Texas Roadhouse built its reputation on hand-cut steaks and fall-off-the-bone ribs. However, the Texas Roadhouse salads menu deserves far more attention than it typically receives. For guests who want a lighter meal, a protein-packed lunch option, or a fresh counterpoint to the hearty sides that dominate the menu, the salad lineup delivers genuine quality at fair prices.
Furthermore, understanding exactly what each salad contains, how it is priced, and how it compares to the rest of the menu helps you make a confident, satisfying choice before the server arrives.
Does Texas Roadhouse Have a Real Salad Menu
Yes, and it is more developed than most guests expect from a steakhouse. Texas Roadhouse offers both standalone salad entrees and smaller side salads that accompany full meals. The entree salads are genuinely filling, protein-forward options that function as complete meals rather than simple side dishes.
Additionally, every salad at Texas Roadhouse uses fresh ingredients prepared in-house. The chain applies the same made-from-scratch commitment to its salad program that it applies to its sides and bread. Consequently, the freshness and quality level noticeably exceeds what most comparable casual dining restaurants offer in this category.
Full Texas Roadhouse Salads Menu With Prices
Here is the complete salad lineup available at Texas Roadhouse locations in 2026, organized from entree salads to side options.
Entree Salads
Grilled Chicken Salad
- $13.49 – 810 cal
Grilled Salmon Salad
- $15.99 – 830 cal
Chicken Caesar Salad
- $13.49 | 1100 Cal
Salmon Caesar Salad
- $15.99 – 1110 cal
Chicken Critter Salad
- $13.40 – 690 cal
Steakhouse Filet Salad
- $16.99 – 1340 cal
| Salad Name | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Grilled Chicken Salad | Mixed greens, grilled chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, croutons | $13.99 |
| Chicken Critters Salad | Mixed greens, crispy chicken tenders, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, croutons | $14.49 |
| Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken | Romaine lettuce, Caesar dressing, Parmesan, croutons, grilled chicken | $13.99 |
| Steak Salad | Mixed greens, sliced sirloin steak, tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, croutons | $16.99 |
Side Salads
House Salad
- $4.99 | 230 Cal
Caesar Salad
- $4.99 – 440 cal
| Salad Name | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| House Salad | Mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, croutons, choice of dressing | $4.49 |
| Caesar Side Salad | Romaine, Caesar dressing, Parmesan, croutons | $4.49 |
Available Dressings
| Dressing | Style |
|---|---|
| Ranch | Creamy |
| Honey Mustard | Sweet and tangy |
| Caesar | Classic creamy |
| Thousand Island | Creamy and mild |
| Blue Cheese | Bold and creamy |
| Balsamic Vinaigrette | Light and tangy |
| Italian | Light and herbed |
The dressing is always served on the side unless the guest requests otherwise. Therefore, guests managing calorie intake can control their dressing portion easily without any special instruction.
Grilled Chicken Salad — Review
The Grilled Chicken Salad is the most straightforward and consistently popular option on the Texas Roadhouse salads menu. It arrives on a large plate with a generous portion of mixed greens, a full grilled chicken breast sliced and fanned across the top, fresh tomatoes, cucumber slices, shredded cheddar cheese, and house-made croutons.
The grilled chicken is prepared with the same care as the chicken entrees — lightly seasoned, properly cooked, and genuinely moist rather than dry and rubbery. This matters significantly in a salad context since cold, overcooked chicken undermines the entire dish regardless of how fresh the greens are.
At $13.99, the Grilled Chicken Salad represents strong value for a full entree salad at a sit-down steakhouse. Furthermore, adding a side salad or cup of Texas Red Chili turns it into a genuinely filling meal without crossing into heavy territory.
Nutrition at a Glance
| Detail | Amount (Approx.) |
|---|---|
| Calories (without dressing) | 420 |
| Protein | 38g |
| Fat | 18g |
| Carbohydrates | 22g |
| Sodium | 780mg |
This calorie and protein profile makes the Grilled Chicken Salad one of the strongest lighter meal options across the entire Texas Roadhouse menu. For guests following the guidance in the Texas Roadhouse low calorie guide, this salad paired with a light dressing on the side consistently ranks among the best choices available.
Chicken Critters Salad — Review
The Chicken Critters Salad takes the same fresh salad base and replaces the grilled chicken with crispy hand-battered chicken tenders. This version appeals to guests who want the lightness of a salad without giving up the satisfying crunch of fried chicken.
