Eat for 21,000$/year? Cost Efficiency Of Chili’s Menu – Calories and Protein Per Dollar
Chili’s! “Casual atmosphere, decent prices, and wide menu variety”
Its a splurge when you’re sick of cooking at home and need a break.
For my family, it was an absolute MUST to order the skillet queso with chips. As it turns out, my parents may have been onto something…
Save Money At Chili’s
Takeaways
- Appetizers – provide the best bang for your buck with the highest calories AND protein per dollar of the entire menu.
- A Half Order of Texas Cheese Fries – is the best dish on the menu in terms of calories per dollar with 268 calories per dollar, and ties for the most protein per dollar with 11 grams per dollar.
- A Full Order of Texas Cheese Fries – is not a good choice compared to the Half Order. The Full Order appetizer reduces the proteins per dollar from 11 grams to only 9 grams and the calories per dollar from 268 to only 212 calories.
- The Skillet Queso and Chips – is the absolute best deal for someone seeking to max calories on a budget. The appetizer provides 249 calories per dollar but this does not factor in that you can ask for refills on chips and salsa even after the queso is gone. At $6.39 you can consume virtually limitless calories (if Chili’s doesn’t cut you off at your fifth chip refill).
| Menu Item | Before Tax Price | Calories Per Dollar | Protein Per Dollar | Cost If Eaten All Year | Calories | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Cheese Fries – Half Order | $4.89 | 268 | 11 | $2,725 | 1310 | 55 |
| Skillet Queso and Chips | $6.39 | 249 | 7 | $2,934 | 1590 | 45 |
| Bottomless Chips and Salsa | $3.79 | 240 | 3 | $3,040 | 910 | 13 |
| Mini Chocolate Molten Cake | $2.49 | 237 | 2 | $3,081 | 590 | 6 |
| Skillet Chocolate Chip Cookie | $6.49 | 219 | 2 | $3,336 | 1420 | 14 |
| Loaded White Queso Dip | $7.49 | 218 | 7 | $3,354 | 1630 | 51 |
| Fresh Guacamole | $5.59 | 213 | 3 | $3,429 | 1190 | 17 |
| Texas Cheese Fries – Full Order | $8.49 | 212 | 9 | $3,443 | 1800 | 79 |
| White Spinach Queso Dip | $7.19 | 210 | 6 | $3,476 | 1510 | 40 |
| Honey-Chipotle Crispers & Waffles | $11.69 | 210 | 5 | $3,483 | 2450 | 61 |
| Beef Bacon Ranch Quesadillas | $10.59 | 175 | 8 | $4,179 | 1850 | 82 |
| Crispy Buffalo Bleu Crispers | $11.19 | 173 | 5 | $4,211 | 1940 | 60 |
| California Grilled Chicken Flatbread | $10.19 | 170 | 8 | $4,300 | 1730 | 78 |
| Crispy Fiery Pepper Crispers | $10.69 | 168 | 5 | $4,335 | 1800 | 58 |
| Big Mouth Bites | $9.89 | 166 | 7 | $4,402 | 1640 | 69 |
| Crispy Honey-Chipotle Chicken Crispers | $10.69 | 166 | 5 | $4,409 | 1770 | 56 |
| Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadillas | $10.59 | 164 | 7 | $4,443 | 1740 | 76 |
| Classic Nachos with Fajita Beef | $9.99 | 164 | 11 | $4,447 | 1640 | 112 |
| Smoked Chicken Quesadillas | $10.59 | 163 | 6 | $4,469 | 1730 | 64 |
| Margherita Flatbread | $8.59 | 163 | 6 | $4,479 | 1400 | 52 |
| Molten Chocolate Cake | $7.19 | 160 | 2 | $4,564 | 1150 | 11 |
| Honey-Chipotle Crispers & Waffles | $6.29 | 156 | 4 | $4,685 | 980 | 28 |
| Classic Turkey Club Toasted Sandwich | $9.59 | 154 | 6 | $4,730 | 1480 | 53 |
| Bacon Avocado Chicken Sandwich | $10.39 | 153 | 8 | $4,770 | 1590 | 88 |
