If you’ve switched to keto or Team #LowCarb, dining out might feel a little tricky.
Fortunately, there are legit low carb options almost everywhere — even at a restaurant named after a dessert. Keto at The Cheesecake Factory? Love that for you.
13 best keto and low carb options at The Cheesecake Factory
- Crispy crab bites (19 g carbs)
- Stuffed mushrooms (19 g carbs)
- Buffalo wings (16 g carbs)
- Pan seared branzino with lemon butter (14 g carbs)
- Tuscan chicken (19 g carbs)
- Grilled branzino with Mediterranean salsa (14 g carbs)
- Farm fresh eggs with Old Smokehouse bacon (7 g carbs)
- Spinach, mushroom, bacon, and cheese omelet (7 g carbs)
- Tossed green salad with SK mustard vinaigrette (20 g carbs)
- Cobb salad (35 g carbs without modifications)
- SkinnyLicious hamburger without the bun (7 g carbs)
- Factory turkey burger without the bun (24 g carbs)
- SkinnyLicious Long Island iced tea (6 g carbs)
FYI: Most folks on the keto diet try to eat less than 50 g of total carbs per day — or 25 g of net carbs (that’s total carbs minus fiber). If you’re going low carb, you’ll typically aim for 100 to 150 g of total carbs.
The Cheesecake Factory’s never-ending menu is already overwhelming, so we did the required reading for you. Here are our fave The Cheesecake Factory noms under 50 grams (g) of total carbs (or 25 g of net carbs).
3 low carb appetizers
Whether you’re here for the happy hour appetizers or just hankering for a pre-dinner snack, these low carb apps have your back.
Crispy crab bites
These itty-bitty crab cakes come with a side of tasty low carb mustard sauce. It’s not a giant serving, so you could either order it as your meal or as a snack to split before another keto-friendly course.
These crispy crustaceans have:
- 410 calories
- 15 g protein
- 31 g fat
- 19 g total carbs
- 2 g fiber
- 17 g net carbs
Stuffed mushrooms
Is there anyone who doesn’t love a good forest fungus packed with fontina cheese and warm garlic? How about if we add wine sauce? (Thought so.)
Seriously, the perfect balance of protein and that creamy sauce make this a delightful little keto hit. *chef’s kiss*
This plate of ’shrooms delivers:
- 510 calories
- 15 g protein
- 42 g fat
- 19 g total carbs
- 4 g fiber
- 15 g net carbs
Buffalo wings
Protein? Check. Spicy? Check. A *giant* plate of meat that will make you forget you were craving carbs? Maybe!
Most folks split this meaty appetizer and then chase it with a veg-heavy main dish. But you do you.
A full order of wings includes:
- 1,120 calories
- 109 g protein
- 69 g fat
- 16 g total carbs
- 2 g fiber
- 14 g net carbs
3 keto-friendly main dishes
Let’s dive into the main course.
Tuscan chicken
This protein-packed dish includes grilled chicken, fresh veggies, and farro drizzled with a punchy balsamic vinaigrette. The three main elements come together for a light but super-filling meal with a great balance of macros.
Here’s what you’ll get from this low carb feast:
- 590 calories
- 81 g protein
- 21 g fat
- 19 g total carbs
- 5 g fiber
- 14 g net carbs
Pan seared branzino with lemon butter
Branzi-what? Branzino is a delicate white fish that belongs in your seafood rotation if you haven’t tried it yet. The lemon butter sauce is a classic fish accompaniment, as are the spears of asparagus or fresh broccoli florets served on the side.
This zesty fish dish delivers:
- 880 calories
- 47 g protein
- 71 g fat
- 14 g total carbs
- 4 g fiber
- 10 g net carbs
Grilled branzino with Mediterranean salsa
More branzino! If creamy lemon sauces aren’t your thing, try this seafood dish with tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil instead. Clocking in under 10 net carbs for the whole dish, this is one of the most keto-friendly items on the menu.
This satisfying seafood has:
- 540 calories
- 56 g protein
- 28 g fat
- 14 g total carbs
- 5 g fiber
- 9 g net carbs
2 keto breakfast or brunch options
The Cheesecake Factory’s main gigs are lunch and dinner, but did you know they have breakfast too?
Farm fresh eggs with Old Smokehouse bacon
Two whole eggs + tomatoes + thick, old-fashioned bacon? It’s keto heaven.
Just remember that eggs are all about moderation. If your keto plan has you poppin’ hard-boiled noms for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, it’s time to change it up. Otherwise? Enjoy this filling low carb breakfast.
