15 Amazing Low-Carb Fast-Food Options to Keep Your Lifestyle Intact

I'm going to let you in on a not-so-well-kept secret: low-carb diets aren't that hard. Yeah, I can already hear some snorts and skeptical ”Sure Jan” comments. But what if I told you that even in the most unlikely of places – fast food chains – there's still a banquet of options to choose from?

Let's take a break from the home-grown zucchini spaghetti and explore these 15 low-carb options at popular fast food joints that won't get you in trouble. 

Sidenote: These days, you'll find that many fast food joints are pretty accommodating if you want to ditch the bun from your sandwich. So, don't be afraid to ask!

McDonald's - Go for the Grilled Chicken Sandwich Sans Bun

The Mighty M offers some fantastic low-carb options – enjoy the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with no bun. Well, hello, 2 grams of carbs.

Burger King - Harness the Whopper, No Bun

Have it your way! Just make sure it's sans bun. The Whopper rounds out at just one carb with no bun.

Fun fact you can get two giant burger salads at Burger King for $5 if you get a whopper w no bun and “heavy everything” pic.twitter.com/2B7tLiOmB2

— ᎷᎩᏒᏒᏂ🌲 (@babushkamyrrh) January 4, 2021

Wendy's - Grilled Chicken Sandwich Without the Bun

Like, seriously, who needs that pesky bun (you won't even miss it)? Wendy's grilled chicken sandwich below 5g of carbs without the bread equals low-carb heaven.

Taco Bell - Power Menu Bowl, No Rice or Beans

Wave adios to the rice and beans. The Power Menu Bowl delivers robust flavor with roughly 6 grams of carbs sans rice or beans.

Taco Bell keto...power bowl no rice, no beans, no pico and I li’t like guacamole but you can certainly get it. Follow👉https://t.co/68zJ9e32vU pic.twitter.com/ElvGunU5ba

— Nguyễn Minh Đảm (@minhdam1990) August 31, 2019

Chipotle - Salad Bowls for Life

Chipotle’s custom-made salad bowls scream low carb. Choose grilled chicken or steak, skip the rice and beans, and amp up that veggie power!

Subway - Salad Instead of Sub

Subway does salads? Yes, they do, and pretty darn well, too. Just remember to steer clear of the high-carb dressing traps.

KFC - Grilled Chicken All Day, Every Day

All hail KFC's grilled chicken. Its drumstick has something like 0 carbs. I’m bouncing in my seat just thinking about it.

Just bought and tried KFC’s new Grilled Chicken. Super yummy! 😋 pic.twitter.com/n71qzZHO8B

— Xavier Lur (@xavierlur) August 1, 2018

In-N-Out - Protein Style Burger

Their secret menu isn’t a secret anymore. Ask for your burger to be “Protein Style,” and you will be served a low-carb delicacy wrapped in lettuce instead of a bun.

Five Guys – Burger Bowl

Five Guys got you covered with their burger bowl. It’s all the joy of a juicy burger but without the pesky carbs.

Five guys burger bowl 🤤 keto friendly! pic.twitter.com/HB6VxR7lrj

— TRUMP 2024 🇺🇸 M.A.G.A Lee 🐶🐢🐢🦜🦜 🍊 (@Leerose1985) May 3, 2021

Dunkin’ – Wake Up Wrap

For a quick breakfast on the go, Dunkin’s Wake-Up Wrap, with egg and cheese, is a bite-sized delight with under 15 grams of carbs.

Chick-fil-A - Grilled Nuggets

These delightful grilled nuggets are small, but they pack a taste punch. And with only one gram of carbs? Yes, please.

beach day omad ! chick-fil-a grilled nuggets (140), fruit cup (60), white peach diet sunjoy (45), and honey roasted bbq (60) 🌊 pic.twitter.com/mI0kRaKqMO

— alyssa | 🌊 (@sunniikals) June 28, 2023

Arby’s - Roast Turkey Farmhouse Salad

Turkeys may not be the heroes of many tales, but they are definitely heroes in this low-carb story.

Jack in the Box – Grilled Chicken Salad

Their grilled chicken salad presents a perfect low-carb option, with a harmonious blend of flavors minus a ton of carbs.

For a low calorie lunch when you're busy--I recommend Jack in the Box Grilled Chicken Salad. Only 246 calories! #yummy pic.twitter.com/ZXT2Wiqr

— Anna White (@mrs_annawhite) May 11, 2012

Panera Bread – Green Goddess Salad

Being a low-carb eater at Panera Bread might seem outlandish with their variety of bread, but trust me, opt for their Green Goddess Salad and you’ll be smitten.

Shake Shack – Lettuce Burger

Hold up! The Shack serves up “lettuce burgers,” for when you are feeling bougie yet low-carb at the same time. Yep!

tried shake shack for the first time! had a lettuce wrapped veggie burger (310) and less than half the fries (~200) pic.twitter.com/YWlngsyzFw

— cat ☆ (@aespabones) May 5, 2022

So Many Options!

Remember, striking gold in the fast-food arena requires a bit of creativity and a lot of lettuce (so I hope you like it). Navigating the menu might feel like you’re performing complex algebra, but low-carb treasures are there waiting to be discovered.

So, who said fast food couldn't be low-carb friendly? Maybe whoever said that just didn’t try hard enough. As low-carb eaters, we can conquer the fast-food world without compromising our lifestyle.

Now, over to you guys: what’s your favorite low-carb hack from fast-food menus? Or even better, got any secret-menu bombshells you'd like to share? Let's hear it!