The 17 Best High-Protein Fast Food Meals

When you’re looking for a post-workout meal, the last place you’d think to pick up food from is at a fast food drive-thru. But believe it or not, you can actually have a pretty healthy meal at most of these chains if you order right. These fast food entrees are actually great sources of protein, which is important for building lean muscle and keeping hunger at bay. Since muscle burns more calories at rest than fat, it’s important to incorporate more protein into your diet if you’re looking to slim down.

“In order to gain muscle for athletes and lose weight, it is recommended by the Academy of Nutrition and Diabetics to consume 1.2-1.7 grams per kilogram of body weight,” Jim White, RD, ACSM, and owner of Jim White Fitness Nutrition Studios told Eat This, Not That! in our This Is Exactly How Much Protein To Eat A Day For Weight Loss story. So load up with these meals that have at least 20 grams of protein instead of ordering The Absolute Worst Dish At 20 Popular Fast Food Chains the next time you head to the drive-thru.

380 calories, 18 g fat (8 g saturated fat), 840 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (2 g fiber, 7 g sugar), 23 g protein

There’s a good reason why we put the McDouble at the top of our list Every Menu Item At McDonald’s—Ranked. For such a low calorie count, it has a pretty high protein content. It’s also a very filling burger since it has two patties, yet is low-fat for its single slice of cheese.

500 calories, 22 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 840 mg sodium, 49 g carbs (2 g fiber, 2 g sugar), 28 g protein

If you cut out the mayonnaise, this delicious burger packs an impressive nutritional profile. For 500 calories, which is about the average calorie count for any meal, you get 28 grams of protein.

210 calories, 5 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 560 mg sodium, 26 g carbs (3 g fiber, 11 g sugar), 18 g protein

This sandwich is a great alternative to a regular bacon, egg, and cheese. It’s low-calorie and its egg whites and turkey bacon pump up the protein count to 18 grams.

230 calories, 13 g fat (7 g saturated fat), 870 mg sodium, 8 g carbs (2 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 22 g protein

Poultry is a lean meat, so it will give you tons of protein at little cost in the fat and calorie departments. This is also a great item to order to stray from the rest of the many fat-filled options on this chain’s menu.

260 calories, 15 g fat (4.5 g saturated fat), 600 mg sodium, 7 g carbs (1 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 24 g protein

You’d expect this bunless chicken sandwich to already be healthy on its own, but you still have to make a few modifications for a truly healthy meal. Get rid of the mayo and the bacon and you have a perfectly tasty and satisfying meal to get your daily protein fix.

330 calories, 14 g fat (2.5 g saturated fat), 670 mg sodium, 26 g carbs (6 g fiber, 12 g sugar), 27 g protein

This salad is packed with flavor and protein. At only 330 calories, its 27 grams of protein will keep you well energized and ready to take on the rest of the day.

390 calories, 10 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat), 980 mg sodium, 44 g carbs (5 g fiber, 7 g sugar), 29 g protein

This sandwich is so good that you don’t even need the excess calories and fat that come from the cranberry mustard sauce. With 29 grams of protein, you’ll be happily filled with this 6-inch sub serving until dinnertime.

260 calories, 7.5 g fat (2.5 g saturated fat), 815 mg sodium, 24 g carbs (6 g fiber, 7 g sugar), 26 g protein

Instead of getting a burrito bowl, ditch the extra carbs from the rice and get a salad. Steak has one of the highest protein contents of all meats and the fajita vegetables give this salad a flavorful kick without boosting up the calorie count.

590 calories, 36 g fat (13 g saturated fat), 620 mg sodium, 37 g carbs (2 g fiber, 8 g sugar), 31 g protein

This is one of Dairy Queen’s more health-friendly options on their menu. The calorie count is surprisingly low in comparison to other foods they serve, and it has a shockingly high 31 grams of protein.

330 calories, 8 g fat (2.5 g saturated fat), 920 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (6 g fiber, 4 g sugar), 18 g protein

This supreme burrito will fill you up without ingesting too many calories. If you get rid of the red sauce, it’s actually pretty healthy: only 330 calories and 8 grams of fat. We’ll definitely be ordering this on our next T-Bell trip.

260 calories, 10 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat), 640 mg sodium, 24 g carbs (2 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 20 g protein

Picking grilled chicken over crispy is always the wiser choice when it comes to watching your weight. At only 260 calories, you get a high-protein and low-sodium meal that has much less fat in comparison to other Wendy’s menu items.

500 calories, 19 g fat (8 g saturated fat), 870 mg sodium, 51 g carbs (4 g fiber, 8 g sugar), 24 g protein

The combination of steak and arugula is not only tasty, it’s also a great source of protein. This sandwich has 24 grams of protein at only 500 calories, which is a much better option for those who want a healthy meal without chowing down on a salad.

230 calories, 7 g fat (2 g saturated fat), 970 mg sodium, 4 g carbs (2 g fiber, <1 g sugar), 39 g protein

It may seem impossible to eat healthy at KFC with all the fried chicken meals. But now, their grilled chicken option is actually an amazing source of protein without all of the fat and grease of their fried menu items.

320 calories, 11 g fat (3 g saturated fat), 970 mg sodium, 32 g carbs (4 g fiber, 9 g sugar), 20 g protein

Hot dogs usually aren’t considered a health food, but Shake Shack switches things up with a chicken dog that has less fat but is still high in protein.

330 calories, 15 g fat (3.5 g saturated fat), 630 mg sodium, 7 g carbs (3 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 45 g protein

Boston Market’s rotisserie chicken is an amazing source of protein, and it tastes like you cooked this yourself at home (without having to do any actual cooking). Instead of grabbing Boston Market’s fattening sides like mac and cheese or mashed potatoes, their medley of steamed vegetables will keep hunger at bay without putting on the pounds.

600 calories, 25 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 950 mg sodium, 53 g carbs (3 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 38 g protein

This light and filling sandwich is perfect for your next lunch break. With a combination of grilled chicken, low-fat mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and basil, this meal packs in the protein.

283 calories, 3 g fat (0 g saturated fat), 917 mg sodium, 3 g carbs (0 g fiber, 0 g sugar), 43 g protein

These chicken strips still have all of the amazing flavors of regular tenders without the fattening grease and breading. And, it has some of the highest protein on the Popeye’s menu with 43 grams. Make sure to get this next time instead of their regular tenders, which we put on our list of the 30 Worst Foods In America.

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