Best Low-Carb Hacks for Eating Keto at Applebee’s in 2025
Can You Eat Keto at Applebee’s 2025?
✅ YES! You can eat keto at Applebee’s by selecting dishes with protein, healthy fats, and low carbs. Swap high-carb sides for steamed broccoli, salads, or garlicky green beans, and choose lettuce wraps instead of buns on burgers and sandwiches. Avoid sugary sauces and dressings and opt for low-carb alternatives.
The keto diet is popular for its ability to help with weight loss and boost metabolic health. This low-carb, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet focuses on eating healthy fats while cutting down on net carbs. Dining out on keto at Applebee’s or any fast food can be tricky, but you can do it with the right approach.
Applebee’s has plenty of keto-friendly options to help you stick to your diet goals. Great picks include grilled meats like steaks or chicken, paired with low-carb sides such as broccoli or asparagus. Salads with protein options like grilled shrimp or salmon, dressed with olive oil or avocado-based dressings, are also excellent choices for a satisfying keto meal.
When dining on keto at Applebee’s, it’s essential to avoid high-carb items like breaded dishes, sugary cocktails, sugary sauces, and starchy sides such as fries or mashed potatoes. Instead, focus on whole foods that are rich in nutrients and align with the principles of the ketogenic diet.
By choosing wisely and being aware of hidden carbs in some menu items, you can easily enjoy dining out on keto at Applebee’s or any restaurant while staying committed to your health goals. Dive into our keto at Applebee’s 2025 guide now!
Table of Contents
- Top Keto Applebee’s Dishes in 2025
- Customizing Your Applebee’s Keto Meal
- Avoiding Hidden Carbs at Applebee’s
- Applebee’s Keto Desserts
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
Top Keto Applebee’s Dishes in 2025
Eating out on a keto diet can be challenging, but Applebee’s makes it easier with its variety of low-carb options. You can enjoy a hearty steak, a delicious chicken dish, or a refreshing salad. There’s something for everyone at Applebee’s.
This guide will highlight the best Applebee’s keto meals and offer tips on ordering and customizing your order to meet your dietary needs. Focus on protein-rich options, incorporate healthy fats, and keep net carbs low.
Get ready to enjoy a satisfying meal on keto at Applebee’s!
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad without Croutons
Applebee’s offers a keto-friendly grilled chicken salad. This dish features a generous portion of grilled chicken breast on crisp romaine lettuce, topped with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese.
To keep it low-carb, simply ask for no croutons as they add unnecessary carbs.
The Caesar dressing tastes great, but it can have a lot of carbs too. To stay on your low-carb plan, you can request the dressing on the side or choose something lighter, like olive oil and vinegar.
- Calories: 745
- Fat: 57g
- Net Carbs: 4g
- Protein: 54g
Blackened Cajun Salmon with Steamed Broccoli
Try the Blackened Cajun Salmon with Steamed Broccoli at Applebee’s for a tasty seafood dish that fits your keto diet. This dish has a Cajun salmon cooked just right, covered in tasty blackened seasoning. It adds a little spice that goes well with the fish.
Without mashed potatoes, this meal is rich in protein and healthy fats, essential for maintaining a balanced keto diet. The broccoli provides fiber and vital nutrients, enhancing the overall nutritional value of this dish.
- Calories: 660
- Fat: 35g
- Net Carbs: 7g
- Protein: 47g
Bourbon Street Steak
For a keto-friendly meal at Applebee’s, try the Bourbon Street Chicken and Steak without mashed potatoes. Opt for low-carb sides like steamed broccoli or a side salad. Avoid high-carb options. The steak is juicy and topped with olive oil, providing healthy fats, and pairs well with garlicky green beans.
This dish is a tasty protein that fits well with your keto plan. Check the nutrition info for net carbs and grams of fat to make good choices. Treat yourself wisely while staying true to your ketogenic diet.
- Calories: 490
- Fat: 29g
- Net Carbs: 8g
- Protein: 51g
Zesty Lemon Shrimp over Zoodles
For a lighter and brighter keto Applebee’s meal, you should try the Zesty Lemon Shrimp over Zoodles. This dish combines tasty shrimp, zucchini noodles, and a tangy lemon olive oil vinaigrette.
