When dining out at Italian restaurant chains like Carrabba’s, one of the challenges is figuring out how many calories are in menu items like salad dressings. Carrabba’s house salad dressing is a popular choice, but the nutritional information may not be readily available.
Quick Answer
The quick answer is that 2 tablespoons (30ml) of Carrabba’s house salad dressing contains approximately 140 calories.
Nutritional Information on Carrabba’s House Salad Dressing
Unfortunately, Carrabba’s does not provide complete nutrition facts for its house salad dressing on its website or in-store menus. However, some insights can be gained by looking at the salad dressings the chain offers that do have published nutrition facts.
Carrabba’s offers several branded salad dressings like Kraft and Ken’s, for which nutritional information is available. Here are the calorie counts for 2 tablespoons of some of these Carrabba’s salad dressings:
| Salad Dressing | Calories (2 Tbsp) |
|---|---|
| Ken’s Lite Olive Oil Vinaigrette | 90 |
| Ken’s Tuscan House Italian | 140 |
| Kraft Creamy Italian | 110 |
| Kraft Classic Caesar | 120 |
As you can see, the calorie counts range from 90 to 140 calories per 2 tablespoon serving. Most of Carrabba’s dressing options fall in the 120 to 140 calorie range.
Estimate for Carrabba’s House Salad Dressing
Based on the nutritional information for other Carrabba’s salad dressings, it’s reasonable to estimate that 2 tablespoons of the house salad dressing contains around 140 calories. This estimate falls right in line with the calorie counts of the branded Ken’s Tuscan House Italian and Kraft Classic Caesar dressings.
What’s in Carrabba’s House Salad Dressing?
To understand why Carrabba’s house salad dressing is high in calories, it helps to look at what’s included in the recipe.
While the full recipe for Carrabba’s dressing is proprietary, some key ingredients have been published online by former employees and other sources. It seems the house salad dressing contains a mix of the following:
- Olive oil
- Red wine vinegar
- Garlic, oregano, basil, and other Italian herbs and spices
- Grated Romano cheese
- Sugar or honey
A creamy Italian dressing like this one gets a high number of calories primarily from the olive oil and cheese. Olive oil packs a whopping 120 calories per tablespoon, and grated Romano cheese adds a punch of fat and calories too.
The sugar or honey in Carrabba’s dressing recipe also boosts the calorie count by contributing extra calories and sweetness.
Tips for Ordering Dressing at Carrabba’s
If you’re looking for ways to cut down on the calorie count of your Carrabba’s salad, here are some tips:
- Order the dressing on the side and use sparingly. Just 1 tablespoon of dressing instead of 2 will save you about 70 calories.
- Opt for low-fat or oil-free dressings like Ken’s Lite Olive Oil Vinaigrette or Italian.
- Request fresh lemon wedges and use a spritz of lemon instead of dressing.
- Substitute balsamic vinegar for half the dressing. The tang will reduce the need for more fat.
- Skip the cheese topping on your salad. non-cheese ingredients pack extra calories.
Ordering Low-Calorie Options at Carrabba’s
In addition to dressing, there are other ways to reduce calories when dining at Carrabba’s:
- Avoid cream-based soups and opt for minestrone or other broth-based soups.
- Order grilled chicken breast instead of chicken parmesan to skip the breading.
- Substitute grilled fish or shrimp scampi for higher-cal pasta dishes.
- Ask for sauces and dressings on the side.
- Share an appetizer or side dish instead of ordering full portions.
- Take half your meal to-go to curb overeating.
The Bottom Line
Carrabba’s house salad dressing is a tasty creamy Italian dressing but weighs in at about 140 calories for 2 tablespoons. To lighten up your salad, go easy on the dressing, skip high-calorie toppings, and choose lighter dressing options. With smart menu picks, you can still enjoy Carrabba’s without overdoing the calories.