5 Worst Chain Restaurant Soups to Avoid Right Now

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By Ghuman

Introduction

When it comes to eating out, soup is often a go-to option. It’s warm, comforting, and usually pretty healthy. Unfortunately, not all soups are created equal. Chain restaurants often use pre-made, processed ingredients that can be high in sodium and other unhealthy additives. To help you make the healthiest choices, here are the five worst chain restaurant soups to avoid right now.

5 Worst Chain Restaurant Soups to Avoid Right Now

When it comes to eating out, soup can be a great option. It’s usually a healthier choice than other menu items, and it can be a great way to warm up on a cold day. But not all soups are created equal, and some chain restaurant soups are best avoided. Here are five of the worst chain restaurant soups to avoid right now.

1. Panera Bread’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Panera Bread’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup is a classic, but it’s also one of the worst soups you can get at a chain restaurant. It’s loaded with calories, fat, and sodium, and it’s not particularly high in protein or fiber. Plus, it’s made with processed cheese, so it’s not the healthiest option.

2. Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana

Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana is a creamy soup made with sausage, potatoes, and kale. While it may sound like a healthy option, it’s actually quite high in calories, fat, and sodium. Plus, it’s made with processed meats, so it’s not the best choice for those looking for a healthier soup.

3. Chili’s Chicken Enchilada Soup

Chili’s Chicken Enchilada Soup is a creamy soup made with chicken, cheese, and tortilla chips. While it may sound like a tasty option, it’s actually quite high in calories, fat, and sodium. Plus, it’s made with processed cheese and tortilla chips, so it’s not the healthiest choice.

4. Applebee’s French Onion Soup

Applebee’s French Onion Soup is a classic, but it’s also one of the worst soups you can get at a chain restaurant. It’s loaded with calories, fat, and sodium, and it’s not particularly high in protein or fiber. Plus, it’s made with processed cheese, so it’s not the healthiest option.

5. Red Lobster’s New England Clam Chowder

Red Lobster’s New England Clam Chowder is a creamy soup made with clams, potatoes, and bacon. While it may sound like a tasty option, it’s actually quite high in calories, fat, and sodium. Plus, it’s made with processed meats, so it’s not the best choice for those looking for a healthier soup.

Sometimes nothing hits quite like a warm soup on a cold day from your favorite chain restaurant. Panera Bread, Chick-fil-A, and a few other chains have a few different varieties to choose from. And soup is healthy right?

Well, not all soups are created equal, especially at chain restaurants where a majority of the time soup isn’t the specialty. With that in mind, similarly to how you want to stay away from these steakhouse chain orders on your next restaurant visit, you’ll also want to steer clear of these chain soups whether that’s due to their calories, fat, bad reviews, or maybe even a combination of all three.

Keep on reading to find out the five chain restaurant soups to stay away from right now.

RELATED: 7 Fast-Food Chains That Don’t Use 100% Pure Chicken In Their Nuggets

Panera Bread's Chicken Tikka Masala Soup
Courtesy of Panera Bread

per bowl: 360 calories, 17 g fat ( 10 g saturated fat), 1,000 mg sodium, 37 g carbs (5 g fiber, 8 g sugar), 16 g protein

This soup is a loose homage to the dish Chicken Tikka Masala which was invented by an Indian chef in Scotland and is served at many Indian restaurants across the U.S. It contains, per the Panera site, chicken, black lentils, butternut squash, and kale in a curried tomato broth, finished with coconut milk and spices and with brown rice and quinoa. The only things it appears to have in common with Chicken Tikka Masala are tomato sauce, chicken, and curry.

Customers were skeptical of this new offering but also excited to try the new Chicken Tikka Masala Soup. But, shortly after its launch, many expressed disappointment with the finished product. One said, “I tried this, but it’s like…. a sweet mush. You can taste some of the spices or whatever, but honestly, it’s like mashed sweet potatoes with a pinch of whatever spices are used for tikka masala. Not impressed.”

One TikTok even went viral, with over 15 thousand views and nearly 500 comments, after taking a comedic jab at Panera’s attempt at re-creating the Indian dish. Lots of viewers left comments agreeing that the soup has not been well received: “As a worker, nobody ever likes it and asks for a refund?” said one from a self-described Panera employee. “I work there, and I’m afraid to try it,” said another.

chick fil a tortilla soup
Courtesy of Chick-Fil-A

per serving: 580 calories, 16 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 1980 mg sodium, 65 g carbs (31 g fiber, 7 g sugar), 44 g protein

Chick-fil-A’s soup is a lighter option at the chain right? While choosing a soup to round out your meal can be a good choice, as opposed to getting an order of french fries, at Chick-fil-A, that’s not the case. The soup is described as having a white creamy soup base and it’s topped with fried tortilla strips, still, the calorie amount is a shocker.

One bowl of this soup has nearly 600 calories—that’s more than a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich! Additionally, it’s loaded with 2,000 milligrams of sodium, which is right near the daily recommended value.

Panera broccoli cheddar soup
Courtesy of Panera

per serving: 370 calories, 24 g fat ( 17 g saturated fat), 1470 mg sodium, 25 g carbs ( 6 g fiber, 8 g sugar), 13 g protein

This soup is a fan-favorite at Panera and is a part of the permanent menu, however, it’s not one you’ll want to get repeatedly. Although it may be creamy and delicious, it boasts a whopping 17 grams of saturated fat per serving which is over the American Heart Association’s recommended daily amount of 13 grams. Plus, it even has more than half of the recommended amount of sodium (2,300 milligrams per day) with 1470 milligrams for a single bowl.

El Pollo Loco's Homemade Tortilla Soup
Courtesy of El Pollo Loco

per large: 450 calories, 17 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 1,890 mg sodium, 34 g carbs (5 g fiber, 6 g sugar), 42 g protein

Although you may not visit a Mexican chain restaurant for a bowl of soup, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. A bowl of good chicken tortillas soup can be just what you need on a cold day. This delicious tortilla soup has the brand’s signature chicken, tortilla chips, cilantro, and cotija cheese. But, it’s not a soup you’ll want to indulge in frequently, especially if you have high blood pressure, since its sodium content is just shy of the daily recommended value in a single serving.

KFC chicken pot pie
Courtesy of KFC

per large: 720 calories, 41 g fat (25 g saturated fat), 1,750 mg sodium, 60 g carbs (7 g fiber, 5 g sugar), 46 g protein

While chicken pot pie is arguably a stew, it qualifies as one to approach with caution. This pastry-topped creation is going to fill you up on a cold night, but it really should be a once-in-a-while treat. With 720 calories and a whopping 25 grams of fat, you might want to share with someone else or leave half for later. Plus, the sodium is extremely high at 1,750 milligrams. That being said, reviews are positive, especially oddly from pregnant Redditors who heap praise upon this warming dish. So if you’re in good health and eating for two, give one a try.

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