| Crispy Cheddar Bites | $6.49 | 153 | 6 | $4,786 | 990 | 42 |
| Chipotle Chicken Flatbread | $9.79 | 152 | 7 | $4,796 | 1490 | 73 |
| Classic Turkey Toasted Sandwich | $8.49 | 152 | 5 | $4,804 | 1290 | 45 |
| Crispy Chicken Crispers with honey mustard | $10.69 | 149 | 5 | $4,908 | 1590 | 56 |
| Classic Nachos with Fajita Chicken | $9.99 | 147 | 10 | $4,961 | 1470 | 102 |
| Loaded Boneless Wings – Spicy | $9.99 | 145 | 7 | $5,029 | 1450 | 74 |
| OREO Topped Molten Cake | $7.49 | 144 | 1 | $5,063 | 1080 | 11 |
| Loaded Boneless Wings | $9.99 | 144 | 7 | $5,064 | 1440 | 73 |
| Classic Nachos | $8.69 | 144 | 7 | $5,075 | 1250 | 60 |
| Triple Berry Crumble Cake | $7.39 | 142 | 1 | $5,138 | 1050 | 11 |
| Crispy Chicken Crispers with ranch | $10.69 | 139 | 5 | $5,237 | 1490 | 56 |
| Crispy Chicken Crispers with BBQ Sauce | $10.69 | 137 | 5 | $5,345 | 1460 | 56 |
| Smothered Smoked Chicken Burrito | $8.99 | 135 | 8 | $5,424 | 1210 | 71 |
| Quesadilla Explosion Salad | $10.99 | 134 | 6 | $5,458 | 1470 | 64 |
| Oldtimer Burger | $7.99 | 133 | 6 | $5,503 | 1060 | 49 |
| Southern Smokehouse Burger | $11.59 | 131 | 5 | $5,566 | 1520 | 60 |
| Grass-Fed Sunrise Burger | $11.59 | 130 | 6 | $5,603 | 1510 | 69 |
| Buffalo Fried Cauliflower | $6.19 | 129 | 2 | $5,648 | 800 | 14 |
| Buffalo Chicken Ranch Sandwich | $9.69 | 129 | 5 | $5,659 | 1250 | 46 |
| Crispy Asparagus | $6.59 | 127 | 1 | $5,727 | 840 | 9 |
| Classic Bacon Burger | $9.99 | 127 | 5 | $5,742 | 1270 | 53 |
| Oldtimer Burger with Cheese | $8.99 | 127 | 5 | $5,757 | 1140 | 49 |
| Fried Pickles | $5.39 | 124 | 1 | $5,873 | 670 | 8 |
| Guacamole Burger | $9.99 | 124 | 5 | $5,881 | 1240 | 50 |
| Original Chicken Crispers | $10.69 | 123 | 6 | $5,912 | 1320 | 61 |
| Ultimate Bacon Burger | $11.59 | 122 | 5 | $6,000 | 1410 | 57 |
| Signature Boneless Wings – Fiery Pepper | $9.89 | 117 | 5 | $6,224 | 1160 | 50 |
| Loaded Baked Potato – Bowl | $4.49 | 116 | 4 | $6,303 | 520 | 19 |
| Signature Boneless Wings – Honey Chipotle | $9.89 | 115 | 5 | $6,333 | 1140 | 48 |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | $9.69 | 112 | 5 | $6,490 | 1090 | 52 |
| Cheesecake | $6.49 | 112 | 2 | $6,490 | 730 | 11 |
| Signature Boneless Wings- Buffalo | $9.89 | 110 | 5 | $6,624 | 1090 | 49 |
| Grilled Smoked Chicken Burrito | $8.99 | 110 | 7 | $6,629 | 990 | 63 |
| Ranchero Chicken Tacos | $9.99 | 108 | 7 | $6,753 | 1080 | 67 |
| Smothered Prime Rib Burrito | $11.59 | 104 | 6 | $6,992 | 1210 | 64 |
| Boneless Buffalo Chicken Salad | $10.19 | 100 | 5 | $7,293 | 1020 | 50 |
| Margherita Flatbread Salad with Chicken | $10.91 | 100 | 6 | $7,307 | 1090 | 61 |
| Chicken Enchilada Soup – Bowl | $4.49 | 98 | 5 | $7,449 | 440 | 22 |
| Signature Wings – Fiery Pepper | $9.99 | 96 | 6 | $7,597 | 960 | 64 |
| Cajun Chicken Pasta | $12.59 | 95 | 5 | $7,659 | 1200 | 68 |
| Margarita Chicken Fresh Mex Bowl | $9.99 | 95 | 6 | $7,677 | 950 | 61 |
| Signature Wings – Honey Chipotle | $9.99 | 94 | 6 | $7,758 | 940 | 62 |
| Margherita Flatbread Salad with Shrimp | $10.79 | 94 | 4 | $7,799 | 1010 | 44 |
| Spicy Shrimp Tacos | $11.59 | 93 | 4 | $7,834 | 1080 | 41 |
| Southwestern Eggrolls | $8.69 | 92 | 3 | $7,930 | 800 | 28 |