This morning meal delivers:
- 470 calories
- 29 g protein
- 36 g fat
- 7 g total carbs
- 0 g fiber
- 7 g net carbs
Spinach, mushroom, bacon, and cheese omelet
Think you don’t like eggs? We dare you to try this fluffy omelet. Naturally low carb, it’s packed with protein, healthy fat, and plant-based nutrients from mushrooms and spinach.
This eggcellent brunch has:
- 700 calories
- 41 g protein
- 57 g fat
- 7 g total carbs
- 1 g fiber
- 6 g net carbs
2 low carb salads
Salads seem like they should be naturally keto-tastic. But not so. That pile of lettuce has nothing on the croutons, avocado, and sweet/tangy/creamy/carb-loaded dressing on top.
Fortunately, you *can* have a keto-friendly salad if you’re careful about modifications. Try these two options from The Cheesecake Factory.
Tossed green salad with SK mustard vinaigrette
The Cheesecake Factory’s tossed green salad is so #wholesome. Greens, sliced veggies, and chunks of fresh tomato are drizzled with a refreshing vinaigrette. Just don’t forget to ask your server to leave off the croutons!
This plate of green goodness delivers:
- 180 calories
- 5 g protein
- 10 g fat
- 10 g total carbs
- 4 g fiber
- 6 g net carbs
Cobb salad
Talk about a heaping helping of veggies and protein! This Cobb includes chicken breast, blue cheese, bacon, eggs, and more, all tossed in a vinaigrette.
Here’s how the Cobb salad *with* avo stacks up:
- 1,540 calories
- 74 g protein
- 124 g fat
- 35 g total carbs
- 11 g fiber
- 24 g net carbs
2 keto-tastic burgers
The secret to a low carb burger is leaving the bun behind. Bonus points if you swap the side of fries for a salad.
SkinnyLicious hamburger (no bun)
The Cheesecake Factory sells its wheat brioche hamburger buns separately, so we used the buns’ nutrition label and the restaurant’s nutritional guide to figure out how to make a truly low carb hamburger.
Topped with classics like tomato, onions, pickles, and mayo, here’s what it adds up to:
- 350 calories
- 28 g protein
- 23 g fat
- 7 g total carbs
- 1 g fiber
- 6 g net carbs
Factory turkey burger (no bun)
Once again, removing the brioche bun makes this burger low carb and still delish. You can still enjoy fresh mushrooms, garlic, charbroiled fontina cheese (🤤), and even a bit of avocado.
Sink your teeth into these nutritional stats:
- 890 calories
- 45 g protein
- 50 g fat
- 24 g total carbs
- 5 g fiber
- 19 g net carbs
What about dessert?
Nice try. TBH, there’s nothing keto-friendly or low carb about desserts at The Cheesecake Factory.
When your sweet tooth is screaming, these are the best options (but again, they’re *not* low carb):
- Low-Licious cheesecake (570 calories, 30 g net carbs)
- Bowl of fresh strawberries (250 calories, 21 g net carbs)
- Kids’ mini hot fudge sundae (480 calories, 42 g net carbs)
If you drink booze, your best bet for dessert is actually an alcoholic bevvy. The restaurant’s SkinnyLicious Long Island iced tea clocks in at 110 calories and just 6 carbs.
Tips for ordering low carb or keto
Dining out is tricky when you’re following a keto or low carb plan. Here are some tips for dialing down the carbs on a variety of menu options at The Cheesecake Factory:
- Ditch the salad dressing. One of the easiest ways to enjoy a low carb salad is to ask for vinegar and oil instead of the premade dressing on the menu.
- Go bunless. We all know bread has carbs. Ask for your sammie or burger in a bowl instead of a bun or wrap.
- Don’t forget the fiber. It’s easy to focus on what *not* to eat when you go keto. No bread, no sugar, no potatoes… but all that cheese can slow down your digestion. Nosh on fibrous greens or low carb veggies to satisfy your hunger and feel great after your meal.
- Rethink dessert. It’s no fun to go to The Cheesecake Factory and pass up cheesecake. But what about a savory end to your meal? Ask for a side of cheese, split a bowl of strawberries with a friend, or wind down with a coffee with full-fat milk or cream. Sometimes it’s more about the ritual than the flavor.
- Be careful with booze. Cocktails usually pack in the carbs, but there are a few keto-friendly winners at The Cheesecake Factory. Don’t be afraid to ask your server for nutritional info if you’re in doubt!
0 Commentaires