I eat low carb at Hardee’s (aka Carl Jr’s) a lot because it’s super convenient for me. I get the Low Carb Thickburger usually (no ketchup, no onion, no tomato – and sometimes just plain).
The other day I noticed on their website they have the Chicken Club Sandwich (an old favorite!) as a low carb option on the menu. Obviously you can order any sandwich without the bun, or with a lettuce wrap instead, but this is actually ON the menu… which prompted me to try it. 🙂
It was… OMG low carb heaven & happiness in my mouth!!! This was a two-hander, dripping down my arm delicious, a serious “lunch experience”, and total food euphoria!
The bacon, tomato, mayonnaise, bbq grilled chicken combo was just FABULOUS.
(Geez, I’m having a serious “food flashback” here, lol…)
Then came the shocker… 😯
I looked it up on Hardee’s Nutrition Calculator on their website, and it was 12 net carbs. TWELVE CARBS! What the heck?!
I knew the chicken was 4 carbs, because it’s barbeque grilled chicken. But where in the world did the other 8 carbs come from?!
I decided to find out…
I went through the nutrition calculator ingredient by ingredient, and examined the carb count listed for each part of this delicious UNwich.
Here’s the breakdown:
Lettuce Wrap – 1
BBQ Charbroiled Grilled Chicken – 4
Swiss Cheese – 1
Bacon – 0
Lettuce – 1
Tomato – 1
Mayonnaise – 0
Total: 8 Total Carbs, 7 Net Carbs
When I removed ALL of the ingredients, it left me with 5 carbs and zero calories. LOL.
Obviously there’s a mistake here!
It’s NOT 12 net carbs. It’s only 7 net carbs ordered as-is on the menu.
WHEW! 🙂
What a relief, lol. Because I definitely plan to eat that beautiful sandwich more often!
That’s not the first time I’ve found a BIG mistake on the nutrition facts from a restaurant. But often it goes the other way, which can be dangerous. The Ruby Tuesday Menu Mistake I shared with you after eating their crab cakes recently, for example – after making my choice based on their nutrition facts. 😛
Be cautious, do your research, and trust your tastebuds!
Interestingly, I got the correct macros for the Hardee’s Low Carb Chicken Club Sandwich when I entered it into MyFitnessPal, which is what made me go back and recalculate it:
So there you go. Get to Hardee’s (or Carl Jr. in some areas) and order yourself a big juicy Low Carb Chicken Club! 🙂 If your carb budget allows for the 7 carbs today, that is. Enjoy! I know I did…
Sue L says
Thanks for the heads up about the sandwich! I was shocked Thursday when I looked up the carb count on the Logan’s Veggie Skewer. It’s listed as 15.5! Unless they roll it in sugar, i don’t see any way. Two zuccini chunks, 1 mushroom, 2 onion pieces and 2 tomato wedges grilled in something that’s like Italian dressing. I guess I’ll email them. Thanks for your great posts, enjoy your stuff a lot.
Lynn Terry says
Thank you, Sue! 🙂
Logan’s Roadhouse doesn’t publish their nutrition facts, so in order to get an accurate carb count… I would enter the items individually into your tracker: 1 mushroom, etc. You should call them to see what spices or marinades are used though – just to be sure.
Often the pre-entered macros in MyFitnessPal and other programs can be wrong, because they are entered by humans – and we tend to make errors, lol.
terri says
Have you asked Hardees if they inject there chicken with flavorings? Many places do inject or add rubs…all with sugar in them.
Lynn Terry says
Hi Terri 🙂
The low carb chicken club is 7 net carbs because it’s BBQ chicken – the sauce is on the outside.
Bonnie Pelrin says
Could the marinade be hiding some additional carbs? Just a thought. Love your site!
Lynn Terry says
Thank you Bonnie! No, the marinade and chicken are just 4 carbs total. It’s a 5 carb mistake on their nutrition facts, lol – that’s a pretty big mistake! 🙂 I always email corporate and let them know so they can correct it. Nutrition Info is super important for people eating ketogenic for diabetes, seizures, heart health, arthritis, etc.
Jen Parker says
LOL I love Hardees and have eaten there for years on their low carb menu. Lucky for me however I am waaaay beyond the carb counting phase and haven’t actually counted my carbs for years. I have been on low carb maintenance for over a decade at a size 8 (and after 5 babies) and after that long you pretty much know what you can and cannot eat without actually counting carbs. But if you are trying to get into or stay in ketosis I can see why it would be a concern.
Lynn Terry says
That’s awesome, Jen! Congrats 🙂
I track for a number of reasons. I’m still losing weight of course, but also because I want to maintain a very low carb (ketogenic) diet to control pain due to inflammatory arthritis. My doc wants to call it fibromyalgia due to my intense muscle & nerve pain, but it stems from sciatica from the injury to my tailbone.
Ketogenic diets are also a great way to control seizures, diabetes, blood pressure & other heart health issues, and relieve or even eliminate pains due to inflammatory issues.
It keeps me out of pain. And I’m hiking and water skiing again, for the first time in MANY years. 🙂
BOBBIJEAN says
What is your secret I’m struggling w/beer belly inner thigh back & arm fat gross
Lynn Terry says
BobbiJean,
The best thing to do is lose fat and gain muscle. I am doing that by eating low carb and working out – mostly toning each of those areas specifically (vs just general cardio, but I do that some too).
Jen Parker says
Sorry to hear about your inflammation Lynn, and glad to hear you can enjoy sports again due to a ketogenic diet. I know a few people who count carbs for health more than weightloss. I have been blessed in my health and very successful via low carb in keeping my weight off and my stomach flat. There are so many benefits to a low carb diet.
Lynn Terry says
I agree, Jen – there are TONS of benefits. 🙂 I love feeling so great. That makes all the difference in the world, RE: quality of life!
Kk says
You are saving my life! Thank you❤️
sylvia davis says
ALL I WANT TO KNOW IS WHAT IS IN THAT MARINADE?