Knowing the calorie count of menu items can be helpful when dining out and trying to follow a healthy diet. Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is a popular chain restaurant with locations across the United States. One of their menu offerings is the Dijon Chicken entree. For those watching their calorie intake, the number of calories in Cheddar’s Dijon Chicken is important information to have.
Overview of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen
Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is a chain of casual dining restaurants owned by Darden Restaurants. Originally founded in 1979, Cheddar’s specializes in American comfort food made from scratch in an inviting, laidback atmosphere. They are known for dishes like hand-breaded chicken tenders, baby back ribs, steaks, and signature sandwiches. With over 165 locations in 28 states, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen has established itself as a go-to spot for quality American classics.
The restaurant prides itself on using fresh, high-quality ingredients to prepare meals made from scratch daily. Their menu features a variety of crowd-pleasing appetizers, salads, burgers, chicken entrees, steaks and ribs. Family-friendly fare like mac and cheese, chicken tenders and sandwiches makes Cheddar’s a popular choice for casual family dining. They also offer handcrafted, made-to-order cocktails and a robust beer and wine selection.
While comfort food is at the heart of their offerings, Cheddar’s does try to provide lighter options and information to help customers make informed choices. Nutrition facts are available on their website for calorie counters. Health-conscious diners can build salads, order grilled options and request sauce and topping modifications. Still, much of the menu is higher in calories, fat and sodium, so having nutrition information is useful for those tracking intake.
Cheddar’s Dijon Chicken Entree
One of the chicken dishes on the Cheddar’s menu is the Dijon Chicken. This entree features two grilled chicken breasts basted in a Dijon mustard sauce. It is served with two sides – typically a vegetable like broccoli and a starch like rice pilaf or baked potato. The Dijon chicken offers a lean protein paired with fiber-rich sides. The mustard-based sauce gives the dish a tangy flavor profile.
Here is the full description of the Dijon Chicken entree from the Cheddar’s menu:
Mesquite Grilled Chicken breast topped with our scratch-made Dijon sauce, served with your choice of two sides
The sauce is made in house using Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, garlic, white wine and spices. It complements the char-grilled chicken nicely, adding a creamy, mustardy kick. Since the chicken breasts are grilled instead of fried, this entree can be a lighter option compared to some of Cheddar’s chicken dishes like the hand-breaded fried tenders.
Nutrition Information on Cheddar’s Dijon Chicken
So how many calories are actually in Cheddar’s Dijon Chicken entree? The nutrition information on the Cheddar’s website provides the calorie count and other nutrient data:
Dijon Chicken Nutrition Facts (without sides)
| Serving Size | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 chicken breasts | 340 | 8g | 6g | 50g |
For the two grilled chicken breasts alone without any sides, the Dijon Chicken contains 340 calories. It also has 8g of total fat, 6g of carbs and 50g of protein.
These nutrition facts are for the 6 oz chicken breast portions without skin, bones, or breading. The total nutrition will vary depending on the sides selected. A vegetable side like broccoli adds only around 30 calories, while a starch like rice pilaf or fries can add 200 calories or more.
So with a typical vegetable side and starch side included, the total calorie count for Cheddar’s full Dijon Chicken plate would be in the range of 500-600 calories. This falls within a moderate calorie range for a single entree.
Dijon Chicken Calories in Context
How do the 340 calories in Cheddar’s Dijon Chicken breasts alone compare to other menu options?
Here are the calories for some other Cheddar’s chicken entrees without sides:
| Cheddar’s Chicken Dish | Calories |
|---|---|
| Mesquite Grilled Chicken | 250 |
| Homemade Chicken Tenders | 670 |
| Garlic Parmesan Chicken | 430 |
| Mojo Chicken | 500 |
| Dijon Chicken | 340 |
Among the chicken options, the Dijon Chicken is mid-range in calories. It has more calories than Cheddar’s basic Mesquite Grilled Chicken due to the added sauce. But it has significantly less than the hand-breaded, fried Homemade Chicken Tenders. The Dijon Chicken also has fewer calories than Garlic Parmesan Chicken or Mojo Chicken since it doesn’t have as much oil or butter added.
So if you are looking for a lighter chicken dish at Cheddar’s, the Dijon Chicken would be a good choice. 340 calories is a reasonable calorie count for two grilled chicken breasts in a restaurant meal. The Dijon sauce adds lots of flavor without driving up the calorie or fat content excessively.
Comparing to Other Restaurant Dijon Chicken Entrees
Cheddar’s isn’t the only chain restaurant with a Dijon chicken entree. How does their Dijon chicken compare calorie-wise to similar dishes at other restaurants?
Here is a look at the calories for a Dijon chicken entree without sides at some other popular chains:
| Restaurant | Dish | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Applebee’s | Dijon-Grilled Chicken | 520 |
| Olive Garden | Dijon-crusted Grilled Chicken | 440 |
| Outback | Dijon Chicken | 460 |
| Red Lobster | Dijon-Grilled Chicken | 490 |
| Cheddar’s | Dijon Chicken | 340 |
Cheddar’s Dijon Chicken comes in significantly lower in calories than similar entrees at most other casual dining chains. Their grilled chicken has 100-180 fewer calories than Dijon chicken dishes of comparable portion sizes at Applebee’s, Olive Garden, Outback and Red Lobster.
So Cheddar’s preparation of Dijon chicken is one of the lightest options out there. The lower calorie count could be attributed to using less oil or butter in the Dijon sauce and grilling rather than pan frying. This makes Cheddar’s version an appealing choice for calorie-conscious diners.
Tips for Lightening Cheddar’s Dijon Chicken Further
While Cheddar’s Dijon Chicken is already relatively low in calories for a restaurant meal, there are some ways to reduce the calorie count even further:
– Choose a vegetable side dish instead of a starchy side: Veggies like steamed broccoli or a house salad add minimal calories compared to rice, potatoes or fries.
– Ask for olive oil instead of butter on vegetables: You’ll save about 100 calories.
– Skip the cheese topping on potatoes or veggies: Cheese adds about 50 calories per ounce.
– Order a zucchini side instead of rice pilaf or loaded mashed potatoes.
– Choose BBQ sauce, vinegar or lemon as a lower calorie sauce for your side items.
– Ask for sauces and dressings on the side and use sparingly.
– Swap the baked potato for ratatouille or steamed asparagus as your side items.
– Sub mixed greens for coleslaw which has about 190 calories per serving.
– Request the Dijon sauce on the side and use just a small amount as a dip for your chicken.
Making substitutions like these can help reduce the total calorie count of your Dijon Chicken meal by 100 calories or more.
Dijon Chicken Provides Protein and Flavor for Fewer Calories
When dining at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, the Dijon Chicken entree can be a tasty and protein-packed option for only 340 calories for the chicken alone. That’s less than some of Cheddar’s more calorific fried and sauced-up chicken dishes. The zesty Dijon mustard sauce gives this grilled chicken plenty of flavor without adding too many calories.
Compared to similar entrees at chain restaurants like Applebee’s and Olive Garden, Cheddar’s prepares their Dijon chicken with fewer calories and less fat. So when watching your calorie intake, Cheddar’s Dijon Chicken is one of your best bets for enjoying a satisfying, lean chicken meal. Choosing lower calorie vegetable side dishes and sauce modifications can reduce the calorie tally even further. In moderation as part of an overall balanced diet, Cheddar’s Dijon Chicken can be a nutritious and delicious option for any occasion.