Quick Answer
A large order of Chick-Fil-A fries contains 400 calories. This is based on the nutrition information provided on the Chick-Fil-A website. A large fries order consists of about 5.3 oz or 150 grams of fries.
Calorie Count for Chick-Fil-A Fries
Chick-Fil-A offers fries in 3 different sizes:
- Small – 230 calories
- Medium – 320 calories
- Large – 400 calories
So the large fries contain the most calories out of the options. Here is a quick overview of the calorie counts:
| Size | Calories |
|---|---|
| Small | 230 |
| Medium | 320 |
| Large | 400 |
As you can see, the calorie difference between each size is about 90 calories.
Nutrition Information for Large Fries
Now let’s take a more detailed look at the complete nutrition info for a large order of Chick-Fil-A fries according to the company:
- Calories: 400
- Fat: 19g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Protein: 5g
- Sodium: 770mg
So in one large serving you are getting 400 calories, which is quite high for a side dish. The calories mainly come from fat and carbohydrates.
To put the 400 calories into perspective, here are some equivalent fast food items that contain roughly the same number of calories as the large fries:
- McDonald’s Big Mac
- Burger King Whopper
- 5 piece Chicken McNuggets from McDonald’s
- Taco Bell Crunchy Taco (x5)
As you can see, the large fries are nearly equal in calories to some of these popular entrees at other major fast food chains!
Serving Size for Large Fries
What exactly constitutes a “large” fries at Chick-Fil-A?
According to the company, a large order of fries is 5.3 oz or 150 grams.
This serving size contains about 13-15 fried potato wedges, depending on the size of the potatoes used.
To visualize how big 5.3 oz of fries is, here are some equivalent amounts:
- About 1/3 pound of fries
- 1.5 cups of fries
- Slightly less than the full “large” fries container
So while 150 grams of fries may not seem like a ton of food, it does add up to nearly 400 calories.
Nutrition Tips
If you want to reduce the calorie count of your Chick-Fil-A fries order, here are some tips:
- Order a smaller size like the 230 calorie small fries
- Share your fries with someone else at the table
- Only eat half the serving and take the rest to go
- Substitute a lower calorie side like a fruit cup or side salad
- Skip the fries completely and order waffle potato chips instead, which are only 150 calories
Portion control is key, since fried foods like fries can quickly add up in calories. Slowing down while eating and savoring each fry can also help curb overeating.
How Chick-Fil-A Fries Are Made
Now that we know how many calories are in Chick-Fil-A fries, you may be wondering how exactly these fries are prepared.
Here’s an overview of how Chick-Fil-A makes their signature waffle fries:
- Whole potatoes are sliced into batons using an industrial potato slicer.
- The raw potato batons are rinsed thoroughly to remove excess starch.
- The fries are partially fried at a lower temperature to cook them through.
- The par-fried fries are cooled then refrigerated overnight.
- The fries are fried again at a higher temperature to crisp and brown the outside.
- The fries are seasoned immediately with a sprinkle of sea salt.
Chick-Fil-A’s signature item is that the fries are shaped into wedges. The potatoes are cut on a special grooved slicer that shapes them into wedges as they are sliced.
The double fry method helps achieve a crispy exterior while keeping the interior creamy and fluffy. The overnight chilling also helps retain the potato shape.
Oil Used for Frying
Chick-Fil-A uses refined peanut oil for frying their fries and other menu items like the chicken sandwiches.
Compared to other oils, peanut oil offers some potential health benefits:
- High smoking point so it can withstand high frying heats
- Contains heart-healthy monounsaturated fats
- Neutral flavor that doesn’t impart other tastes
However, frying in any oil adds a significant amount of fat and calories. That’s why the fries contain 19g of total fat per large serving.
Ingredients in Chick-Fil-A Fries
The ingredients used to make Chick-Fil-A fries are relatively straightforward:
- Potatoes
- Peanut oil
- Sea salt
The potatoes are likely a starchy variety like Russet or Idaho. No batter or coating is used on the fries during cooking.
The sea salt provides a touch of seasoning without much added sodium. Plain table salt contains around 39% sodium, while sea salt has 34% sodium since it’s lower in purity.
So the main factor contributing to the 400 calories per serving of fries is the double frying method in peanut oil.
