Quick Answer
A Chick-fil-A sandwich without the bun has significantly fewer carbs than one with the bun. Specifically, a Chick-fil-A grilled chicken sandwich has around 5-10 grams of net carbs without the bun. The total carb count comes from the chicken, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and sauce. Removing the bun eliminates around 30 grams of carbs.
Calculating Carbs in a Chick-fil-A Sandwich
To determine the carb count in a Chick-fil-A sandwich without the bun, we need to look at the nutritional information for each ingredient:
Chicken
A Chick-fil-A grilled chicken breast has 0 grams of carbs. The chicken itself does not contain any carbohydrates.
Cheese
A single slice of American cheese has about 1 gram of carbs. Cheddar and Pepper Jack cheese have similar amounts.
Lettuce
The lettuce on a Chick-fil-A sandwich contains around 1-2 grams of carbs per serving. Romaine and iceberg lettuce have minimal carbs.
Tomato
One tomato slice has around 2 grams of carbs. The tomato adds a small amount of carbs to the sandwich.
Sauce
Chick-fil-A sauces range from 0-5 grams of carbs per serving. For example:
- Chick-fil-A Sauce: 1g carbs
- Honey Mustard: 5g carbs
- Ranch: 1g carbs
Bun
A Chick-fil-A bun contains around 30 grams of total carbs per serving. By removing the bun, you eliminate the main source of carbs.
Net Carbs in a Chick-fil-A Sandwich Without Bun
To get the net carb count, we calculate the total carbs and subtract grams of fiber:
Total carbs: 5-10g
Fiber: 2-3g
Net carbs = Total carbs – Fiber
So for a Chick-fil-A sandwich without the bun, the net carb count comes out to approximately 5-10g.
This is significantly fewer carbs compared to a sandwich with the bun, which has around 30g net carbs. Removing the bun cuts the carb count by about two-thirds.
Low Carb Chick-fil-A Ordering Options
Here are some tips for ordering a low carb meal at Chick-fil-A:
Grilled Chicken Sandwich
Order a grilled chicken sandwich and remove the bun. This simple change transforms the sandwich into a lower carb option.
Grilled Nuggets
Chick-fil-A’s grilled chicken nuggets have zero carbs and make a great low carb choice. Get them with a side salad instead of waffle fries.
Salads
Create a salad with grilled chicken on top and low carb dressing on the side. Stay away from sugary dressings like sweet Asian peppe and honey sesame.
Side Swaps
Substitute the waffle fries for a low carb side like broccoli or a side salad.
Sauces
Stick to lower carb sauces like Chick-fil-A sauce, ranch, or barbecue sauce. Avoid honey mustard and sweet dressings.
| Menu Item | Net Carbs |
|---|---|
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich without Bun | 5-10g |
| Grilled Chicken Nuggets | 0g |
| Grilled Chicken Salad | 10-15g |
| Side Broccoli | 6g |
Keto at Chick-fil-A
Here are some tips for ordering keto-friendly options at Chick-fil-A with carb counts under 20g net carbs:
Grilled Chicken Salad
Get a grilled chicken salad and avoid croutons, corn, beans, and sugary dressings. Ask for olive oil and vinegar instead. This brings it to under 10g net carbs.
Grilled Chicken Sandwich Bun-less
A grilled chicken sandwich without the bun clocks in at around 5-10g net carbs. Pair it with a side salad.
Grilled Nuggets and Side Salad
Order a 12-piece grilled nugget meal with a side salad and ranch dressing. This option has about 10g net carbs.
Breakfast Option
For breakfast, the grilled chicken, egg, and cheese flatbread sandwich without the flatbread is keto-friendly at under 15g net carbs.
| Keto Menu Item | Net Carbs |
|---|---|
| Grilled Chicken Salad | 10g |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich Bun-less | 5-10g |
| Grilled Nuggets and Side Salad | 10g |
| Egg & Cheese Flatbread Sandwich without Flatbread | 15g |
Low Carb Dressing and Sauce Options
To keep your meal low carb, pay attention to condiments and dressings:
Salad Dressings:
- Ranch
- Caesar
- Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Italian
- Olive Oil and Vinegar
Sauces & Condiments:
- Mayonnaise
- Mustard
- Barbecue Sauce
- Buffalo Sauce
- Chick-fil-A Sauce
Avoid honey mustard, sweet Asian pepper sauce, sweet dressings, and sugary barbecue sauces. Read nutrition labels and counts carbs.
Low Carb Side Options
Skip the waffle fries and order one of these low carb sides instead:
- Side Salad with Ranch
- Broccoli
- Chicken Soup
- Applesauce
- Yogurt Parfait
A side salad with ranch has around 5g net carbs. Broccoli has 6g carbs per serving.
Stay away from corn, beans, fruit cups, and mac & cheese. These all have 15-30g net carbs from sugar and starches.
Dessert Options
If you want something sweet, Chick-fil-A does offer some lower sugar dessert choices:
- Icedream Cone
- Chocolate Chunk Cookie
- Molten Chocolate Cookie
- Frozen Lemonade (no sugar added)
The cookies have around 15g net carbs while the desserts made with sugar-free syrup have under 5g net carbs. Stick with portion control.
Avoid milkshakes, McCafe beverages, and pies which have 30-60g+ of sugar.
Tips for Ordering
Here are some tips when ordering at Chick-fil-A on a low carb or keto diet:
- Hold the bun on sandwiches
- Get grilled chicken instead of breaded
- Choose a side salad, broth bowl, yogurt parfait, or fresh fruit
- Ask for sauces and salad dressings on the side
- Avoid sugary drinks – opt for diet soda, unsweetened tea or water
- Be mindful of portions and toppings that add carbs
Let the cashier know you are avoiding carbs and sugars. Most locations are accommodating to low carb requests.
Conclusion
Ordering at Chick-fil-A while limiting carbs is definitely possible. A grilled chicken sandwich without the bun contains only 5-10g net carbs. Opt for low carb sides and sauces to create a keto-friendly meal under 20g net carbs. Pay attention to dressings, marinades, and desserts as well. With smart choices, you can easily eat at Chick-fil-A while sticking to a low carb or ketogenic diet.
