Zaxby's Seed Oil Report Card
Based on our menu research, Zaxby's cooks with: soybean oil (confirmed in Zaxby's allergen/ingredient disclosures); PUFA fraction 0.55 for fried items; sauces are soybean mayo-based, PUFA fraction 0.65–0.72. Across the 76 menu items we analyzed, it averages 14.9g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of F (Extreme Risk).
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Safest Orders at Zaxby's
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.
Cleanest full order: Single Nibbler + Fountain Drink, 7.8g total
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Blue Zalad (Garden) | 6.7g |
| House Zalad (Garden) | 6.8g |
| Blue Zalad (Grilled) | 7.1g |
| Veggie Egg Rolls | 7.2g |
| House Zalad (Grilled) | 7.2g |
What to Avoid at Zaxby's
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Chicken Finger Plate (6) | 49.8g |
| Wings and Things Meal (Boneless) | 49.8g |
| Wings and Things Meal (Traditional) | 46.5g |
| Cobb Zalad (Fried) | 46.0g |
| Coleslaw Large | 41.4g |
Every Zaxby's item, ranked
All 76 items we have for Zaxby's, safest first. Values are estimated grams of seed-oil PUFA per item.
| Item | PUFA |
|---|---|
| Handcrafted Lemonade | 0.0g |
| Frozen Strawberry Lemonade | 0.0g |
| Fountain Drink | 0.0g |
| Frozen Lemonade | 0.0g |
| Tongue Torch Sauce | 0.0g |
| Wimpy Sauce | 0.0g |
| BBQ Sauce | 0.0g |
| Milk | 0.1g |
| Insane Sauce | 0.5g |
| Nuclear Sauce | 0.6g |
| Strawberry Milkshake | 0.9g |
| Vanilla Milkshake | 0.9g |
| Birthday Cake Milkshake | 1.0g |
| Chocolate Milkshake | 1.0g |
| Original Sauce | 1.5g |
| Chocolate Chip Cookies | 2.6g |
| Asian Slaw | 4.2g |
| Texas Toast | 4.2g |
| Coleslaw Regular | 6.0g |
| Blue Zalad (Garden) | 6.7g |
| Fried Cheesecake Bites | 6.8g |
| House Zalad (Garden) | 6.8g |
| Blue Zalad (Grilled) | 7.1g |
| Veggie Egg Rolls | 7.2g |
| House Zalad (Grilled) | 7.2g |
| Crinkle Fries Regular | 7.7g |
| Single Nibbler | 7.8g |
| 5 Piece Traditional Wings | 8.0g |
| Kidz Nibbler Meal | 8.0g |
| Spicy Mushrooms | 9.0g |
| Zax Sauce | 9.5g |
| Ranch Sauce | 9.5g |
| Crinkle Fries | 10.0g |
| Chicken Fingerz (5 pc) | 10.0g |
| Tater Chips | 10.0g |
| Coleslaw Small | 10.2g |
| Asian Zensation Zalad (Garden) | 10.2g |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | 10.9g |
| Asian Zensation Zalad (Grilled) | 11.4g |
| Fried White Cheddar Bites | 11.6g |
| Onion Rings | 12.0g |
| Crinkle Fries Large | 12.7g |
| Chicken Fingerz (4 pc) | 13.0g |
| 5 Piece Boneless Wings | 13.2g |
| House Zalad (Fried) | 13.7g |
| Chicken Fajita Quesadilla | 14.0g |
| Grilled Cheese Kids Meal | 15.6g |
| Signature Sandwich | 15.7g |
| 10 Piece Traditional Wings | 16.0g |
| Chicken Bacon Ranch Quesadilla | 16.0g |
| Blue Zalad (Fried) | 16.4g |
| Honey Mustard Sauce | 16.5g |
| Asian Zensation Zalad (Fried) | 17.4g |
| Spicy Signature Sandwich | 17.8g |
| Fried Pickles | 18.6g |
| Signature Chicken Sandwich | 19.0g |
| Kickin Chicken Sandwich | 19.3g |
| Chicken Fingerz Kids Meal | 21.0g |
| 10 Piece Chicken Fingerz Box | 24.0g |
| Great 8 Boneless Wings Meal | 24.0g |
| 2 Nibblerz | 24.6g |
| 10 Piece Boneless Wings | 26.4g |
| Big Zax Snak Meal | 28.8g |
| Traditional Wings Meal (5 Piece) | 30.1g |
| 3 Nibblerz | 31.5g |
| Boneless Wings Meal (5 Piece) | 31.8g |
| Loaded Fries | 35.1g |
| Chicken Finger Plate (4) | 36.0g |
| Cobb Zalad (Garden) | 36.0g |
| Cobb Zalad (Grilled) | 37.0g |
| Chicken Finger Plate (5) | 38.4g |
| Coleslaw Large | 41.4g |
| Cobb Zalad (Fried) | 46.0g |
| Wings and Things Meal (Traditional) | 46.5g |
| Chicken Finger Plate (6) | 49.8g |
| Wings and Things Meal (Boneless) | 49.8g |
Frequently asked
Does Zaxby's use seed oils?
Based on our menu research, Zaxby's cooks with: soybean oil (confirmed in Zaxby's allergen/ingredient disclosures); PUFA fraction 0.55 for fried items; sauces are soybean mayo-based, PUFA fraction 0.65–0.72. Across the 76 menu items we analyzed, it averages 14.9g estimated PUFA per item, earning a seed-oil grade of F (Extreme Risk).
What oil does Zaxby's cook with?
Our research indicates: soybean oil (confirmed in Zaxby's allergen/ingredient disclosures); PUFA fraction 0.55 for fried items; sauces are soybean mayo-based, PUFA fraction 0.65–0.72. Preparation can vary by location, so treat PUFA numbers as estimates.
Does Zaxby's use beef tallow?
No. Our research indicates Zaxby's cooks with soybean oil (confirmed in Zaxby's allergen/ingredient disclosures); PUFA fraction 0.55 for fried items; sauces are soybean mayo-based, PUFA fraction 0.65–0.72, not beef tallow. For chains that fry in tallow or other real fats, see Tallow Watch.
Is Zaxby's seed oil free?
No. Our research indicates Zaxby's cooks with soybean oil (confirmed in Zaxby's allergen/ingredient disclosures); PUFA fraction 0.55 for fried items; sauces are soybean mayo-based, PUFA fraction 0.65–0.72, which includes seed oils. See the lower-PUFA orders above for the cleanest picks.
What is the safest thing to order at Zaxby's?
Blue Zalad (Garden) is the lowest-PUFA item we analyzed at Zaxby's, at an estimated 6.7g PUFA. See the Safest Orders list on this page for more options.
What should I avoid at Zaxby's?
Chicken Finger Plate (6) is the highest-PUFA item we analyzed at Zaxby's, at an estimated 49.8g 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.
Compare other chains
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See where Zaxby's 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.