Chicken soft tacos are a popular menu item at many Mexican fast food restaurants. When watching your calorie intake, it’s important to know how many calories are in the foods you eat. In this article, we’ll look at how many calories are in 2 chicken soft tacos from various restaurants.
Quick Answer
On average, 2 chicken soft tacos contain between 500-800 calories depending on the restaurant. The chicken, tortilla, cheese, lettuce, sauce, and other taco fillings all contribute to the total calorie count.
Calories in 2 Chicken Soft Tacos at Popular Restaurants
Here is the calorie count for 2 chicken soft tacos at some popular Mexican fast food chains:
| Restaurant | Calories (2 Tacos) |
|---|---|
| Taco Bell | 460 |
| Del Taco | 520 |
| Chipotle | 654 |
| Qdoba | 750 |
| Moe’s Southwest Grill | 700 |
As you can see, Taco Bell’s chicken soft tacos are one of the lowest calorie options, containing only 230 calories per taco. Qdoba’s tacos are the highest at 375 calories each. Calories can vary based on protein, sauces, cheese, and other taco fillings.
Taco Bell Chicken Soft Taco Calories
A closer look at Taco Bell’s chicken soft taco nutrition info shows:
- 230 calories
- 8g fat
- 5g saturated fat
- 790mg sodium
- 24g carbs
- 3g fiber
- 12g protein
The main sources of calories come from the tortilla, chicken, cheese, and sauce. A standard Taco Bell chicken soft taco is made with a warm flour tortilla, seasoned ground chicken, lettuce, and shredded cheddar cheese. It’s topped with Taco Bell’s special creamy pepper sauce.
Del Taco Chicken Soft Taco Calories
Del Taco’s chicken soft taco has a higher calorie count at 260 calories each. Here is the nutrition information for one Del Taco chicken soft taco:
- 260 calories
- 10g fat
- 4g saturated fat
- 680mg sodium
- 29g carbs
- 2g fiber
- 12g protein
Del Taco’s chicken soft taco also contains a flour tortilla, chicken, cheese, lettuce, and sauce. The higher carb and calorie count comes from the bigger tortilla and avocado ranch sauce.
Chipotle Chicken Soft Taco Calories
Chipotle is known for their meat portions and burritos. But chicken soft tacos can also be a lower calorie option. Here are the calories for 2 chicken soft tacos from Chipotle:
- 654 calories
- 24g fat
- 8g saturated fat
- 1446mg sodium
- 80g carbs
- 6g fiber
- 44g protein
Chipotle tacos contain white corn tortillas, salsa, cheese, lettuce, and chicken. The large tortilla size, plus cheese, sour cream, and guacamole can increase the calories. But you can lower the calories by skipping the extras.
Qdoba Chicken Soft Taco Calories
At Qdoba, a chicken soft taco comes with the following nutrition:
- 375 calories
- 15g fat
- 5g saturated fat
- 680mg sodium
- 36g carbs
- 2g fiber
- 19g protein
Qdoba uses larger tortillas, plus toppings like pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, and salsa. This combination of ingredients leads to a higher calorie count compared to other restaurants.
Moe’s Southwest Grill Chicken Soft Taco Calories
Finally, here are the nutrition facts for Moe’s chicken soft tacos:
- 350 calories
- 13g fat
- 5g saturated fat
- 830mg sodium
- 33g carbs
- 2g fiber
- 19g protein
Moe’s uses flour tortillas, grilled chicken, lettuce, pico de gallo, cheese, and creamy ranch sauce. The combination of large tortillas, cheese, sauce, and chicken result in 700 calories total for 2 tacos.
How to Lower Calories in Chicken Soft Tacos
If you’re looking for ways to lighten up your chicken soft tacos, here are some tips to cut calories:
- Use smaller corn tortillas instead of large flour tortillas.
- Load up on lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, and other veggie toppings.
- Skip the cheese, sour cream, and creamy sauces.
- Opt for grilled chicken instead of crispy chicken.
- Ask for any sauce or dressing on the side.
- Skip the chips and enjoy the tacos alone or with a side salad.
Making these simple swaps can save you 100-200 calories per taco. Portion control is also important – stick to just 1 taco if you’re watching your calorie intake closely.
Healthier Taco Alternatives
In addition to tweaking your taco order, you can also make healthier tacos at home. Here are some ideas:
- Ground turkey or lean ground beef tacos
- Shrimp or fish tacos
- Chicken or steak fajita tacos
- Portobello mushroom tacos
- Roasted cauliflower tacos
- Black bean and veggie tacos
Use plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream for a tangy, lower calorie topping. You can also load up your tacos with extra veggies to increase the nutrition. Homemade tacos let you control the ingredients and portions.
Should You Eat Fast Food Tacos When Trying to Lose Weight?
While fast food tacos can fit into a weight loss diet, moderation is key. Here are some tips for enjoying tacos sensibly:
- Stick to just 1 taco as a light meal, rather than 2-3 tacos which can add up in calories.
- Avoid crispy shell tacos which tend to be higher in fat and calories than soft tacos.
- Load up on veggie fillings like lettuce, pico, salsa, and avoid extras like guacamole, cheese, and sour cream.
- Enjoy tacos only occasionally as a treat meal, not daily.
- Pair your taco with a side salad or veggies instead of chips to make it a more balanced meal.
Overall, 1 fast food chicken soft taco can be a 300-400 calorie option that fits into a weight loss diet. Just be mindful of your portions, fillings, and frequency to keep your daily calories in check.
The Bottom Line
So how many calories are in 2 chicken soft tacos? On average, 2 fast food chicken tacos contain 500-800 calories depending on the restaurant. Taco Bell has one of the lowest calorie options at just 460 calories for 2 tacos. You can also reduce the calories in tacos by choosing lighter ingredients and making them at home. While tacos can fit into a healthy diet, it’s best to enjoy them in moderation when watching your weight.