Are Chick-Fil-A Fries Healthy?
While Chick-Fil-A fries may be delicious, are they actually healthy for you? Let’s dig into some of the pros and cons:
Potential Pros
- Made from just potatoes, oil and salt
- Provide energy from carbohydrates
- Contain some vitamin C
- Packed with potassium
- Have some fiber
Potatoes are an excellent source of key nutrients like vitamin C, potassium and fiber. Frying does degrade some of these nutrients however.
Potential Cons
- Extremely high in calories and fat
- Low in vitamins and minerals due to frying
- High amount of sodium
- Empty source of carbohydrates
- Fried foods may increase cancer risk
The cons of eating large servings of fries mainly comes down to the high calorie, fat, carb and sodium content. Frying also reduces the vitamin levels. The high glycemic load may trigger insulin spikes as well.
Overall, fresh-cut baked fries would be healthier, but Chick-Fil-A fries are lower in fat than many other fast food fries. Moderation is key if enjoying them.
Healthier Side Options
If you visit Chick-Fil-A but still want a tasty side that’s healthier than fries, some good options include:
- Fruit cup with strawberries, blueberries and apples
- Side salad with light vinaigrette instead of heavy cream dressings
- Kale Crunch Side made with kale, broccoli and nuts
- Chicken Noodle Soup that is low calorie and fills you up
Pairing your meal with a side salad, fruit or soup can help add nutrients and fiber while controlling calories.
Tips for Reducing Calories in Chick-Fil-A Fries
Here are some tips to get all the delicious fry flavor while reducing the calorie count:
- Order the waffle potato chips instead, which are only 150 calories for a small bag.
- Choose a smaller fry size like the 230 calorie small.
- Split your fries with a friend or order 1 fry per person.
- Substitute veggie veggies like carrots or celery for 1/2 the fries.
- Dip fries lightly in ketchup instead of drenching.
- Season fries with spices instead of extra salt for flavor.
- Allow fries to cool slightly before eating – they’ll taste more filling.
- Drink water with your meal to avoid overeating.
Portion control is the number one key to controlling calorie intake. But adding more filling sides like veggies and drinking water can also help cut calories.
Making Lower Calorie Fries at Home
To make oven baked fries at home with a lower calorie count, follow these steps:
- Cut 1 pound of potatoes into fry batons or wedges.
- Toss potato sticks with 1 tsp olive oil, salt, pepper and Cajun seasoning.
- Place fries on a baking sheet in single layer.
- Bake at 425F for 20 minutes, flip once halfway through.
- Eat fries immediately or freeze extras to reheat later.
Baking instead of frying saves a tremendous amount of calories – around 200-300 less per serving!
Substitute sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes to get more fiber, vitamins and minerals. Just adjust cooking time as needed.
Cravings for French Fries
Why do people get such intense cravings for French fries and other fried foods? There are some factors that drive these urges:
- Fat content – Fries provide a hefty dose of fat, which activates reward centers in the brain.
- Carbs – The starch in fries spikes blood sugar and insulin, causing carb cravings.
- Salt – The sodium in fries drives appetite and causes more snack cravings.
- Crunch – The tempting crunch sound and crispy texture is satisfying.
- Dopamine – Fried foods release feel-good dopamine chemicals in the brain similar to other addictive substances.
Knowing what’s behind the cravings for fries can help control the urge to overindulge. Making sure your diet contains healthy sources of fat, carbs and crunch can also help reduce French fry temptations.
Healthy Substitutes for French Fries
Some good options to substitute for French fries include:
- Baked sweet potato fries
- Zucchini fries
- Spiced roasted chickpeas
- Kale chips
- Air popped or low fat popcorn
- Cut up veggies with hummus for dipping
These provide the crispy texture and satisfaction of salt, fat and carbs in a healthier overall package.
Conclusion
To summarize, a large order of Chick-Fil-A fries contains about 400 calories. This is nearly equal to many hamburgers or 5 nuggets from other fast food chains.
While potatoes are a nutritious vegetable, the high calorie and fat content from frying makes the fries less healthy, especially in large portion sizes.
Occasionally enjoying fries in moderation is fine for most people. But cutting back on portion sizes, choosing healthier sides, and making baked fries at home are some ways to reduce the calorie count while still satisfying crispy potato cravings.
