How Many Carbs Are in a Chicken Sandwich?

A lot of fast food restaurants and delis serve chicken sandwiches. But with the rise of low-carb diets like keto, chicken sandwich fans may be curious about how many carbs are in the bun and the toppings.

Let’s look closely at how many carbs are in chicken sandwiches from a number of different restaurants. We’ll also give you some tips on how to order or make a chicken sandwich with fewer carbs. If you’re watching your carbs or are just interested, keep reading to find out all about them!

The Average Chicken Sandwich Has 26-41g of Carbs

We looked at nutrition information from the best restaurants and found that the average chicken sandwich has 26 to 41 grams of carbs. This range of carbs includes the bun and any sauces or toppings.

For example a classic Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich has 41g of carbs. A Wendy’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich has 33g of carbs. And a Subway Oven Roasted Chicken Sandwich has 26g of carbs.

As you can see, carb counts can vary significantly depending on the restaurant. Below is a breakdown of the carb content in chicken sandwiches from popular fast food chains:

• Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich: 41g carbs
• McDonald’s Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich: 30g carbs
• Wendy’s Grilled Chicken Sandwich: 33g carbs
• Subway Oven Roasted Chicken Sandwich: 26g carbs
• Burger King Crispy Chicken Sandwich: 38g carbs
• Arby’s Classic Chicken Sandwich: 35g carbs

In general, fried chicken sandwiches have slightly more carbs than grilled chicken sandwiches. The extra carbs come from the breading on fried chicken.

The Bun Accounts for Most of the Carbs

For most chicken sandwiches, the bun provides the bulk of the carbohydrates. A standard fast food bun can have 25-35g of carbs – more than half the carb content in the entire sandwich!

One chicken breast fillet has only 0.5 to 5 grams of carbs, so the chicken itself is very low in carbs. But breaded and fried chicken can have up to 15g more carbs.

As for condiments, mayonnaise and basic vegetables add minimal carbs. But thicker sauces and dressings like barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or ranch can tack on 5-15g of carbs.

So when ordering a chicken sandwich, opting for a smaller bun or skipping the sauce are two easy ways to reduce the carb count.

How to Order a Lower Carb Chicken Sandwich

If you’re limiting your carb intake, you have a few options for reducing the carbs in a chicken sandwich:

• Choose grilled chicken – Grilled chicken has slightly fewer carbs than breaded and fried chicken.

• Skip the bun – Order your chicken sandwich as a lettuce wrap to eliminate the bun.

• Pick a low carb bread – Some places offer lower carb bun options like lettuce, portobello mushroom caps, or gluten-free buns.

• Hold the sauce – Condiments like honey mustard, barbecue sauce and ranch add extra carbs.

• Add veggies – Pile on fresh veggies like lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles for added bulk and fiber without carbs.

• Size down your bun – Opt for a smaller bun or kids size sandwich.

• Remove excess bread – Scoop out excess bread from inside the bun to reduce portions.

With these simple modifications, you can easily shave 10-15g of carbs off a chicken sandwich.

How to Make a Low Carb Chicken Sandwich at Home

Another great option is to make your own fresh chicken sandwich at home. This gives you total control over the ingredients.

Here are some tips for building a low carb chicken sandwich:

• Use lettuce leaves or a low carb wrap instead of a bun. Great options include lettuce, portobello caps, coconut wraps, or high-fiber wraps.

• Bake or grill chicken breast seasoned with salt, pepper and spices. Avoid breaded chicken.

• Set aside the top bun and use just the bottom piece.

• Stack with plenty of fresh veggies like lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and avocado.

• Use oil-based spreads like mayo or avocado instead of sweet condiments. Mustard and hot sauce are also good options.

• Try crunchy additions like sliced cucumber, sprouts, or shredded carrot for extra texture.

With a few carb-conscious tweaks, you can enjoy a delicious chicken sandwich on any diet! Just stay mindful of portions and ingredients.

How Carbs Fit Into a Healthy Diet

Carbohydrates are one of the key macronutrients, along with protein and fat. Many healthy diets contain around 40-60% carbs. But low carb diets like keto aim for under 50g daily.

When it comes to chicken sandwiches, the ideal carb count comes down to your individual needs and diet goals:

• If you’re on a keto or low carb diet, aim for 10-30g of net carbs per meal. Get creative with lettuce wraps, veggie subs, and low carb buns.

• For balanced carb diets like the Mediterranean diet, a traditional chicken sandwich in a regular bun is fine in moderation. Focus on getting carbs from high fiber whole grains whenever possible.

• If your goal is weight loss, reducing overall portions, calories, and refined carbs is key. Get extra veggies and smaller buns to cut back on carbs.

• For carb loading athletes and bodybuilders, a large fried chicken sandwich can help meet increased carb needs after intense workouts.

At the end of the day, it’s about finding the right carb level for your unique nutrition priorities. Whether it’s 10g or 40g, knowing how to balance carbs in a chicken sandwich is helpful for any diet!

The Bottom Line

A typical chicken sandwich contains 26-41g of carbohydrates, mainly from the bun. To reduce carbs, skip the bun, pick lower carb toppings, and size down portions. At home, use lettuce wraps or low carb alternatives instead of a regular bun. Just a few small tweaks can lead to a healthier, lower carb chicken sandwich!

Breaded fried chicken is generally not keto-friendly due to the breading, which is high in carbohydrates.