A Texas Roadhouse house side salad is a popular menu item at the restaurant chain known for its hand-cut steaks and signature rolls. For health-conscious diners watching their calorie intake, the nutritional content of menu items is an important consideration. Knowing the calorie count of dishes like the house salad allows customers to make informed choices.
Calories in Salad Greens
The base of a Texas Roadhouse house salad starts with a bed of salad greens. Lettuce and leafy greens are very low in calories. Here are the calorie counts for 1 cup of some typical salad ingredients:
| Romaine lettuce | 8 calories |
| Iceberg lettuce | 10 calories |
| Spinach | 7 calories |
| Kale | 8 calories |
As you can see, plain undressed salad greens contain negligible calories. However, the calorie count increases once you begin adding on dressings, cheeses, meats, and other fixings.
Calories in Salad Toppings
In addition to greens, a Texas Roadhouse house salad comes topped with tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, Cheddar Jack cheese, and croutons. Here are the approximate calories for a 1/4 cup serving of each of these ingredients:
| Tomatoes | 8 calories |
| Carrots | 20 calories |
| Cucumbers | 4 calories |
| Cheddar Jack cheese | 113 calories |
| Croutons | 120 calories |
The vegetables add minimal calories. The cheese and croutons pack more calories in a smaller serving size. In addition to the mix-ins, most salad orders also come with a salad dressing which can add significant calories.
Calories in Salad Dressings
The dressing choice makes a major impact on the calorie count of any salad. Texas Roadhouse offers several dressing options for their house salad:
| Ranch dressing (2 oz) | 180 calories |
| Honey mustard dressing (2 oz) | 260 calories |
| Caesar dressing (2 oz) | 160 calories |
| Balsamic vinaigrette (2 oz) | 140 calories |
| Oil & vinegar (2 oz) | 120 calories |
As you can see, the dressing alone can contain over 200 calories. Honey mustard is one of the most calorie-dense dressings, while simple oil and vinegar is one of the lightest options.
Calculating Total Calories
To estimate the total calories in a Texas Roadhouse house salad, we need to add up the calories in each ingredient. For the purpose of this estimate, we’ll use the following assumptions for a typical salad:
| Romaine lettuce | 2 cups (16 calories) |
| Tomatoes | 1/4 cup (8 calories) |
| Carrots | 1/4 cup (20 calories) |
| Cucumbers | 1/4 cup (4 calories) |
| Cheddar Jack cheese | 1/4 cup (113 calories) |
| Croutons | 1/4 cup (120 calories) |
| Ranch dressing | 2 oz (180 calories) |
Adding those together:
| Romaine lettuce | 16 calories |
| Tomatoes | 8 calories |
| Carrots | 20 calories |
| Cucumbers | 4 calories |
| Cheddar Jack cheese | 113 calories |
| Croutons | 120 calories |
| Ranch dressing | 180 calories |
| Total Calories | 461 calories |
Calories with Additional Toppings
The total calories in a Texas Roadhouse house salad will increase if additional ingredients are added. Some popular add-ons include:
| Grilled chicken breast (4 oz) | 120 calories |
| Pulled pork (4 oz) | 180 calories |
| Sirloin steak (4 oz) | 200 calories |
| Avocado (1/4 cup) | 56 calories |
| Bacon bits (2 tbsp) | 60 calories |
With protein additions like grilled chicken or sirloin steak, the total calorie count for the salad could climb to over 600 calories. Loading up with extra bacon bits and avocado could bring it closer to 700 calories.
Low Calorie Salad Options
To lighten up the calorie count on a Texas Roadhouse salad, here are some modifications you can request:
– Choose a light dressing like oil & vinegar or balsamic vinaigrette
– Ask for dressing on the side and use sparingly
– Skip the cheese and bacon bits
– Choose grilled chicken or sirloin steak for lean protein instead of higher-fat meats like pulled pork
– Ask for extra vegetable toppings instead of avocado
– Request no croutons
With smart choices, you can enjoy a house salad for under 300 calories. Just be mindful of large protein additions and high-calorie dressings which can make a healthy salad less diet-friendly.
Nutritional Information on Website
Texas Roadhouse provides complete nutrition data for their menu items on their website. You can look up detailed calorie counts, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, sugar, protein and other nutrition info for all their salads. This makes it easy to find the healthiest options.
They offer build-your-own salad options where you can view nutrition info for customized combinations with your choice of greens, toppings, dressings, and proteins. This allows you to design a salad within your personal nutrition and calorie goals.
Conclusion
A Texas Roadhouse house salad contains approximately 400-500 calories based on standard ingredients like romaine lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers, cheese, croutons, and ranch dressing. Add-ons like grilled chicken, bacon bits, and avocado can add over 200 extra calories. Choosing light dressings, extra vegetables, and lean proteins will reduce the calorie count. Customizing your salad and using their online nutrition calculator allows you to make informed choices to meet your dietary needs. With smart selections, you can enjoy Texas Roadhouse salads as part of a healthy balanced diet.
