Dave's Hot Chicken Calorie & Nutrition Calculator

Calculate total calories and nutritional information for your Dave's Hot Chicken meal. Track combos, sliders, tenders, sides, shakes, and see how spice levels affect nutrition.

Dave's Hot Chicken Menu

Select items from the menu to calculate your meal's nutrition

How to Use This Calculator

Click on any menu item to add it to your order. Items withHotbadges use spicier preparations which add extra calories from the spice blend.

Note: Dave's Hot Chicken menu items are generally high in sodium. A single combo can contain 3,000+ mg — over 100% of the daily recommended limit (2,300mg).

About the Dave's Hot Chicken Calorie & Nutrition Calculator

Learn more about the calculator and its creator

Jonas

Jonas

I have been passionate about nutrition and healthy eating for over 8 years and I built this calculator to help people like you and me make better food choices.

Dave's Hot Chicken has become famous for its Nashville-style hot chicken, offering seven spice levels from No Spice to the challenge-worthy Reaper. Understanding the nutritional impact of your choices—especially between spice levels—helps you enjoy this fiery fare while staying on track with your goals.

How Spice Levels Affect Calories

At Dave's, the spice isn't just about heat—it also affects nutrition. The spice blend contains oils and seasonings that add calories. Here's what choosing a hotter spice level means for a single slider:

Spice Level Calories Fat (g) Sodium (mg)
No Spice / Light Mild 620 37 1,150
Mild - Reaper 690 43 1,420
Difference +70 +6 +270

Choosing a spicier option adds approximately 70 calories, 6g fat, and 270mg sodium per slider.

Combo Meal Breakdown

Dave's offers three combo meals that include your choice of chicken, fries, and a drink. Here's how they compare (shown with No Spice/Light Mild values):

Combo #1

Slider + Fries + Drink

1,230 calories

58g fat • 57g protein

3,080mg sodium

Combo #2

2 Sliders + Fries + Drink

1,500 calories

75g fat • 58g protein

3,340mg sodium

Combo #3

Tenders + Fries + Drink

1,370 calories

67g fat • 62g protein

3,400mg sodium

Sodium Content Warning

Dave's Hot Chicken items contain very high sodium levels.

  • • The daily recommended limit is 2,300mg of sodium
  • • A single combo contains 3,000-3,900mg — over 130% of daily limit
  • • Even a single slider (620 cal) has 1,150mg sodium
  • • Choosing spicier options adds an additional 180-320mg per item

If you're watching sodium intake, consider ordering individual items without a combo, skipping the fries (1,200mg sodium), and choosing water over soda.

Lower-Calorie Options

If you're looking to enjoy Dave's while keeping calories in check, consider these strategies:

Single Tender (Mild)

490 calories, 25g protein

The lowest calorie entrée option

Mac & Cheese (Side)

290 calories, 14g protein

More protein than fries, fewer calories

Coke Zero / Diet Coke

0 calories

Skip the soda calories (180-270 cal)

Skip the Sauce

Save 180 calories per cup

Dave's Sauce adds 180 cal & 360mg sodium

Slider vs. Tender: Which Is Better?

Item (Mild) Calories Protein Fat Sodium
Single Slider 620 31g 37g 1,150mg
Single Tender 490 25g 28g 1,480mg

The tender has 130 fewer calories but 330mg more sodium than the slider. If you're prioritizing calories, go tender. If you're watching sodium, the slider is slightly better.

Sides Comparison

Side Calories Fat Carbs Sodium
French Fries 440 20g 58g 1,200mg
Cheese Fries 530 26g 60g 1,350mg
Mac & Cheese 290 16g 25g 1,090mg
Kale Slaw 440 26g 38g 170mg

Best for low sodium: Kale Slaw (170mg) — by far the lowest sodium option.
Best for low calories: Mac & Cheese (290 cal) — 150 calories less than fries.

Milkshake Nutrition

Dave's milkshakes are indulgent treats that pack significant calories and sugar:

Shake Calories Fat Sugar
Vanilla (Regular) 580 47g 43g
Strawberry (Regular) 590 46g 46g
Chocolate (Regular) 610 47g 43g
Chocolate (Large) 760 58g 52g

A regular shake adds nearly as many calories as a single slider. Upgrading to large adds another 150-180 calories.

Sample Meal Builds

Lighter Option

~890 calories

  • • Single Tender (Mild): 490 cal
  • • Mac & Cheese: 290 cal
  • • Unsweetened Tea: 0 cal
  • • Skip the sauce

Sodium: ~2,570mg

Classic Combo

~1,410 calories

  • • Single Slider (Hot): 690 cal
  • • French Fries: 440 cal
  • • Coke Zero: 0 cal
  • • Dave's Sauce: 180 cal

Sodium: ~3,130mg

Using This Calculator

To get your personalized nutrition breakdown:

  1. Browse or search the menu categories above
  2. Click items to add them to your order
  3. Pay attention to spice levels — hot options have extra calories
  4. Watch the sodium counter — it turns red when you exceed 2,300mg
  5. Adjust quantities using the + and - buttons in your order summary

The calculator uses official Dave's Hot Chicken nutritional data. Values may vary slightly by location and preparation method.

Complete Dave's Hot Chicken Nutrition Analysis

Comprehensive nutritional breakdown of your Dave's Hot Chicken meal

Combo Meals

All three signature combos with sliders, tenders, fries, and drinks

Spice Level Impact

See how choosing hotter spice levels affects calories and sodium

Sliders & Tenders

Individual chicken items with both mild and hot spice options

Sides & Shakes

Mac & cheese, fries, kale slaw, and all milkshake flavors

Sodium Alerts

Important warnings for high-sodium items that exceed daily limits

How Dave's Hot Chicken Nutrition Calculation Works

Select menu items to build your meal and see complete nutrition

Browse Menu

Explore combos, sliders, tenders, sides, shakes, and beverages

Choose Spice Level

Items show mild vs hot options with different nutrition values

View Nutrition

See calories, macros, and sodium update in real-time

Track Your Meal

Adjust quantities and get total meal nutrition