| Chipotle Chicken Bowl | $9.99 | 90 | 6 | $8,103 | 900 | 63 |
| Prime Rib Tacos | $11.59 | 88 | 5 | $8,295 | 1020 | 54 |
| Santa Fe Crisper Salad | $10.69 | 88 | 3 | $8,302 | 940 | 33 |
| Terlingua Chili – Bowl | $5.29 | 87 | 5 | $8,395 | 460 | 28 |
| Signature Wings – Buffalo | $9.99 | 85 | 6 | $8,580 | 850 | 62 |
| Texas Dry Rub Baby Back Ribs – 1/2 Rack | $11.39 | 84 | 4 | $8,661 | 960 | 44 |
| Cajun Shrimp Pasta | $13.39 | 84 | 4 | $8,727 | 1120 | 50 |
| Clam Chowder – Bowl | $4.49 | 82 | 3 | $8,859 | 370 | 12 |
| Loaded Baked Potato Soup – Cup | $3.19 | 82 | 3 | $8,957 | 260 | 10 |
| Texas Dry Rub Baby Back Ribs | $18.79 | 80 | 5 | $9,084 | 1510 | 85 |
| House BBQ Baby Bacon Ribs – 1/2 Rack | $11.39 | 76 | 4 | $9,557 | 870 | 43 |
| Original BBQ Baby Back Ribs – 1/2 Rack | $11.39 | 76 | 4 | $9,668 | 860 | 43 |
| Honey-Chipotle Baby Back Ribs – 1/2 Rack | $11.39 | 76 | 4 | $9,668 | 860 | 42 |
| Prime Rib Fresh Mex Bowl | $11.59 | 74 | 4 | $9,838 | 860 | 41 |
| House BBQ Baby Back Ribs | $18.79 | 74 | 5 | $9,868 | 1390 | 85 |
| Honey-Chipotle Ribs | $18.79 | 73 | 4 | $9,940 | 1380 | 83 |
| Original Ribs | $18.79 | 73 | 4 | $10,012 | 1370 | 84 |
| Chicken Enchilada Soup – Cup | $3.19 | 69 | 3 | $10,585 | 220 | 11 |
| Caribbean Salad with Grilled Chicken | $11.19 | 63 | 3 | $11,505 | 710 | 35 |
| Terlingua Chili – Cup | $3.69 | 62 | 4 | $11,712 | 230 | 14 |
| Clam Chowder – Cup | $3.19 | 60 | 2 | $12,256 | 190 | 6 |
| Santa Fe Chicken Salad | $10.69 | 59 | 3 | $12,387 | 630 | 37 |
| Classic Ribeye | $18.19 | 58 | 4 | $12,646 | 1050 | 81 |
| Classic Sirloin – 6oz | $11.99 | 57 | 4 | $12,872 | 680 | 48 |
| Smoked Wings | $9.99 | 56 | 6 | $13,023 | 560 | 55 |
| 6 oz. Honey-Chipotle Shrimp & Sirloin | $14.49 | 55 | 4 | $13,389 | 790 | 60 |
| Caribbean Salad with Seared Shrimp | $11.79 | 53 | 1 | $13,882 | 620 | 17 |
| Margarita Grilled Chicken | $11.89 | 51 | 5 | $14,229 | 610 | 56 |
| Southwest Chicken Soup – Bowl | $4.49 | 51 | 2 | $14,251 | 230 | 9 |
| Classic Sirloin – 10oz | $16.99 | 48 | 4 | $15,125 | 820 | 68 |
| Mango-Chile Chicken | $10.59 | 48 | 4 | $15,158 | 510 | 38 |
| 10 oz. Honey-Chipotle Shrimp & Sirloin | $19.49 | 48 | 4 | $15,299 | 930 | 85 |
| Grilled Chicken Salad | $9.79 | 45 | 4 | $16,243 | 440 | 38 |
| Ancho Salmon | $14.99 | 39 | 3 | $18,547 | 590 | 48 |
| House Salad without dressing | $3.99 | 38 | 2 | $19,418 | 150 | 7 |
| Spicy Chile Chicken | $11.69 | 36 | 3 | $20,318 | 420 | 38 |
| Southwest Chicken Soup – Cup | $3.19 | 34 | 1 | $21,170 | 110 | 4 |
| 6 oz. Classic Sirloin with Grilled Avocado | $12.49 | 34 | 3 | $21,709 | 420 | 39 |
| 6 oz. Classic Sirloin with Grilled Avocado | $12.49 | 34 | 3 | $21,709 | 420 | 39 |
| Fresco Salad | $3.99 | 33 | 1 | $22,405 | 130 | 3 |
Chili’s Raw Excel Data Download
Chili’s Is a Break from Eating at Home, But It Is STILL Expensive
Previous articles have shown fast food menu items offering much higher calories per dollar than what Chili’s offers. The maximum 268 calories per dollar on Chili’s menu does not come close to competing with fast food. This also can’t compete with eating at home for $1,000/year.
So the next time you’re thinking about going to Chili’s and grabbing the 2 for 1 Presidente Margaritas, keep your budget in mind.