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casual dining · head-to-head
Chili's vs Applebee's: which is better for your macros?
The top protein play at Chili's is the Double Oldtimer w/Cheese (89g protein, 1410 cal); Applebee's answers with the Quesadilla Burger (74g, 1331 cal). Below, all 30 meals we track at both chains go head-to-head on protein, calories, low-carb and vegetarian options — from each brand's official nutrition data, not AI guesses — with a verdict for cutting, bulking and keto.
The tale of the tape
Chili's vs Applebee's, by the numbers
| Head-to-head | Chili's | Applebee's |
|---|---|---|
| Highest-protein meal | 89g Double Oldtimer w/Cheese | 74g Quesadilla Burger |
| Leanest meal | 240 cal Margarita Grilled Chicken Breast, Roasted Asparagus & Diet Coke | 290 cal Grilled Chicken Breast + Steamed Broccoli |
| Avg protein per meal | 48g | 46g |
| Avg calories per meal | 588 cal | 782 cal |
| Meals at 425 cal or less | 5 | 5 |
| Low-carb / keto meals | 6 | 3 |
| Vegetarian meals | 2 | 2 |
| Meals tracked | 15 | 15 |
✓ marks the stronger number for that row (more protein, fewer calories, or more options). Computed from the 30 meals we track — not the chains' full menus.
Top 5, ranked by protein
The highest-protein meals, side by side
🌶️ Chili's
| # | Meal | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Double Oldtimer w/Cheese Two beef patties with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and mustard on a toasted bun; served without fries | 89g | 1410 |
| 2 | Ultimate Cajun Pasta Penne in creamy Alfredo-Cajun sauce with grilled chicken and seared shrimp, topped with Parmesan and served with garlic toast | 76g | 1230 |
| 3 | Classic Ribeye (no sides) 100% USDA Choice marbled ribeye steak grilled to order, served without sides or toppings | 67g | 620 |
| 4 | Grilled Chicken Fajitas (no tortilla or toppings) Seasoned grilled chicken breast with sauteed peppers and onions, served without tortillas or condiments | 63g | 510 |
| 5 | Margarita Grilled Chicken Grilled chicken breast with pico de gallo and tortilla strips, served with Mexican rice and black beans (Lighter Choice / Guiltless Grill, as served) | 55g | 650 |
🍎 Applebee's
| # | Meal | Protein | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quesadilla Burger Beef patty in a grilled flour tortilla with pepper jack, mexi-ranch, pico, guac; served with fries | 74g | 1331 |
| 2 | Honey Pepper Chicken Tenders & Four-Cheese Mac Four-cheese pasta topped with honey-pepper glazed chicken tenders | 63g | 1461 |
| 3 | Whisky Bacon Burger Beef patty, pepper jack, Applewood bacon, crispy onions, Fireball whisky steak sauce on brioche; served with classic fries | 63g | 1590 |
| 4 | Fiesta Lime Chicken Grilled chicken breast, mexi-ranch, pico de gallo, cheddar, tortilla strips; served with rice and black beans | 60g | 1170 |
| 5 | Bourbon Street Chicken & Shrimp Seasoned grilled chicken and shrimp in New Orleans-style butter sauce, served with garlic mashed potatoes | 55g | 780 |
MacroBite scores these against your daily protein & calorie targets and logs them in one tap. Get the app →
The verdict
Which is better for your goal?
Cutting
Applebee's takes it. Its leanest high-protein pick, the Grilled Chicken Breast + Steamed Broccoli, packs 43g of protein into 290 calories — 14.8g per 100 cal, ahead of Chili's best (Margarita Grilled Chicken Breast, Roasted Asparagus & Diet Coke, 34g for 240 cal, 14.2g per 100 cal). Applebee's lists 5 meals at 425 calories or less; Chili's has 5.
Bulking
Chili's wins on raw protein. The Double Oldtimer w/Cheese tops out at 89g (1410 cal), beating Applebee's biggest hitter, the Quesadilla Burger, at 74g. For repeat trips, Chili's has 14 meals with 30g+ protein vs 12 at Applebee's.
Keto
Chili's is the keto-friendlier menu with 6 low-carb meals vs 3 at Applebee's. Best keto pick: the Classic Ribeye (no sides) — 67g protein, 0g carbs, 620 calories. At Applebee's, the 8 oz Top Sirloin + Steamed Broccoli (48g protein, 7g carbs) is the standout.
How we score it: cutting = most protein per calorie (25g protein floor) · bulking = highest absolute protein · keto = low-carb meals (20g carbs or less, or flagged low-carb in the official data). General nutrition info, not medical advice.
Dig deeper: full Chili's menu → · full Applebee's menu → · all chains ranked →
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Settle Chili's vs Applebee's with your own macros.
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