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Lowest calorie El Pollo Loco orders

The lightest mains, sides, sauces and drinks at El Pollo Loco, sorted by calories, with protein, carbs and fat for each.

Source: FatSecret: El Pollo Loco nutrition.

El Pollo Loco meals, added up

A lighter meal: 330 kcal

The most protein-dense main between 250 and 450 kcal, with a zero-calorie drink.

ItemkcalProteinCarbsFat
Chicken Avocado Taco33024 g17 g19 g
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar - Regular00 g0 g0 g
Total33024 g17 g19 g

Lightest mains

Sorted from lightest. The lightest main in the database is the Taco al Carbón at 170 kcal.

ItemkcalProteinCarbsFat
Taco al Carbón17015 g17 g5 g
Fire-Grilled Chicken Breast20034 g0 g8 g
Fire-Grilled Chicken Thigh20021 g2 g12 g
Shredded Chicken Crunchy Taco21014 g22 g8 g
Chicken Legs - 2 Pieces22022 g0 g15 g
Chicken Tortilla Soup24023 g19 g9 g
Loco Tenders - Classic - 2 Pieces32017 g24 g17 g
Chicken Avocado Taco33024 g17 g19 g
Loco Tenders - Spicy - 2 Pieces33018 g28 g17 g
Original BRC Burrito41013 g63 g11 g
Loco Tenders - Classic - 3 Pieces47026 g36 g25 g
Chicken Classic Burrito48025 g66 g13 g

Most protein per calorie

Mains with at least 15 g of protein, ranked by protein per calorie. The Fire-Grilled Chicken Breast gives 34 g of protein for 200 kcal.

ItemkcalProteinCarbsFat
Fire-Grilled Chicken Breast20034 g0 g8 g
Fire-Grilled Chicken Thigh20021 g2 g12 g
Chicken Legs - 2 Pieces22022 g0 g15 g
Chicken Tortilla Soup24023 g19 g9 g
Tacos Al Carbón - 3 Pieces51046 g50 g15 g
Taco al Carbón17015 g17 g5 g
Double Chicken Bowl93074 g87 g33 g
Chicken Avocado Taco33024 g17 g19 g

Sauces and dressings

Per serving. They range from 5 kcal (Jalapeño Hot Sauce) to 440 kcal (Mexican Caesar Dressing).

ItemkcalProteinCarbsFat
Jalapeño Hot Sauce50 g1 g0 g
Salsa Fresca50 g2 g0 g
Salsa Roja150 g2 g0 g
Avocado Salsa300 g2 g2.5 g
Guacamole - Small1102 g7 g10 g
Creamy Chipotle Sauce1700 g1 g18 g
Mexican Caesar Dressing4403 g4 g47 g

Lightest drinks

Drinks from 0 kcal. The heaviest drink listed, the Horchata - Large, is 530 kcal.

ItemkcalProteinCarbsFat
Coca-Cola Zero Sugar - Regular00 g0 g0 g
Diet Coke - Regular00 g0 g0 g
Diet Dr Pepper - Large00 g0 g0 g
Gold Peak Unsweetened Iced Tea - Large00 g0 g0 g
Gold Peak Unsweetened Iced Tea - Regular00 g0 g0 g
Diet Coke - Large50 g0 g0 g
Minute Maid Aguas Frescas Strawberry Hibiscus - Regular1300 g34 g0 g
Coca-Cola De Mexico - Bottle1500 g39 g0 g

El Pollo Loco calorie traps

  • Street Corn Double Chicken Burrito Bowl: 1,080 kcal. About 54% of a 2,000 kcal day in one item.
  • Queso Crunch Double Chicken Burrito Bowl: 1,080 kcal. About 54% of a 2,000 kcal day in one item.
  • Chipotle Guacamole Chicken Burrito: 1,010 kcal. About 50% of a 2,000 kcal day in one item.
  • Chips & Guacamole - Regular: 980 kcal. About 49% of a 2,000 kcal day in one item.
  • Chicken Avocado Stuffed Quesadilla: 950 kcal. About 48% of a 2,000 kcal day in one item.

How to order low calorie at El Pollo Loco

  • Start with the lightest mains. The Taco al Carbón is 170 kcal, and the table above lists every main from there up.
  • For protein, pick by ratio. The Fire-Grilled Chicken Breast has 34 g of protein for 200 kcal. High-protein meals keep you full for longer on fewer calories.
  • Drink zero-calorie. The Coca-Cola Zero Sugar - Regular is 0 kcal; the Horchata - Large is 530.
  • Choose the sauce on purpose. Sauces and dressings run from 5 to 440 kcal per serving.
  • Know the heavy hitters. The Street Corn Double Chicken Burrito Bowl is 1,080 kcal on its own.

About these numbers

The figures come from the FatSecret nutrition database, which lists nutrition information for El Pollo Loco menu items. We checked them on September 24, 2026 and left out any entry whose calories do not add up from its protein, carbs and fat. Menus and recipes change, so check El Pollo Loco’s own nutrition information if a number matters to you.

How much should your meal be?

With a daily target of 1,800 kcal, three 500 kcal meals leave room for a 300 kcal snack. The calorie deficit calculator works out your own target, and the protein calculator shows how much protein to aim for.

El Pollo Loco calorie questions

What is the lowest calorie main at El Pollo Loco?

The Taco al Carbón, at 170 kcal with 15 g of protein, is the lightest main in the FatSecret database. Next are the Fire-Grilled Chicken Breast (200 kcal) and the Fire-Grilled Chicken Thigh (200 kcal).

What is the best high-protein, low-calorie order at El Pollo Loco?

The Fire-Grilled Chicken Breast: 34 g of protein for 200 kcal. The Fire-Grilled Chicken Thigh is next with 21 g for 200 kcal.

What is the lowest calorie drink at El Pollo Loco?

The Coca-Cola Zero Sugar - Regular, at 0 kcal. Avoid the Horchata - Large if you are counting: it is 530 kcal.

What is the highest calorie item at El Pollo Loco?

The Street Corn Double Chicken Burrito Bowl, at 1,080 kcal, is the heaviest item in the FatSecret database for El Pollo Loco.

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