PDQ Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, PDQ cooks with: canola oil. Across the 69 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.1g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does PDQ fry in? The full answer
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Safest Orders at PDQ
Learn this once: a salad with grilled protein and the dressing left off is nearly always the lowest seed oil order anywhere. So the list below sticks to real meals, salads included, never just a water.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Grilled Chicken Tenders 3 Piece | 0.3g |
| Grilled Chicken Tenders 4 Piece | 0.4g |
| Grilled Chicken Tenders 5 Piece | 0.5g |
| Grilled Chicken Nuggets 8 Piece | 2.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Nuggets 12 Piece | 3.0g |
Build your PDQ order
Pick your meal, sides, sauces and drink in the app and see your seed oil total before you order. It logs to your day in one tap. Free on iPhone and Android.
Build my orderWhat to Avoid at PDQ
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Sauced Crispy Nuggets 12 Piece | 17.0g |
| Sauced Crispy Tenders 5 Piece | 16.0g |
| Spicy Chicken Nuggets 12 Piece | 16.0g |
| Spicy Chicken Tenders 5 Piece | 15.0g |
| OG Deluxe Chicken Sandwich | 14.0g |
Every PDQ item, ranked
All 69 items we have for PDQ, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Honey BBQ | 0.0g |
| Sweet Tea | 0.0g |
| Unsweetened Tea | 0.0g |
| Green Tea | 0.0g |
| Lemonade | 0.0g |
| Grilled Chicken Tenders 3 Piece | 0.3g |
| Kids Grilled Chicken Tenders 2 Piece | 0.3g |
| Grilled Chicken Tenders 4 Piece | 0.4g |
| Grilled Chicken Tenders 5 Piece | 0.5g |
| Cranapple Oatmeal Cookie | 1.3g |
| Strawberry Shake (14 oz) | 1.3g |
| Chocolate Chunk Cookie | 1.4g |
| Vanilla Shake (14 oz) | 1.4g |
| Oreo Shake (14 oz) | 1.7g |
| Strawberry Shake (20 oz) | 1.8g |
| Vanilla Shake (20 oz) | 1.9g |
| Grilled Chicken Nuggets 8 Piece | 2.0g |
| Kids Nuggets 5 Piece | 2.3g |
| Chocolate Shake (14 oz) | 2.5g |
| Oreo Shake (20 oz) | 2.6g |
| Grilled Chicken Nuggets 12 Piece | 3.0g |
| Garden Salad Side | 3.0g |
| Kids Crispy Chicken Tenders 2 Piece | 3.0g |
| Seasonal Cookie | 3.0g |
| Crispy Chicken Nuggets 8 Piece | 3.7g |
| Chocolate Shake (20 oz) | 3.7g |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 4.0g |
| Parmesan Broccoli | 4.0g |
| Crispy Chicken Tenders 3 Piece | 4.1g |
| Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich | 4.1g |
| Reese's Cup Shake (14 oz) | 4.1g |
| Buffalo | 4.5g |
| Chicken Tender Salad | 5.0g |
| PDQ Salad with Grilled Chicken | 5.0g |
| Mac and Cheese | 5.0g |
| Garlic Parm Toast | 5.0g |
| Buffy Bleu Sandwich | 5.2g |
| Waffle Fries (Regular) | 5.4g |
| Crispy Chicken Tenders 4 Piece | 5.6g |
| Crispy Chicken Nuggets 12 Piece | 5.6g |
| Mediterranean Salad with Grilled Chicken | 6.0g |
| Cali Bowl with Grilled Chicken | 6.0g |
| Ranch | 6.4g |
| Crispy Chicken Tenders 5 Piece | 7.1g |
| Reese's Cup Shake (20 oz) | 7.3g |
| Waffle Fries (Large) | 8.2g |
| Spicy Chicken Tenders 3 Piece | 9.0g |
| PDQ Sauce | 9.0g |
| Honey Mustard | 9.0g |
| Bleu Cheese | 9.0g |
| Sweet Sriracha | 9.6g |
| Sauced Crispy Tenders 3 Piece | 10.0g |
| Spicy Chicken Nuggets 8 Piece | 11.0g |
| Spicy Chicken Tenders 4 Piece | 12.0g |
| Sauced Crispy Nuggets 8 Piece | 12.0g |
| OG Classic Chicken Sandwich | 12.0g |
| Spicy Classic Chicken Sandwich | 12.0g |
| PDQ Salad with Crispy Chicken | 12.0g |
| PDQ Salad with Spicy Chicken | 12.0g |
| Sauced Chicken Sandwich | 13.0g |
| Sauced Crispy Tenders 4 Piece | 13.0g |
| OG Deluxe Chicken Sandwich | 14.0g |
| Spicy Deluxe Chicken Sandwich | 14.0g |
| Cali Bowl with Crispy Chicken | 14.0g |
| Spicy Chicken Tenders 5 Piece | 15.0g |
| Sauced Crispy Tenders 5 Piece | 16.0g |
| Spicy Chicken Nuggets 12 Piece | 16.0g |
| Sauced Crispy Nuggets 12 Piece | 17.0g |
Frequently asked
Does PDQ use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, PDQ cooks with: canola oil. Across the 69 menu items we analyzed, it averages 6.1g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of C (High Risk).
What oil does PDQ cook with?
Our research indicates: canola. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does PDQ use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates PDQ cooks with canola oil, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is PDQ seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates PDQ cooks with canola oil, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at PDQ?
Grilled Chicken Tenders 3 Piece is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at PDQ, at an estimated 0.3g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at PDQ?
Sauced Crispy Nuggets 12 Piece is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at PDQ, at an estimated 17.0g PUFA. Fried items and creamy, mayo-based sauces are usually the heaviest.
What are seed oils?
Seed oils — canola, soybean, sunflower, corn, and similar vegetable oils — are extracted from seeds using high heat and chemical solvents. They are very high in polyunsaturated fats (PUFAs), which are unstable at cooking temperatures and can oxidize easily. Many health-conscious eaters choose to minimize seed oils and prefer foods cooked in beef tallow, butter, coconut oil, or olive oil instead. This page shows estimated PUFA grams per menu item to help you make more informed choices. These are estimates — actual values vary by preparation and location. New to the topic? Start with what seed oils are and the complete list, or read the evidence on why people avoid them.
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See where PDQ lands on the full Seed Oil Index, or check which chains cook in real fats on Tallow Watch. Wondering about a specific dish instead? The Is It Seed Oil food guide answers it for 200+ everyday foods, and the distributor oils page covers what independent restaurants fry in.