14 Texas Roadhouse Dishes, Ranked By Protein Content

If you're looking for a protein-packed meal, Texas Roadhouse is a pretty good option as far as chain restaurants go. There are plenty of high-protein menu items according to its nutrition guide, from tender ribs to marbled ribeye, and the exact protein amount just depends on what you order and the portion size. Spoiler alert: go for the steak if you want the most protein (but not just any steak cut; there's one in particular that has the highest!).

Before you even reach for the entrée, start the meal with one of Texas Roadhouse's appetizers. Some are packed with protein, such as the tater skins, which have 63 grams of protein per order, or the hot boneless Buffalo wings, which have 60 grams. For the most protein, choose a meat option instead of seafood. The highest-protein seafood dish is the eight-ounce grilled salmon, which only has half the protein of the lowest item on this list. The bottom line: whether you're looking for a standalone steak, fall-off-the-bone ribs, or a Texas-Size Combo, you pretty much can't go wrong in terms of packing your dinner with protein.

If you're craving a couple of different meat types, order one of Texas Roadhouse's combo meals. There are plenty of versions available, and the 6-ounce Dallas filet and ribs combo yields 90 grams of protein between the tender filet mignon and fall-off-the-bone ribs. You can boost this dish's protein content even further by requesting an upgrade to an 8-ounce filet, though if your specific restaurant allows it, there will almost certainly be an upcharge with it.

If you want a true barbecue experience, opt for this Texas Roadhouse combo. A ½ pound of grilled chicken breast is slathered in barbecue sauce and grilled to get that subtle charred flavor, and it's paired with the chain's award-winning ribs. The ribs too are covered in barbecue sauce and seasoning blend, and you have the option to request an extra side of sauce at no charge.

For that true barbecue flavor minus the pork, this combo is your best choice. You get that classic marinated and seasoned chicken paired with the chain's iconic quality sirloin (the least expensive and best selling steak on the menu). For extra flavor, you can upgrade the steak with anything from mushrooms and onions to blue cheese crumbles.

For another flavorful combo, go the surf and turf route. This is the only seafood dish on this list, and it pairs the high-end ribeye — one of the most tender steak cuts that's perfect for grilling — with grilled shrimp. The shrimp are drizzled with a garlic lemon pepper sauce, which also pairs well with the meat, so ask for extra if you want even more of that acidic, robust flavor.

For an indulgent, protein-packed dinner that doesn't involve steak or ribs, order the prime rib. Specifically, the 16-ounce version. You can order the 12-ounce or 14-ounce version, but they'll have less protein (74 and 87 grams, respectively). Add au jus or horseradish sauce to the prime rib for even more flavor at no extra charge.

This one is another steak and ribs combo, but it involves a larger strip steak instead of the Dallas filet, which brings its protein content into the triple digits. It appears that some menus only have the option of a 12-ounce strip and ribs; based on the nutrition information, this could add about 28 more grams of protein to the dish. So, depending on which you order, this combo might end up being 129 grams of protein.

The 16-ounce ribeye is among the largest steaks on the menu, so it's no surprise that it has so much protein. This tender, marbled cut is best for anyone who likes some extra fat on their steak. For an extra protein boost, enhance it with three grilled shrimp on top.

This is another steak and ribs combo that puts the protein in the triple digits. Pair the 8-ounce sirloin with a half-rack of tender ribs for the ultimate meat-forward dinner. The downside is that this is another combo meal that isn't on every menu, but you might be able to request it if the kitchen isn't too busy.

If you just want a classic steak that's less marbled than a ribeye but not as lean as a sirloin, then you're probably craving a strip steak. Texas Roadhouse offers either a 12-ounce or 16-ounce traditional cut strip steak, and some locations might also offer an 8-ounce thick cut version. The 16-ounce has the most protein at 114 grams, while the 12-ounce has 85 grams and the 8-ounce has 57 grams.

The full slab of ribs actually is the highest-protein menu choice that isn't beef. Texas Roadhouse ribs have actually won a Blue Ribbon, and they take three days from start to finish, so you know they're going to be extra tender. Outside of adding a little extra barbecue sauce if you want, these don't need much enhancing.

The least expensive steak cut on the menu also happens to have one of the highest protein numbers. The sirloin comes in a few weights, but 16-ounce is the largest and therefore the highest in protein. You can order it in a 6-ounce, 8-ounce, or 11-ounce version as well; the protein content is 46, 61, and 84 grams, respectively.

This is the highest-protein Texas Roadhouse combo on the menu, and it's also the combo with the heaviest steak (alongside the Ft. Worth ribeye and shrimp combo mentioned earlier). If you're looking for the most meat on one plate, then this might be the dish for you.

At 23 ounces, the Porterhouse T-bone is the heaviest steak on Texas Roadhouse's menu by weight, so it's no surprise that it has nearly 140 grams of protein. But it technically has two cuts (a filet and a strip), so if you plan on splitting this dinner, just keep in mind that it cuts the protein amount in half.

Finally, the No. 1 Texas Roadhouse menu item protein-wise is none other than the bone-in ribeye. It's mighty, it's meaty, and it packs a whopping 143 grams. This is a 20-ounce steak cut, and there's only one size option available, but keep in mind that the bone accounts for some of this weight, so you're not getting a full 20 ounces of meat.