The shrimp gives you a good amount of protein. The zoodles are a low-carb choice instead of regular pasta. Since it uses zucchini noodles, this dish cuts down on grams of carbs. It’s a great pick for anyone on a keto diet.
- Calories: 560
- Fat: 31g
- Net Carbs: 4g
- Protein: 43g
Bacon Cheddar Mushroom Chicken without Potatoes
If you love savory and cheesy flavors, the Bacon Cheddar BBQ Ranch Mushroom Chicken without Potatoes is a fantastic keto-friendly choice. This dish features a juicy grilled chicken breast topped with BBQ ranch sauce, melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and sautéed mushrooms.
To keep the meal keto-friendly, just ask for it without potatoes. You can choose a side of cheesy broccoli, steamed veggies, or a simple side salad to add more nutrients and healthy fats to your meal.
- Calories: 720
- Fat: 64g
- Net Carbs: 8g
- Protein: 57g
Shrimp ‘N Parmesan Sirloin with Steamed Broccoli
With the Shrimp ‘N Parmesan Sirloin, you get a delightful mix of flavors. It features a blackened top sirloin steak and sautéed shrimp. The dish is completed with lemon butter Parmesan sauce, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and a serving of broccoli.
This dish offers a delightful combination of flavors ideal for a keto diet. The blackened seasoning brings out the steak’s natural taste, while the shrimp adds a tasty seafood element. The lemon butter Parmesan sauce, rich in healthy fats, enhances the dish with a creamy and tangy touch.
- Calories: 660
- Fat: 43g
- Net Carbs: 6g
- Protein: 62g
Grilled Chicken Breast with Steamed Broccoli
Sometimes, the simplest choices are the most satisfying, especially for keto-friendly meals. Applebee’s Grilled Chicken Breast with Steamed Broccoli and turkey breast is a great option for people looking for a lean and protein-rich meal that fits their low-carb diet.
This meal includes a juicy grilled chicken breast served with a generous portion of broccoli, adding fiber and nutrients. Enhance the flavor without adding carbs by requesting honey Dijon mustard and olive oil vinaigrette on the side for dipping.
- Calories: 290
- Fat: 11g
- Net Carbs: 4g
- Protein: 43g
Customizing Your Applebee’s Keto Meal
Ordering keto at Applebee’s is simple if you know a few easy changes to make. Feel free to get creative and change your Applebee’s meal to match what you like and your macros.
Always communicate openly with your server about your dietary needs. Ask about ingredients and how dishes are prepared.
Swap Sides for Keto Vegetables
One easy way to make your Applebee’s meal fit keto is by changing the starchy sides to low-carb vegetables.
Opt for a classic bacon cheeseburger without the bun and skip the fries. Instead of high-carb sides like french fries, mashed potatoes, or onion rings, choose healthier, equally delicious options.
Choose a refreshing side salad or a simple house salad (just skip the croutons!) for added fiber and nutrients. Steamed broccoli, garlicky green beans, or sautéed mushrooms are also great low-carb options.
Feel free to be creative and ask your server about other low-carb vegetable options that might be on the menu!
Ask for Sauces and Dressings on the Side
Sauces and dressings can make your keto meal taste great or spoil it. They can add a lot of flavor, but some have hidden sugars and carbs. To keep track of your macros, always ask for sauces and dressings on the side.
This way, you can add just enough flavor without too many carbs. If you’re unsure about the carb content, ask your server. Opt for low-carb dressings like ranch, blue cheese, or a simple vinaigrette.
By being careful with sauces and dressings, you can have a tasty and fulfilling keto meal at Applebee’s!
Choose Beverages Wisely
While it may be tempting to have a sugary drink with your meal, remember that drinks can add to your daily carb intake. To stick to your keto goals, be careful about what you choose to drink.
Water is always the best choice. It keeps you hydrated. If you want something more flavorful, go for unsweetened tea or coffee. You can drink both black or with a sugar-free sweetener.
Avoid sugary sodas, juices, and cocktails. These drinks are high in carbs and can quickly mess up your keto diet.
