Applebee's has two Irresist-A-Bowls. The Tex-Mex Shrimp Bowl is $15.99 and 710 calories, the lightest entrée on the entire menu. The Southwest Chicken Bowl is $14.99 and 820 calories. Both start with cilantro rice and greens and add chipotle lime protein, pico de gallo, black bean corn salsa, guacamole, chimichurri and tortilla strips.
Irresist-A-Bowl Prices and Calories
| Bowl | Price | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Tex-Mex Shrimp Bowl | $15.99 | 710 |
| Southwest Chicken Bowl | $14.99 | 820 |
Prices are reference figures, and your restaurant sets its own.
The Lightest Entrée at Applebee's
If you want a full dinner at Applebee's under 750 calories, this is the only entrée that gets you there.
The Tex-Mex Shrimp Bowl, at 710, beats every other entrée on the menu. The next lightest are the 6 oz. Top Sirloin, the Grilled Chicken Breast and a half rack of Baby Back Ribs, all at 760. It's lighter than the Blackened Cajun Salmon (850) and every entrée salad, the lightest of which are 900. The Southwest Chicken Bowl, at 820, is still lighter than every burger, every pasta and every entrée salad.
The trade-off is that there's less hiding in a bowl. You won't get fries or a bun, and the bowl is the meal. If that sounds like a feature, order it.
What's in an Irresist-A-Bowl
Both bowls are built the same way, which is why they eat lighter than the plates around them:
- At the bottom: cilantro rice and fresh greens.
- In the middle: house-made pico de gallo, black bean corn salsa and guacamole.
- On top: chipotle lime chicken or shrimp, a drizzle of chimichurri, crispy tortilla strips and a lime wedge.
Chimichurri is a herb and garlic sauce, not a creamy dressing, and that's a big part of why the calories stay down. Chipotle is smoked jalapeño, so the heat is smoky and warm, not sharp, and the lime and guacamole cool it further.
The Two Bowls
Tex-Mex Shrimp Bowl
Grilled chipotle lime shrimp over cilantro rice and greens with pico, black bean corn salsa, guacamole, chimichurri and tortilla strips. It's the lightest entrée Applebee's sells and a dollar more than the chicken bowl.
- $15.99 · 710 calories · contains shellfish
Southwest Chicken Bowl
Grilled chipotle lime chicken with the same build. The chipotle lime chicken is the same flavor you'll find in the Chicken Quesadilla and the Chicken Fajita Rollup. It's the cheaper bowl by a dollar.
- $14.99 · 820 calories
Making a Bowl Your Own
Because the bowls are layered instead of cooked together, they're easy to adjust. Ask for the tortilla strips on the side if you're watching carbs or taking it home. Chimichurri on the side gives you control over the dressing. And ask whether your restaurant will make it with extra greens instead of rice, which cuts most of the starch.
Allergens
The Tex-Mex Shrimp Bowl contains shellfish, and shared grills mean the chicken bowl isn't safe for a shellfish allergy either. The tortilla strips contain wheat. We don't have full allergen data for the bowls, so for any allergy, talk to the kitchen. The allergen menu covers the items we track.
Bowls To Go
Bowls travel better than almost anything else on the menu, because nothing in them depends on staying crispy except the tortilla strips. Get those and the chimichurri on the side. Eat it soon: guacamole browns as it sits. Don't microwave the whole bowl, or the greens and guacamole go warm and limp. More on Carside To Go.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Applebee's Irresist-A-Bowls?
Layered bowls of cilantro rice and greens with chipotle lime chicken or shrimp, pico de gallo, black bean corn salsa, guacamole, chimichurri and tortilla strips.
How much are Applebee's bowls?
The Southwest Chicken Bowl is $14.99 and the Tex-Mex Shrimp Bowl is $15.99.
How many calories are in the Applebee's Tex-Mex Shrimp Bowl?
710, which makes it the lightest entrée on the Applebee's menu.
How many calories are in the Southwest Chicken Bowl?
What's the lowest calorie entrée at Applebee's?
The Tex-Mex Shrimp Bowl at 710 calories. The next lightest entrées are 760.
Is the Southwest Chicken Bowl spicy?
Mildly. The chipotle lime chicken is smoky and warm rather than hot, and the lime and guacamole cool it down.
Do Applebee's bowls come with guacamole?
Yes. Both bowls include guacamole.
More Chipotle Lime Chicken and Light Plates
For the same chipotle lime chicken in other dishes, see chicken and appetizers. For other light plates, see seafood and salads. The full list of prices is on the menu page.