Since more than 25 years ago, Dairy Queen’s chicken strip basket has been a popular menu item. With its crispy chicken fries, Texas toast, and dipping sauce, this tasty basket may make you wonder how many calories it has. You can make an informed choice the next time you go to DQ after reading this article. It breaks down the calorie count and other nutrition facts.
A Classic DQ Treat
There are four or six strips of all-white meat chicken in the Dairy Queen chicken strip basket. Each strip is covered in a crispy, seasoned breading. The strips are fried until hot and golden. There are also a lot of DQ’s famous fries in the basket. To finish the meal, there are two pieces of Texas toast and your choice of one dipping sauce. Dairy Queen has eight sauces to go with the tenders, ranging from creamy ranch to tangy buffalo.
This combination of chicken tenders, fries, toast, and sauce has been on DQ menus since 1994. Over the years, it has become one of the chain’s most iconic and crave-worthy items. The chicken strip basket delivers the perfect balance of crunchy, saucy, fried finger food that customers of all ages enjoy.
Calorie Count for a 4 Piece Chicken Strip Basket
So how many calories are in a Dairy Queen four piece chicken strip basket?
- A four piece chicken strip basket from Dairy Queen contains 1020 calories.
That’s over half of the recommended 2000 daily calories for most adults in just one meal!
To break it down further:
- 48 grams of fat (430 calories)
- 111 grams of carbohydrates
- 35 grams of protein
The high calorie count is largely due to deep frying the chicken and fries in oil. The batter coating on the chicken and the oil used for frying add a significant number of calories and fat. The Texas toast and sauce provide additional calories from carbohydrates and fat as well.
Calorie Count for a 6 Piece Chicken Strip Basket
Order a bigger appetite? Opting for the six piece chicken strip basket will rack up even more calories:
- A Dairy Queen six piece chicken strip basket contains 1290 calories.
Here’s the full nutrition breakdown:
- 59 grams of fat (530 calories)
- 139 grams of carbohydrates
- 44 grams of protein
As you can see, just adding two more chicken strips tacks on an extra 270 calories and 11 grams of fat. The extra carbs and protein also pile on more calories.
How Many Calories Does Each Part Contain?
A big part of the calories come from the chicken strips, but the fries, toast, and sauce also have their fair share. Here is a rough idea of how many calories are in each part of a four-piece chicken strip basket:
- Chicken strips (4 pieces): 400-600 calories
- Fries: 350-400 calories
- Texas toast: 150-200 calories
- Sauce: 50-100 calories
As you can see, the fried chicken strips and fries account for most of the calories. Limiting your sauce usage can shave off some calories, but the chicken and fries will still deliver a calorie-dense meal.
Burning off the Calories
How many miles would you have to run to burn off a Dairy Queen chicken strip basket with four pieces?
- To burn off 1020 calories, you would need to:
- Run for 89 minutes
- Walk for 146 minutes
- Take a 21 mile bike ride
As you can see, working off those chicken strip calories takes serious time and effort. It’s the equivalent of jogging for close to 10 miles.
Just one chicken strip meal could undo the progress from your morning workout or hour-long exercise class. The high calorie count is something to consider if watching your waistline.
Making Healthier Choices at Dairy Queen
If you love the taste of Dairy Queen but want to make a lighter choice, consider these options to reduce calories:
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich (440 calories)
- Misty Slush (150 calories)
- Vanilla Soft Serve Cone (170 calories)
- Small Chili Cheese Dog (460 calories)
Sticking to grilled chicken, lighter beverages, and small treats can satisfy your craving while keeping calories in check. Building your own meal with a la carte menu items also allows you to control portions and ingredients.
While the chicken strip basket packs a caloric punch, it remains a Dairy Queen signature with its tantalizing combination of hot crispy chicken, fries, toast, and dipping sauce. Being mindful of calories and portions allows you to enjoy this treat in moderation.
