There are a lot of obstacles to making balanced choices when it comes to dining at chain restaurants – and those hurdles can be even higher at steakhouses. LongHorn Steakhouse has an eclectic menu full of crowd-pleasing favorites like juicy steaks and hearty sides, but most of these popular dishes are loaded with saturated fat, calories, and sodium.
Although these dietary shortcomings are on par with most steakhouses, a closer look at LongHorn’s nutrition information reveals a handful of menu items that stand out for their potential negative impact on health. We talked to dietitians to find out which menu items they recommend you stay away from the next time you’re eating at LongHorn Steakhouse.
How we rated the most unhealthy LongHorn Steakhouse menu items.
Here are some ideas to use when assessing which menu items were the most unhealthy at LongHorn Steakhouse.
- Total Calories: Extra oil, deep-frying cooking methods, and extra sauces and marinades quickly turn into extra calories when eating out. Often, these are empty calories, meaning they don’t provide much additional nutrition for the energy they provide.
- total fat: Butter, oil, fatty cuts of meat and deep frying all contribute to the high dietary fat content in Longhorn Steakhouse’s menu items. Although some dietary fat is necessary, most restaurants go overboard to make their dishes more palatable.
- Sodium: Extra salt is one way restaurants can make their food taste more delicious than home-cooked meals. However, some meals can contain 2,300 milligrams or more of a day’s worth of sodium.
Indulging in LongHorn Steakhouse on a special occasion or eating out from time to time is unlikely to have a significant impact on your health. However, if you frequent this steakhouse or choose items that are detrimental to their health, consider prioritizing more balanced options or home-cooked meals.
Let’s find out which menu items dietitians call the most unhealthy at LongHorn Steakhouse.
Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Nutrition (per order)Per serving: 1,120 calories, 69 g fat (28 g saturated fat), 3,160 mg sodium, 24 g carbs (4 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 102 g protein
With almost one and a half times the daily sodium recommendation, the Chicken-Crusted Parmesan at Longhorn is one of the most unhealthy options. You may consider splitting this dish for a more balanced option that still provides a great source of protein.
“With 1,120 calories, 69 grams of fat, 28 grams of saturated fat and 3,160 milligrams of sodium, this dish packs a significant calorie punch. While it’s fine as an occasional indulgence, it lacks fiber and is high in fat and sodium. The ingredients are of concern for regular consumption,” says Krista Vale, RD, LDN and founder of Louisiana Nutrition Associates.
texas tonian
Nutrition (per order)Per serving: 1,180 calories, 69 g fat (12 g saturated fat), 2,720 mg sodium, 126 g carbs (9 g fiber, 9 g sugar), 15 g protein
This high-calorie menu item doesn’t offer much balance when it comes to nutrition and offers a triple-threat combo that’s high in calories, saturated fat, and sodium. “The Texas Tonyan has 1,180 calories and 62 grams of fat, including 12 grams of saturated fat and more than 2,700 milligrams of sodium. This dish contributes more than half of your sodium, saturated fat and calories and you can also order your main dish. “Haven’t done,” says Amy Bennie MS, RD, CDCES.
LH Burger
Nutrition (per order)Per serving: 980 calories, 63 g fat (20 g saturated fat), 1,400 mg sodium, 46 g carbs (3 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 54 g protein
Without any additional toppings or modifications the LongHorn burger will meet your daily recommendation for saturated fat and more than half your daily sodium intake.
“The American Heart Association and most health experts recommend no more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day and less than 300 mg of cholesterol per day for most adults. This burger alone meets more than 60% of your daily sodium intake , “They say Michelle Rauch, MSc, RDNA registered dietitian for The Actors Fund.
Cheesecake
Nutrition (per order)Per serving: 1,370 calories, 89 g fat (37 g saturated fat), 900 mg sodium, 117 g carbs (4 g fiber, 79 g sugar), 18 g protein
With a shocking 79 grams of sugar in the cheesecake at Longhorn, you’ll almost triple the recommended sugar allowance from added sugars. While it’s fine as an occasional indulgence, it lacks fiber and is high in fat and sodium.
“This is significantly higher than the recommended daily intake of 25 grams for women and 36 grams for men according to the American Heart Association,” says Wan Na Chun, MPH, RD, CPT, and owner of One Pot Wellness. “High sugar intake can lead to various health problems like obesity, heart disease and type 2 diabetes,” she advises.
Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich
Nutrition (per order)Per serving: 920 calories, 55 g fat (10 g saturated fat), 2,190 mg sodium, 66 g carbs (5 g fiber, 8 g sugar), 43 g protein
“The most unhealthy thing you can eat at LongHorn Steakhouse is their Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Sandwich,” Moushumi Mukherjee MS RDN They say. With 2,190 milligrams of sodium, this chicken sandwich nearly meets your additional salt requirements with a significant amount of empty calories from added fat. She adds, “It has almost no fiber, it’s deep fried and has 920 calories.”
Half Pound Steakhouse Cheeseburger
Nutrition (per order)Per serving: 850 calories, 55 g fat (15 g saturated fat), 1,150 mg sodium, 45 g carbs (3 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 48 g protein
With 55 grams of total fat and 15 grams of saturated fat, you’ll exceed the American Heart Association’s recommendation for added saturated fat in your day. With only 3 grams of fiber, this cheeseburger isn’t as balanced as other options on the Longhorn menu. Consider splitting the burger with a friend and adding a side salad for more balance here.
Chocolate Stampede
Nutrition (per order)Per serving: 2,460 calories, 132 g fat (74 g saturated fat), 1,040 mg sodium, 289 g carbs (12 g fiber, 191 g sugar), 28 g protein
With a staggering 191 grams of sugar, this dessert has almost eight times the amount of added sugar recommended for Americans in a day. Furthermore, this dessert meets most people’s calorie requirement for the day with a significant source of empty calories coming from excess fat and added sugar.
Longhorn Porterhouse
Nutrition (per order)Per serving: 1,280 calories, 67 g fat (27 g saturated fat), 2,450 mg sodium, 1 g carbs (2 g fiber, 1 g sugar), 150 g protein
With a day’s worth of sodium and nearly double the recommended saturated fat content, porterhouse steak is one of the most unhealthy choices on the menu. However, with 150 grams of protein, a significant portion of these calories come from a complete protein source. Because this is a large serving dish, sharing with a friend can help keep the calorie count of this item down.
baby back ribs
Nutrition (per full rack)Per serving: 1,270 calories, 87 g fat (33 g saturated fat), 1,150 mg sodium, 25 g carbs (2 g fiber, 24 g sugar), 96 g protein
Ribs are typically a fatty cut of meat, and in the Longhorn, they provide 87 grams of fat, 33 grams of which come from saturated fat. Consider that the American Heart Association recommends that Americans consume no more than 7% of calories from saturated fat—this menu item is nearly three times the recommended limit in a day.
White Cheddar Stuffed Mushrooms
Nutrition (per order)Per serving: 730 calories, 60 g fat (30 g saturated fat), 1,570 mg sodium, 12 g carbs (1 g fiber, 3 g sugar), 27 g protein
You may think you’re making a healthy choice because this appetizer includes mushrooms, but it’s one of the most unhealthy menu items, share Bailey Franklin, RD, registered dietitian and owner of Harvest Table Nutrition. “This recipe includes a few different cheeses and a lot of cream, which contributes to a very high saturated fat content that is more than double the daily recommendation for men. If you’re watching your sodium or saturated fat intake I suggest avoiding this menu option,” she comments.
