Dave's Hot Chicken Nutrition & Calorie Calculator

Dave's Hot Chicken publishes a nutrition chart, revised 3/16/26, with calories, fat, saturated and trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, fiber, sugars and protein for its foods, and the full table is on this page. That chart covers food only, so the shake, shake topping and drink numbers here come from Dave's earlier chart, revised 6/13/2024, and have no sodium or other detail. Dave's says its values come from standard recipes and change if you ask for a variation.

It depends on what you order. A single tender is 490 calories at no spice. A single slider is 620 calories. Regular fries add 440 calories. Dave's #1 — 2 tenders with fries — is 1,230 calories. The 10pc Bites without fries are 650 calories and 41g of protein, making them the best protein-to-calorie option on the menu.

Yes. Each spice level uses a chili oil blend that adds extra fat and calories. No Spice is the lowest calorie option. The difference between No Spice and Reaper on a single tender is roughly 60 calories.

A single tender has 25 grams of protein at 490 calories. A single slider has 31 grams. The 10pc Bites deliver 41 grams of protein at 650 calories without fries — the strongest protein-to-calorie ratio on the menu. Tenders and bites are the better protein choices over sliders since sliders add bun carbs without improving the protein numbers.

A single Hot Mozz piece with no sides is the lightest at 420 calories, then a single tender, a Not Chicken Slider or Not Chicken Bites at 490 calories. For protein per calorie, the 10pc Bites without fries are 650 calories and 41g of protein. Dave's #5, 1 tender with fries, is 930 calories and the lightest chicken combo. Swapping fries for kale slaw saves 170 calories (fries are 440 cal, kale slaw is 270 cal). Skipping Dave's Sauce saves another 150 calories per packet or 290 per dipper cup.

The chicken at Dave's Hot Chicken is halal-certified through Halal Transactions of Omaha, and the founders built the brand with halal certification as a priority. However, there are nuances worth knowing: the chicken is pre-stunned before hand-slaughter, which some stricter interpretations of halal do not accept. The supply chain and kitchen do not operate under full halal procedures, and sauces, sides, and shared fryers are not halal-certified. For most Muslim customers the chicken itself is considered halal, but if you follow stricter standards, confirm directly with your location and ask about their current supplier and preparation practices.

Dave's calls them Not Chicken. A single Not Chicken Slider or an order of Not Chicken Bites is 490 calories at no spice, the same as a chicken tender. The real difference is protein: about 8 grams versus 25 grams for a chicken tender. Not Chicken Bites are 310mg of sodium against 1,570mg for the chicken 10pc Bites. If protein is the goal, chicken is the better pick every time.

Regular fries are 440 calories. Cheese fries are 450 calories. Top Loaded Fries are 980 calories at no spice, or 700, 1,390 and 1,630 calories in the Small, Regular and Large. Kale slaw is 270 calories if you want a lighter side, though it's not as low-calorie as most people assume.

Hot Mozz is on Dave's 2026 nutrition chart. A single piece with no sides is 420 calories at no spice, or 430 at Mild to Reaper, with 5g of protein. The Hot Mozz Slider is 650 calories with 11g of protein. Dave's lists the 3 Piece at 1,410 to 1,430 calories and the 5 Piece at 2,330 to 2,350, and the chart does not say which sides come with each size.

A small shake is 590–610 calories depending on flavor. A regular is 740–760 calories. A large is 1,110–1,140 calories. Adding Oreo or M&M toppings to a large shake adds another 480–490 calories on top. Cinnamon Toast Crunch is lighter at 180 calories for a large.

Dave's Hot Chicken uses fresh never-frozen chicken and hand-breads each piece to order. The chain also operates in high-cost urban markets and has grown rapidly with celebrity backing, which factors into pricing. A single tender combo typically runs $12–16 depending on location.