Counting Calories? Here’s What You Need to Know About Zaxby’s Chicken Fingers Without Sauce

Are you a Zaxby’s fan trying to keep track of your calorie intake? I totally get it! As someone who loves their crispy chicken fingers but is also watching my waistline I’ve done some digging into exactly how many calories are in Zaxby’s chicken fingers without sauce. The results are… well a bit confusing! Let me break down what I found so you can make informed choices next time you’re craving some Zaxby’s goodness.

The Calorie Confusion: Different Sources, Different Numbers

When I started researching this topic, I immediately noticed something strange – different sources report different calorie counts for what seems to be the same item! Let’s look at what I found:

1. According to Zaxby’s official nutrition guide (last revised January 2023), a single chicken finger without sauce contains 80 calories.

2. However, CalorieKing lists a single piece (1.6 oz) as having 97 calories.

3. FatSecret also lists a single serving as having 80 calories, matching Zaxby’s official count.

So why the discrepancy? It might be due to portion size differences or when the data was collected. Either way, it’s important to know that you’re looking at approximately 80-97 calories per finger without any dipping sauce

Complete Nutritional Breakdown of Zaxby’s Chicken Fingers (No Sauce)

Let’s break down exactly what’s in a single Zaxby’s chicken finger based on their official nutrition guide

The calorie breakdown is roughly:

• 43% calories from fat
• 14% calories from carbs
• 43% calories from protein

This is actually not bad for a fried chicken product! With 9g of protein per finger, you’re getting a decent amount of nutritional value alongside those calories.

Sauce Changes Everything: The Hidden Calorie Trap

Here’s where things get tricky – most of us don’t eat our chicken fingers plain! The sauces can dramatically increase your calorie intake. According to Zaxby’s nutrition information, here’s what happens when you add sauce to your chicken fingers:

So if you’re eating a 5-piece with Sweet & Spicy sauce, you’re looking at approximately 550 calories total (400 for the fingers + 150 for the sauce)!

How Many Chicken Fingers Are You Actually Eating?

Zaxby’s offers several meal options with different quantities of chicken fingers:

• Chicken Finger Plate (4): 1110 calories total
• Chicken Finger Plate (5): 1190 calories total
• Chicken Finger Plate (6): 1280 calories total
• Big Zax Snak Meal: 890 calories total
• Kiddie Finger with Zax Sauce: 320 calories total

Remember, these totals include sides and sauces! If you’re just eating the plain chicken fingers:

• 4 fingers = 320 calories
• 5 fingers = 400 calories
• 6 fingers = 480 calories

How Zaxby’s Chicken Fingers Compare to Other Menu Items

If you’re trying to make healthier choices at Zaxby’s, it helps to compare different menu options:

• Chicken Finger (No Sauce): 80 calories per piece
• Boneless Wings (No Sauce): 70 calories per piece
• Traditional Wings (No Sauce): 80 calories per piece
• Grilled Chicken Sandwich Only: 470 calories
• The Grilled House Zalad: 560 calories

For the lowest calorie option, boneless wings without sauce actually edge out the chicken fingers by a small margin!

Burning Off Those Chicken Finger Calories

According to CalorieKing’s data on a similar product, to burn off the calories in one chicken finger (about 97 calories), you would need to:

• Swim for 8 minutes
• Jog for 11 minutes
• Cycle for 15 minutes
• Walk for 27 minutes

So if you’ve had a 5-piece, you might want to plan for about a 55-minute jog or a 2-hour walk to burn it all off!

Making Smarter Choices at Zaxby’s

If you’re watching your calories but still want to enjoy Zaxby’s chicken fingers, here are some tips:

• Skip the sauce or ask for it on the side so you can control how much you use
• Choose grilled options when available
• Share a larger meal with a friend
• Substitute fries for a side salad or cole slaw (140 calories for the side portion)
• Drink water instead of sugary beverages

Are Zaxby’s Chicken Fingers Good for Special Diets?

Looking at the allergen information from Zaxby’s, their chicken fingers contain:

• Egg
• Wheat
• Soy
• Gluten

They do NOT contain:

• Milk
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Shellfish
• Fish
• Sesame

This means they’re not suitable for those with gluten sensitivities or certain allergies, but they might work for some other dietary restrictions.

The Bottom Line: Moderation is Key

At the end of the day, Zaxby’s chicken fingers can definitely fit into a balanced diet if eaten in moderation. A single finger at 80 calories isn’t going to ruin your diet – it’s when we eat large quantities with high-calorie sauces and sides that the calories really add up.

One thing I love about knowing the exact calorie count is that it helps me make better decisions. Maybe I’ll get 3 fingers instead of 5, or skip the sauce altogether if I’m really watching my calories that day.

FAQs About Zaxby’s Chicken Fingers Calories

How many calories are in a 5-piece Zaxby’s chicken finger meal?

The full meal with sides and sauce has approximately 1190 calories. Just the 5 plain chicken fingers would be about 400 calories.

What is the lowest calorie sauce at Zaxby’s?

The Wimpy, Tongue Torch, and Nuclear sauces are the lowest at approximately 10 additional calories per chicken finger.

Are Zaxby’s chicken fingers keto-friendly?

Not really. With 3g of carbs per finger, they do contain breading that isn’t ideal for strict keto diets.

How do Zaxby’s chicken fingers compare to other fast food chicken?

They’re comparable to other breaded chicken tenders, but the exact comparison depends on the specific restaurant and preparation method.

Can I eat Zaxby’s chicken fingers on a diet?

Yes! Just be mindful of portion sizes and additional sauces. Consider fitting them into your daily calorie goals by adjusting other meals accordingly.

Conclusion

So there you have it – a single Zaxby’s chicken finger without sauce contains about 80 calories according to the company’s official nutrition information. This isn’t bad on its own, but most of us end up consuming much more when we add sauces, sides, and multiple pieces.