that reason, we'll cut them a little slack, and we wouldn't say they're the most unhealthy item on the Texas Roadhouse menu. And then there are Buffalo wings. Beyond the fact that they're deep fried and thus high in cholesterol and fat, Buffalo wings smothered in the hot sauce can also have some short-term deleterious effects on your health, given the high spice level. Heartburn, acid reflux, and stomachaches are all predictable outcomes.
Something to keep in mind to keep chicken wings a bit more healthy would be the dips — which are especially tempting when you need something to cool down that spicy and tangy Buffalo sauce. At Texas Roadhouse, 2-ounce cups of ranch dressing and bleu cheese dressing come close to 300 calories.
6. Steak fries
There are a plethora of side dish options on the Texas Roadhouse menu. While the macaroni and cheese side is arguably the least healthy pick, it's not available at all locations. The steak fries side dish can be found at all Texas Roadhouse spots, so we'll focus on that, and we have to caution against ordering it for a few reasons. It has nearly 2,000 grams of sodium, 14 grams of fat, and 53 grams of carbohydrates. And, despite containing steak in its name, it only offers up a meager 5 grams of protein.
For some healthier alternatives, look to the Texas red chili — with or without beans — for not only fewer calories but a protein boost at 16 to 17 grams. While sweet potatoes are low in cholesterol and sodium, be advised that they're packed with carbs and sugar. The all-around winner for the healthiest side dish at Texas Roadhouse, though, might have to be the sautéed mushrooms — when you crunch the numbers, they're not a chart-topper in any of the major dietary concerns, and they're also full-on flavor.
7. Fort Worth ribeye and grilled shrimp
Ah, the classic surf and turf. The combo of a meaty steak alongside an array of plump, juicy shrimp is a dish that truly speaks to a special occasion by offering the best of both worlds. But, before we get into why this is not the healthiest order on the menu, also bear in mind that if you're celebrating, it's tempting to go all out with the feast and start with an appetizer, quench your thirst with a drink or two, order up some sides, and top it all off with dessert. So, take that into consideration on top of the nutritional content of Texas Roadhouse's 12-ounce Fort Worth ribeye and grilled shrimp.
We're talking about nearly 3,000 milligrams of sodium, for starters. To put that into perspective, the American Heart Association advises that 2,300 milligrams should be your maximum daily intake, and ideally, you should aim for 1,500 milligrams. For those with high blood pressure, reducing sodium in your diet is a wise choice. Shrimp is also known to be high in cholesterol, which isn't great for heart health. Past that, the steak and shrimp alone contain 1,360 calories and a staggering 95 grams of fat. We advise not making this meal a regular habit and perhaps using some restraint when it comes to other items you might be ordering alongside it.
8. Bone in rib eye
We won't deny the visual appeal of a bone-in ribeye. There's something about that impressively large slab of steak with the bone still attached. It evokes feelings of the wild west with cowboys grilling over an open flame, so it's no surprise that it's an item on the Texas Roadhouse menu.
The ribeye cut comes from — you guessed it — the rib area of the cattle and is notably tender making it a popular choice at many steakhouses. The tenderness, however, is because the meat is marbled with fat and not particularly lean, which comes at a cost regarding health benefits. Texas Roadhouse's bone-in ribeye is arguably its least healthy steak, with several hundred calories more than the other contenders, such as its boneless ribeye. It's also loaded with sodium, cholesterol, and over 100 grams of fat. Yikes. On the plus side, it has over 140 grams of protein, so you can take some comfort in that fact when you order.
9. Country fried sirloin
When it comes to the Country Dinner entrée selections offered by Texas Roadhouse, we would not advise country-fried sirloin if you're trying to eat healthily. A steak that's dipped in batter, fried, and then topped with gravy adds a considerable amount of saturated fat, cholesterol, carbohydrates, and calories. And keep in mind this is without appetizers, beverages, or side dishes. It's an entrée to think about avoiding, or at the very least, splitting with another guest or being judicious about how often you make it your go-to order at Texas Roadhouse.