The tenders are sliced and placed across the salad rather than served whole, which makes eating them alongside the greens natural and easy. The crispy coating holds its texture reasonably well even as the plate progresses, which is an important detail that separates a well-executed crispy salad from one that turns into a soggy disappointment halfway through.
At $14.49 — just fifty cents more than the grilled version — the Chicken Critters Salad delivers excellent value. Additionally, guests who enjoy the Chicken Critters as a standalone entree on the Texas Roadhouse chicken menu will find this salad captures the same satisfying flavor in a lighter overall format.
Best Dressing Pairing
Honey Mustard is the strongest dressing choice for the Chicken Critters Salad. The sweet tang of the honey mustard complements the mild, lightly seasoned coating of the chicken tenders in the same way it works with the standalone Critters basket. Ranch is the second most popular choice and works equally well for guests who prefer a creamier, milder flavor profile.
Caesar Salad With Grilled Chicken — Review
The Caesar Salad with Grilled Chicken is the most classically structured option on the Texas Roadhouse salads menu. Romaine lettuce forms the base, topped with house-made Caesar dressing, freshly shaved Parmesan, crunchy croutons, and a full portion of grilled chicken breast.
Texas Roadhouse executes this salad well precisely because the ingredients are fresh and the proportions are correct. The romaine is crisp and cold, the Caesar dressing is tangy without being overwhelmingly anchovy-forward, and the Parmesan is applied generously rather than as a token garnish.
This salad works particularly well as a lighter alternative for guests who normally order from the steak section but want something cleaner on a particular visit. Furthermore, it pairs naturally with the soup options available at Texas Roadhouse, particularly the Texas Red Chili Cup, which adds warmth and heartiness without significantly increasing the overall calorie count.
Calories Comparison — Caesar vs Grilled Chicken Salad
| Salad | Calories (No Dressing) | Protein | Recommended Dressing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caesar with Chicken | 390 | 35g | Caesar (2 tbsp = 160 cal) |
| Grilled Chicken Salad | 420 | 38g | Balsamic Vinaigrette (2 tbsp = 45 cal) |
| Chicken Critters Salad | 580 | 34g | Honey Mustard (2 tbsp = 130 cal) |
| Steak Salad | 490 | 32g | Ranch (2 tbsp = 140 cal) |
Steak Salad — Review
The Steak Salad is the most premium offering on the Texas Roadhouse salads menu and the one that most clearly reflects the restaurant’s core identity. It features sliced sirloin steak served warm across a bed of fresh mixed greens with tomatoes, cucumbers, shredded cheddar, and croutons.
The combination of warm steak and cold greens creates a genuinely satisfying contrast that holds throughout the meal. The sirloin is hand-cut and cooked to the guest’s specified temperature, which means the steak quality on this salad is identical to what arrives on a standalone steak plate. Consequently, the Steak Salad does not feel like a compromise — it feels like a deliberate, well-considered menu item.
At $16.99, it is the most expensive salad on the menu. However, when you consider that it includes a full portion of freshly cut sirloin, the price sits comfortably within the value range that Texas Roadhouse consistently delivers across its full menu. For context, the 6 oz sirloin as a standalone entree costs $13.49 with two sides — so the steak salad charges a modest premium for the salad format and preparation.
Who Should Order the Steak Salad
The Steak Salad works best for guests who want the Texas Roadhouse steak experience with a lighter overall meal structure. It is particularly well-suited for lunch visits, early dine occasions, and guests who want to avoid the heavier side dishes without giving up the quality protein that defines the restaurant’s identity.
Additionally, guests who enjoy dining from the Texas Roadhouse sides menu can supplement the Steak Salad with a single lighter side — steamed vegetables or a cup of chili — to build a complete, balanced meal without feeling overly full.
House Salad and Caesar Side Salad — Review
The two side salad options at Texas Roadhouse serve different purposes depending on how a guest approaches their meal.
The House Salad at $4.49 works well as a starter for guests who want to begin with something light before a heavier entree. It is modest in size but fresh in quality — mixed greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, croutons, and a choice of dressing. Furthermore, it functions as a practical alternative to the included two-side selection for guests who prefer to replace one made-from-scratch side with something green and fresh.
The Caesar Side Salad at $4.49 follows the same value structure and works particularly well alongside steak entrees where the rich beef flavor benefits from the bright, tangy counterpoint of Caesar dressing and crispy romaine.