Avoiding Hidden Carbs at Applebee’s
Eating at Applebee’s while on a keto diet means you need to watch out for hidden carbs in dishes that look safe. These carbs can pile up fast and ruin your diet plans.
If you know what common sources of carbs to look out for and pay close attention to the menu, you can make smart choices. This allows you to enjoy a delicious meal without guilt, helping you maintain your keto lifestyle.
Common Menu Items to Avoid
While many Applebee’s dishes can be customized for a keto diet, some items are best avoided due to high carb content. These include breaded and fried snacks like mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and potato skins.
Also, steer clear of sugary dressings and sauces, such as those on the double glazed baby back ribs.
Avoid starchy sides like french fries, mashed potatoes, and onion rings, as they are high in carbs and often cooked in unhealthy oils. Choose low-carb options such as steamed broccoli, a side salad, or garlicky green beans instead.
Menu Descriptions for Hidden Sugars
Even dishes that look healthy can have hidden sugars and carbs that can derail your keto diet. So, pay attention to the menu descriptions.
Watch out for words like “glazed,” “crispy,” “breaded,” or “sweet.” These words usually mean there are added sugars or high-carb ingredients.
For instance, a steak may seem like the best bet, but it could be marinated in a sugary sauce or covered with crispy onions.
Watch out for hidden sugars. For instance, the double-glazed baby back ribs would be a great choice if only they came without the glaze.
If you are not sure about a dish or an ingredient, feel free to ask your server for more details.
Applebee’s Keto Desserts
Applebee’s has a great dessert menu, but enjoying sweet treats on a keto diet can be tough. Most desserts are high in sugar and carbs. This can bump you out of ketosis and slow down your progress.
But don’t worry! With some creativity, you can still enjoy sweet snacks while keeping to your keto lifestyle. Here are a few keto-friendly dessert options to try at Applebee’s.
Mini Chocolate Mousse with Almond Crumbs
This Mini Chocolate Mousse with Almond Crumbs is a tasty way to end your keto meal. Made with dark chocolate and heavy cream, it offers healthy fats.
The almond crumbs add a crunchy, nutty touch. Each serving has 200 calories, 5g net carbs, and 16g fat. Enjoy it in moderation to stay within your carb limits.
Strawberry & Cream Cheese Snack Bites
Indulge in the sweet taste of Strawberry & Cream Cheese Snack Bites. This keto-friendly dessert has fresh strawberries, which are low in carbs. It also has creamy and tangy cream cheese, which is high in healthy fats and low in carbs.
For an even more keto-friendly treat, request no added sugar or sweeteners. The natural sweetness of the strawberries combined with the creamy richness of the cream cheese creates a delightful flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Best Applebee’s Keto Substitutions?
Some tasty swaps for a keto Applebee’s meal are bunless classic cheeseburgers featuring a beef patty paired with a side salad instead of fries. You can choose sirloin steak with steamed broccoli instead of mashed potatoes. Another option is any grilled chicken dish with double veggies instead of rice.
Can I Have Any Keto Applebee’s Salad on a Low-carb Diet?
It’s good to choose Caesar side salads or grilled chicken Caesar salads without croutons. Just ask for a low-carb dressing on the side. Caesar dressing has more net carbs compared to other choices.
Are There Any Applebee’s Keto-Friendly Appetizers?
Yes! You can get many chicken dishes without the bun or as a lettuce wrap. This makes for a low-carb appetizer. Try to avoid the mozzarella sticks and other breaded options.
Final Thoughts
When dining on keto at Applebee’s in 2025, you can easily navigate the menu with a few helpful tips. Opt for delicious main dishes like the Grilled Chicken Salad or indulge in desserts such as the Mini Chocolate Mousse while staying true to your keto lifestyle.
There are plenty of options to enjoy while sticking to your plan. Customize your meal by choosing keto Applebee’s sides and watching out for hidden carbs. By making smart choices, you can enjoy your meal and stay on track with your low-carb lifestyle.
So, head over to Applebee’s with a smile and relish a delectable keto-friendly meal tailored just for you. Find more keto menu guides on our blog.