Fast food is often synonymous with unhealthy choices, but many chains now offer salads, providing a convenient way to incorporate more vegetables and fiber into your diet on the go. While dedicated salad spots like Sweetgreen and Chopt are popular, numerous fast-food restaurants serve salads that are surprisingly delicious and satisfying.
To help you navigate the fast-food salad scene, I sampled salads from five well-known chains. From Panera Bread’s classic Greek Salad to Chick-fil-A’s customizable Cobb Salad, here’s a ranking of the best options, starting with my least favorite and working up to the top pick.
Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad: A Fruity but Flawed Choice
Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad featuring fresh lettuce, red and green apple chunks, blue cheese crumbles, and crunchy pecans.
Nutrition: (Per Salad w/o Dressing) Calories: 440, Fat: 24g (Saturated Fat: 10g), Sodium: 1,160mg, Carbs: 28g (Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 19g), Protein: 31g
Having previously enjoyed Wendy’s Apple Pecan Salad in college, I revisited it with anticipation. The salad itself, a mix of grilled chicken, crunchy pecans, blue cheese, and apple chunks, was appealing. However, the chicken was a letdown. For $8.99, this salad offers a decent base, but the protein needs improvement.
The Look: The salad is presented in a clear, square container, showcasing a vibrant mix of fresh lettuce, red and green apple pieces, and a modest amount of blue cheese. Pecans and dressing are conveniently packaged separately.
The Taste: The salad’s core components are enjoyable. The fruity, tangy dressing is a highlight, complementing the crisp lettuce and vibrant apple slices. The blue cheese, though sparse, adds a welcome flavor burst, and the pecans provide satisfying crunch. However, the chicken was overly salty, with an undesirable texture and bland taste. Next time, I would opt for this salad without the chicken and perhaps add a side of their nuggets for a more palatable protein option.
Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad: Customizable but Conflicting Flavors
Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad with grilled chicken nuggets, fresh lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, corn, hard-boiled egg, and bacon bits.
Nutrition: (Per Salad w/o Dressing) Calories: 830, Fat: 60g (Saturated Fat: 13g), Sodium: 2,220mg, Carbs: 31g (Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 8g), Protein: 42g
Chick-fil-A is renowned for its chicken, and their Cobb Salad is a popular choice that lets you personalize your protein. With options ranging from classic nuggets to grilled spicy filet, I chose the traditional nuggets for this $14.55 salad. While good, the salad suffered from some flavor clashes.
The Look: Served in a clear, medium-sized container, the Cobb Salad displays fresh lettuce, bright red grape tomatoes, chopped chicken nuggets, a light sprinkle of Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, a bit of roasted corn, sliced hard-boiled egg, and bacon crumbles. Dried tomatoes, crispy red peppers, and avocado-lime dressing are provided on the side.
The Taste: This salad evoked nostalgic memories of McDonald’s salad shakers, with a distinctly indulgent taste. The chicken nuggets were, as expected from Chick-fil-A, excellent – juicy inside and slightly crispy outside. The lettuce was fresh, the egg well-cooked, tomatoes sweet, and bacon nicely salty.
However, the corn and cheese were barely noticeable due to the small quantities. The avocado-lime dressing was also overly rich and didn’t harmonize with the dried tomatoes and peppers. Overall, the flavors felt somewhat disjointed and competing rather than complementary.
Chipotle Custom Salad: Flavor-Packed and Highly Satisfying
Chipotle Custom Salad Bowl overflowing with fajita vegetables, white rice, guacamole, queso, cheese, black beans, and diced tomatoes.
Nutrition: (Per Salad) Calories: 1,045, Fat: 61g (Saturated Fat: 18g), Sodium: 2,370mg, Carbs: 99g (Fiber: 17g, Sugar: 18g), Protein: 27g
Confession: I hadn’t realized Chipotle offered salads before ordering this one! Usually, I gravitate towards their burritos or bowls. This customizable salad, priced at $15.73, is generously portioned and felt like two meals in one. The taste and value made it a definite re-order.
The Look: A substantial salad served in a heavy oval container with a foil lid. Customization is key at Chipotle, and mine was loaded with fajita veggies (peppers and onions), white rice, guacamole, queso, shredded cheese, black beans, diced tomatoes, and more.
The Taste: A flavor explosion! This salad is bursting with taste, thanks to the personalized ingredient selection. The rice was cooked perfectly, the guacamole fresh, fajita vegetables well-prepared, cheese high-quality, and queso added creamy richness. A subtle spiciness permeated the dish, and the lettuce base remained crisp and not soggy.
While delicious and filling, the dressing felt unnecessary given the abundance of flavors already present. This is a hearty salad, possibly too heavy if you’re seeking a lighter fast food salad option.
Subway Tuna Salad: Surprisingly Fresh and Delicious
Subway Tuna Salad in a bowl with lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, red onions, cheese, and two scoops of tuna.
Nutrition: (Per Salad) Calories: 310, Fat: 24g (Saturated Fat: 4g), Sodium: 390mg, Carbs: 10g (Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 5g), Protein: 15g
Subway is primarily known for sandwiches, but their salads, including the Veggie Delite and Club, are excellent alternatives when you want Subway without the carbs. The $9.19 Tuna Salad, which I ordered based on recommendations, was surprisingly impressive.
The Look: Served in a round black plastic bowl with a clear lid, this salad is packed with chopped lettuce, sliced peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, black olives, red onions, and a generous amount of cheese. The star is undoubtedly the two large scoops of tuna salad. I ordered dressing, but it was unclear if it was pre-applied.
The Taste: Shockingly good! Everything tasted fresh and wholesome, an unexpected delight from a Subway salad. The tuna salad was freshly made, not overly salty or mushy. The peppers and cucumbers were crisp and tasted freshly cut, and the shredded cheese was far from rubbery. All ingredients rested on a bed of crisp lettuce. This salad was excellent and didn’t even require dressing.
Panera Bread Greek Salad: The Undisputed Best Fast Food Salad
Panera Bread Greek Salad featuring sliced cucumbers, red onion, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, and fresh lettuce with dressing on the side.
Nutrition: (Half-Size Serving w/Apple for Side) Calories: 210, Fat: 18g (Saturated Fat: 4.5g), Sodium: 570mg, Carbs: 9g (Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g), Protein: 4g
Panera Bread consistently delivers quality, and their Greek Salad is a long-time favorite. Fresh, light, and an ideal accompaniment to soups and sandwiches, the half-portion Greek Salad cost $7.39 and is destined for many future orders.
The Look: This salad features sliced cucumbers, thin red onion slices, bright red cherry tomatoes, a generous sprinkle of feta cheese, and fresh lettuce. The tangy vinaigrette dressing is served separately, preventing sogginess.
The Taste: While a simpler salad compared to others, Panera’s Greek Salad is a classic for a reason. The vegetables were fresh and flavorful – the red onion provided a pleasant bite, and the cherry tomatoes were sweet and juicy. The feta was high-quality, and the vinegar-based dressing perfectly tied all the elements together.
This salad takes the top spot because it’s light yet satisfying, with a refreshing and versatile flavor that pairs well with various soups and sandwiches. The ingredients feel high quality, and the price is reasonable, making it the Best Fast Food Salad overall.