A simply seasoned grilled 8-ounce Dallas filet steak is packed with protein. It is a reasonably health-conscious option, especially if it's paired with steamed broccoli or a lightly dressed house-side salad to add some nutritious fiber and vitamins to your meal. There are also steak kabobs on Texas Roadhouse's menu, which also present a better alternative to the country-fried sirloin but have a striking amount of sodium.
10. Beef tips with seasoned rice
Despite a name that sounds somewhat innocuous, beware that a full portion of Texas Roadhouse's beef tips with seasoned rice contains all the usual suspects in an unhealthy meal. Calories come in at over 1,000, and there's a considerable amount of sodium at 4,400 milligrams. The fat grams are nearly up to 60. To boot, it even has 12 grams of sugar. Perhaps the only saving grace of this dish — beyond the fact that it tastes great — is that it's high in protein.
Beef tips with seasoned rice at Texas Roadhouse are listed in the Country Dinners section. But, we would argue that this dish may be best enjoyed as a shared plate among a large gathering because even just a couple of conservative scoops might add up to a full meal and perhaps even exceed the recommended daily dietary intake for some of these less-than-healthy components.
11. Big ol' brownie
The bread pudding that Texas Roadhouse serves indisputably takes the cake in terms of being the unhealthiest dessert. But since that's only served at select locations, we decided to turn our attention towards the Big Ol' Brownie, which is available everywhere. At the base, of course, is Texas Roadhouse's take on the thick, dense, and chewy wedge of fudge. And because everything's bigger in Texas, it's a hefty portion. It's then topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate syrup. The whole package tastes as good as it looks and is quite Instagrammable.
Of course, with dessert, you know sugar is a factor. That's especially true with the Big ol' brownie that packs in 151 grams per serving. Eating too much sugar on a regular basis has an impact on many of your vital organs, including your heart, liver, pancreas, and kidneys. And, if you have a sweet tooth, beware of cavities. For those who are lactose intolerant, the ice cream topper is also something to consider when you're looking at Texas Roadhouse's dessert menu. Unfortunately, you're also going to find dairy in the other options, which include a strawberry cheesecake and granny's apple classic. Consider asking to skip the ice cream or serve it on the side if another guest at the table wants it.
12. Texas Roadhouse rolls
The freshly baked bread rolls are the must-have appetizer from the Texas Roadhouse menu. But as tasty as they are on their own merits, they're even more appetizing when there's a dab of the restaurant's signature honey cinnamon butter.
Unfortunately, though, there just isn't much nutritional value that the rolls can offer. Even without the honey cinnamon butter, this bite of bread is pretty much just serving up belly-filling carbohydrates. And then with the butter, just one ounce of the honey cinnamon smear is 9 grams of fat, and the recommended daily fat intake for an adult hovers around the 40-gram range, depending on how many calories you consume. Considering that the upcoming entrée is likely to have much more of the same ingredients, we would advise not stuffing up too much on the rolls — a real test of willpower considering how yummy they are — and suggest maybe limiting yourself to just one.
13. Cactus blossom
Once upon a time, when you were at Chili's, you could order an Awesome Blossom. If you go to Outback Steakhouse, the dish goes by the moniker of a Bloomin' Onion and is touted as being the original trendsetter. And when you're at Texas Roadhouse, it's known as a Cactus Blossom.
But whatever you want to call this fried creation, we will admit that it arrives in an impressive display that certainly gets the tummy rumbling upon sight. It starts with a hefty-sized onion that's artfully sliced through a specialized machine. This mighty bulb is then dunked in batter and dropped into a hot bath in oil, where it then begins its beautiful bloom. At Texas Roadhouse, it's served with a cup of dip — ranch or blue cheese are likely to be the choice, but you can also elect for a cajun horseradish sauce.
A single order of the Cactus Blossom contains a heart-palpitating 2,250 calories and 135 grams of fat. It's also a sodium bomb at 5,000 milligrams, which is over twice the daily intake recommendation from the FDA. To boot, there are also 36 grams of sugar. This is unequivocally a truly unhealthy bite of food and the reason why it sits atop the list.