The Fiesta Lime Chicken at Applebee’s is one of their lighter menu options, but many people may still wonder how many calories are in it. Here is a breakdown of the calorie count and other nutrition information for this Applebee’s recipe.
Calories in Fiesta Lime Chicken
According to the Applebee’s nutrition information page, one serving of the Fiesta Lime Chicken contains the following:
- 510 calories
- 10g total fat
- 2g saturated fat
- 970mg sodium
- 51g carbohydrates
- 3g fiber
- 44g protein
So one serving of the Fiesta Lime Chicken at Applebee’s contains 510 calories. This makes it one of the lower calorie entree options at Applebee’s. Many of their dishes contain well over 1,000 calories per serving.
Details of Fiesta Lime Chicken Recipe
To understand how the Fiesta Lime Chicken recipe clocks in at 510 calories per serving, let’s take a look at what the dish consists of:
- Grilled chicken breast seasoned with lime juice, garlic, cilantro, and spices
- Rice pilaf mixed with roasted corn, black beans, red bell peppers, onions, and cilantro
- Pico de gallo salsa made with tomatoes, onion, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime
- Shredded romaine lettuce
- Lime wedge
The grilled chicken breast is a lean protein that is relatively low in calories. The rice pilaf mix adds some carbohydrates and fiber. The veggies and salsa provide nutrients with minimal calories. And the lettuce is very low calorie. The lime juice and seasonings add lots of flavor without significant calories.
Nutrition Information for Each Ingredient
Here is a more detailed nutrition breakdown of the main ingredients in Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken:
| Ingredient | Calories | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6oz grilled chicken breast | 214 | 0g | 43g |
| 1 cup rice pilaf | 174 | 35g | 4g |
| 1/2 cup pico de gallo | 20 | 5g | 1g |
| 1 cup shredded romaine | 10 | 2g | 1g |
Adding up the calories from each component, you get about 510 calories total for the entire Fiesta Lime Chicken recipe serving. The lean protein and non-starchy veggies help keep the calorie count reasonable for an entire meal.
How to Make Fiesta Lime Chicken Lower Calorie
If you want to lighten up the Fiesta Lime Chicken recipe even more, there are a few simple tweaks you can make:
- Use a smaller 4oz chicken breast to cut about 70 calories.
- Swap in cauliflower rice instead of regular rice pilaf to reduce calories by about 100.
- Use just 1/2 cup rice and 1 extra cup veggies to reduce carbs.
- Skip the oil when cooking chicken and rice to save about 60 calories.
- Use just 1 tablespoon shredded cheese to save about 50 calories.
Implementing some of these tweaks can potentially bring the total calorie count down to around 400 calories or less. This makes it an even lighter lunch or dinner option.
How Fiesta Lime Chicken Fits into Calorie Goals
At 510 calories per serving, the Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken fits into most daily calorie goals:
- 1,200 calorie diet: The Fiesta Lime Chicken accounts for about 40% of your total daily intake in this plan.
- 1,500 calorie diet: This recipe makes up around 35% of your day’s calories in a 1,500 calorie diet.
- 1,800+ calorie diet: For higher calorie diet plans, the Fiesta Lime Chicken provides around 25-30% of your total daily calories.
Since experts recommend filling around 25-35% of your calorie allowance with lean protein foods, this recipe can fit nicely into a balanced diet. Pair it with lower calorie sides and snacks to allow it to fit into your day’s calorie budget.
Conclusion
The Applebee’s Fiesta Lime Chicken contains a moderate 510 calories per serving. This makes it one of the lower calorie entree choices at Applebee’s. With simple ingredient swaps and preparation tweaks, it’s possible to reduce the calories even further. At around 500 calories, this flavorful chicken dish can be part of a healthy daily calorie plan.