12 Unhealthiest Dishes At Texas Roadhouse You Should Stay Away From
Texas Roadhouse is famous for its generous portions and finger-licking flavors, but not all menu items are so great when it comes to nutrition.
Those juicy steaks, buttery rolls, and decadent sides might satisfy your taste buds, but they could be wreaking havoc on your health goals.
Before your next visit, take a peek at these nutritional landmines hiding in plain sight on the Texas Roadhouse menu.
1. Cactus Blossom
This deep-fried onion monstrosity is a caloric catastrophe! One serving packs nearly 2,000 calories and over 100 grams of fat—basically your entire day’s worth in one appetizer. I once shared this with friends, thinking we’d just have a few bites each.
Two hours later, we were all clutching our stomachs in regret. The accompanying dipping sauce adds even more calories to this already belt-busting starter.
2. Full Rack of Ribs
Slathered in sweet BBQ sauce and dripping with fat, these ribs might make your mouth water but your arteries cry. A full rack delivers a whopping 1,450 calories with 94 grams of fat and nearly 3,000mg of sodium.
The tender, fall-off-the-bone meat seems worth it until you realize you’ve consumed almost 75% of your daily calorie needs in one entrée. Plus, most people pair this with two sides, making it even worse.
3. Loaded Sweet Potato
Don’t be fooled by the word “sweet potato”—this side dish is anything but healthy! Drowning in caramel sauce, marshmallows, and brown sugar, it’s essentially dessert masquerading as a vegetable. During my last visit, my server proudly described it as “practically pie on a plate.”
At around 770 calories per serving, this sugar bomb will spike your insulin faster than actual candy. The nutritional benefits of the sweet potato are completely negated by its sugary toppings.
4. Cheese Fries
Crispy fries become a nutritional nightmare when smothered in melted cheese, bacon bits, and jalapeños. This appetizer packs a gut-busting 1,700 calories and nearly 100 grams of fat—and that’s supposedly for sharing!
I’ve watched entire tables demolish these before their main courses even arrive. The combination of fried potatoes, processed cheese, and fatty bacon creates the perfect storm of unhealthy ingredients that will have your heart working overtime.
5. Roadhouse Margarita
Liquid calories are the sneakiest kind! Their signature margarita contains approximately 500 calories, equivalent to eating a double cheeseburger, but with none of the protein or other nutrients. The jumbo size packs even more punch at nearly 800 calories.
During happy hour last month, I watched a couple each down three margaritas before their meals even arrived—that’s like consuming an extra-large meal just in drinks!
The sugary mixer and tequila combination offers zero nutritional benefits while adding significant empty calories.
6. Chicken Critters Basket
Don’t let the cute name fool you—these are just fancy chicken tenders for adults! Deep-fried in oil and served with honey mustard sauce, one basket delivers approximately 1,380 calories and 76 grams of fat.
The breading soaks up oil like a sponge, while providing little nutritional value. Add the included fries, and you’re looking at one of the most calorie-dense “casual” options on the menu.
Even kids’ meals should avoid this deep-fried disaster!
7. 16oz Prime Rib
Red meat enthusiasts beware—this massive slab of beef contains a heart-stopping 1,570 calories and 124 grams of fat. That’s before you add any sides or those famous rolls! I’ll never forget watching my uncle tackle this beast during a family dinner.
He finished every bite, then spent the rest of the evening in a meat coma. While prime rib can be part of a balanced diet in moderation, this portion size is pure excess.
8. Steak Kabob
Vegetables on a skewer with meat sounds healthy, but don’t be deceived! These kabobs come dripping with butter and oil, and the sirloin chunks are often marbled with fat. The rice pilaf side dish adds more carbs and calories than you might expect.
Last summer, I ordered this thinking I was making a lighter choice—until I saw the pool of butter on my plate! With sides, this meal can easily reach 1,200 calories.
9. Those Famous Rolls with Cinnamon Butter
The moment you sit down, these warm, pillowy temptresses arrive at your table, innocent-looking but devilishly unhealthy. Each roll with butter packs about 230 calories, and who eats just one? Most diners mindlessly munch through 3-4 rolls before their meal even arrives.
The cinnamon honey butter adds extra sugar and fat to these already carb-heavy treats. I’ve seen entire baskets disappear in minutes, adding 700+ pre-meal calories nobody needs.
10. Loaded Baked Potato
Potatoes themselves aren’t villains, but Texas Roadhouse transforms this humble spud into a caloric crime scene. Smothered in butter, sour cream, cheese, and bacon bits, one potato packs around 600 calories and 30 grams of fat. The worst part? This is just a side dish!
When my friend ordered this with her steak last month, the potato arrived practically hidden beneath a mountain of toppings. Combined with an entrée, you’re looking at a meal that could exceed your entire day’s calorie needs.
11. Big Ol’ Brownie
The name doesn’t lie—this dessert is indeed big, clocking in at a whopping 1,200 calories per serving! A chocolate brownie topped with vanilla ice cream, hot chocolate sauce, and whipped cream is a sugar bomb of epic proportions.
Even splitting this four ways still means 300 calories of pure indulgence after an already heavy meal. I’ve witnessed the table-wide food coma that follows this dessert—a testament to its overwhelming richness and excessive portion size.
12. Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs & Grilled Shrimp Combo
The ultimate indulgence combines half a rack of ribs with grilled shrimp for a protein overload that’ll have your cardiologist on speed dial. This combo platter packs approximately 1,500 calories and nearly 100 grams of fat.
During my cousin’s birthday celebration, he demolished this entire plate plus sides, then spent the ride home moaning about his food baby.
The combination of fatty ribs and butter-drenched shrimp creates a one-two punch of excess that few stomachs can handle gracefully.