Both side salads represent genuine value at their price point and are among the lowest-calorie options available across the entire Texas Roadhouse menu.
How Texas Roadhouse Salads Compare to Competitors
Texas Roadhouse salads sit favorably within the casual dining steakhouse category when compared directly to competitors. LongHorn Steakhouse charges $15.99 to $17.99 for comparable entree salads. Outback Steakhouse’s salad options run similarly priced with smaller portion sizes at most locations.
Texas Roadhouse, meanwhile, delivers larger portion sizes at equal or lower prices across every salad category. Furthermore, the freshness standard applied to salad ingredients at Texas Roadhouse reflects the same in-house preparation philosophy that defines the rest of the menu — an approach that noticeably elevates quality above competitors who rely more heavily on pre-packaged salad components.
Salads for Dietary and Health Needs
The Texas Roadhouse salads menu provides some of the strongest options for health-conscious guests across the entire restaurant. Guests managing calorie intake, tracking protein, or avoiding heavy carbohydrates find the salad section consistently reliable.
For guests with gluten sensitivities, the Grilled Chicken Salad and Caesar Salad can be prepared without croutons, which removes the primary gluten-containing ingredient. Always confirm specific preparation requirements with your server and review the Texas Roadhouse allergens page for detailed ingredient information before ordering.
Guests following high-protein dietary approaches benefit most from the Steak Salad and Grilled Chicken Salad, both of which deliver 32 to 38 grams of protein in a low-carbohydrate format when ordered without croutons and with dressing on the side.
Additionally, the Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing is the lowest-calorie dressing option on the menu at approximately 45 calories per two-tablespoon serving. Therefore, guests managing their total meal calorie budget should consider it as the default dressing choice for any salad order.
Best Salad Combinations at Texas Roadhouse
Pairing a salad with complementary menu items creates a more complete and satisfying dining experience without significantly increasing the meal’s calorie footprint.
| Salad | Best Pairing | Estimated Total Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Grilled Chicken Salad | Cup of Texas Red Chili | 620 |
| Caesar with Chicken | House Salad (shared starter) | 530 |
| Chicken Critters Salad | Lemonade or iced tea | 680 |
| Steak Salad | Steamed vegetables side | 590 |
| House Side Salad | Any steak entree | Varies |
For guests visiting during weekday afternoons, combining a salad entree with the Texas Roadhouse Early Dine Specials allows the salad to serve as a starter while a discounted entree provides the main course — creating excellent total meal value well under $25 per person.
FAQs
Yes. Texas Roadhouse offers four entree salads and two side salads, all made with fresh in-house ingredients. The Grilled Chicken Salad and Steak Salad are particularly strong options that deliver genuine quality at fair prices for a full-service steakhouse.
The Grilled Chicken Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette dressing on the side is the healthiest overall choice. It delivers approximately 420 calories before dressing, 38 grams of protein, and minimal carbohydrates when ordered without croutons. This makes it one of the best lighter meal options across the full Texas Roadhouse menu.
The House Salad and Caesar Side Salad are available as individual add-on orders at $4.49 each. However, they are not part of the standard two-side entree selection. Confirm current side substitution options with your server at the time of ordering, as policies may vary slightly by location.
Yes, particularly for guests who want the Texas Roadhouse steak experience in a lighter format. The sirloin on the Steak Salad is the same hand-cut, freshly prepared beef used across the rest of the steak menu. At $16.99, it represents solid value for a protein-forward entree salad at a full-service steakhouse.
The Grilled Chicken Salad and Caesar Salad can be prepared without croutons for guests with gluten sensitivities. Always inform your server of any dietary requirements and consult the Texas Roadhouse allergens page for a full ingredient breakdown before ordering.
Conclusion
The Texas Roadhouse salads menu is a genuinely underrated section of an already strong overall menu. Fresh ingredients, generous portion sizes, and competitive pricing make the entree salads a legitimate alternative to the chain’s heavier offerings — not a consolation prize for guests who skipped the steak.
Whether you choose the protein-packed Grilled Chicken Salad, the indulgent Chicken Critters version, the classic Caesar, or the premium Steak Salad, each option reflects the same quality commitment that defines everything else at Texas Roadhouse. Visit the Texas Roadhouse menu to see the full current lineup and plan a meal that fits exactly what you are looking for today.