Curl on Top Treats (See table footer for legend)
| Menu Item | Calories (kcal) | Fat Calories (kcal) | Total Fat (g) | Saturated Fat (g) | Trans Fat (g) | Cholesterol (mg) | Sodium (mg) | Carbohydrates (g) | Fiber (g) | Sugars (g) | Protein (g) | Allergens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banana Split | 520 | 120 | 14 | 9 | 0.5 | 30 | 150 | 94 | 4 | 74 | 9 | MS |
| Brownie and OREO® Cupfection | 720 | 200 | 23 | 9 | 0.5 | 55 | 330 | 122 | 2 | 96 | 10 | EMSW |
| Peanut Buster Parfait | 710 | 270 | 31 | 18 | 0.5 | 35 | 340 | 95 | 3 | 68 | 17 | MPS |
Sundaes (See table footer for legend)
| Menu Item | Calories (kcal) | Fat Calories (kcal) | Total Fat (g) | Saturated Fat (g) | Trans Fat (g) | Cholesterol (mg) | Sodium (mg) | Carbohydrates (g) | Fiber (g) | Sugars (g) | Protein (g) | Allergens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add DQ Sprinkles | 35 | 10 | 1.5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | S |
| Caramel Sundae – Large | 600 | 140 | 16 | 10 | 1 | 55 | 260 | 102 | 0 | 81 | 12 | M |
| Caramel Sundae – Medium | 430 | 100 | 11 | 7 | 0.5 | 35 | 190 | 73 | 0 | 58 | 9 | M |
| Caramel Sundae – Small | 300 | 70 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 25 | 130 | 50 | 0 | 40 | 6 | M |
| Cherry Sundae – Large | 510 | 120 | 14 | 9 | 0.5 | 45 | 200 | 86 | 1 | 73 | 12 | M |
| Cherry Sundae – Medium | 360 | 90 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 135 | 61 | 0 | 52 | 8 | M |
| Cherry Sundae – Small | 250 | 60 | 7 | 4.5 | 0 | 25 | 95 | 42 | 0 | 36 | 6 | M |
| Chocolate Sundae – Large | 560 | 130 | 14 | 9 | 0.5 | 45 | 220 | 97 | 1 | 84 | 12 | M |
| Chocolate Sundae – Medium | 400 | 90 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 160 | 70 | 1 | 60 | 8 | M |
| Chocolate Sundae – Small | 270 | 60 | 7 | 4.5 | 0 | 25 | 110 | 48 | 1 | 41 | 6 | M |
| Hot Fudge Sundae – Large | 610 | 190 | 21 | 16 | 1 | 50 | 260 | 93 | 1 | 73 | 13 | MS |
| Hot Fudge Sundae – Medium | 430 | 130 | 15 | 11 | 0.5 | 35 | 190 | 66 | 1 | 52 | 9 | MS |
| Hot Fudge Sundae – Small | 300 | 90 | 10 | 8 | 0 | 25 | 125 | 46 | 0 | 36 | 6 | MS |
| Peanut Butter Sundae – Large | 780 | 400 | 44 | 13 | 0.5 | 45 | 520 | 79 | 3 | 58 | 18 | MP(T) |
| Peanut Butter Sundae – Medium | 560 | 290 | 32 | 10 | 0 | 30 | 380 | 56 | 2 | 40 | 13 | MP(T) |
| Peanut Butter Sundae – Small | 380 | 190 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 25 | 260 | 39 | 1 | 28 | 9 | MP(T) |
| Pineapple Sundae – Large | 480 | 120 | 14 | 9 | 0.5 | 45 | 170 | 77 | 1 | 67 | 12 | M |
| Pineapple Sundae – Medium | 330 | 90 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 120 | 54 | 1 | 47 | 8 | M |
| Pineapple Sundae – Small | 230 | 60 | 7 | 4.5 | 0 | 25 | 85 | 38 | 0 | 33 | 6 | M |
| Strawberry Sundae – Large | 490 | 120 | 14 | 9 | 0.5 | 45 | 190 | 80 | 1 | 69 | 12 | M |
| Strawberry Sundae – Medium | 340 | 90 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 30 | 135 | 56 | 1 | 49 | 8 | M |
| Strawberry Sundae – Small | 240 | 60 | 7 | 4.5 | 0 | 25 | 95 | 39 | 0 | 34 | 6 | M |
Food Alert: $5 DQ Deal for Chicken Strip Basket & Blizzard in Your Favorite Flavor!
FAQ
How many calories are in a chicken strip basket dq?
Chicken
How many calories are in a 6 piece chicken strip basket?
There are 1900 calories in a 1%20serving of Dairy Queen chicken strip basket. The macronutrient breakdown is carbohydrates (2043%), fat (2042%), and protein (2015).
How many calories in a 4pc chicken strip basket?
1.1% of a serving of Dairy Queen chicken strip basket has 201020% calories. The macronutrient breakdown is carbs (2044%), fat (2043%), and protein (2014).
Is dq chicken strip basket healthy?
1 serving of Dairy Queen chicken strip basket (4-piece w/country gravy) contains 1030 Calories The macronutrient breakdown is 41% carbs, 46% fat, and 14% protein. This is a good source of protein (62% of your Daily Value) and fiber (32% of your Daily Value).