Dave’s Hot Chicken publishes a full nutrition chart — revised March 16, 2026 — with calories, fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, fiber, sugars and protein for its food. The headline numbers: a single tender is 490–550 calories with 25g of protein, the #1 is 1,230–1,350, and the #2 is 1,500–1,620. The catch is sodium: the #3 carries 3,400–3,950mg at the hotter tier, more than a day’s worth in one box. This guide breaks down every item from the chain’s own chart.
About the numbers: All food figures come from Dave’s official nutrition chart (revised 3/16/26). The chart lists two numbers for each spiced item: the low end is Not Hot / Lite Mild, the high end is Mild through Reaper — spice adds 40–120 calories and 270–560mg of sodium to a combo. Shake, shake-topping and drink figures come from Dave’s earlier chart (revised 6/13/2024), which has no sodium or other detail. Sodium, sugar and fiber are shown where Dave’s publishes them; where the chart is silent, the table shows “–”. One tracker totals the #1 at about 1,700 calories by adding a sauce cup, slaw and bread on top of the combo’s fries — the official chart’s 1,230–1,350 already counts the fries, so the 1,700 figure is that tracker’s own summation, not Dave’s number, and it is stated here rather than smoothed. Prices for every item are in the Dave’s Hot Chicken menu guide.
Numbered Combos
All ten numbered combos — the chicken #1–#5 and the Dave’s NOT Chicken #1–#5 — with the official calorie range across heat tiers, protein, and sodium at the hotter tier. Every extra slider adds a bun and slaw, so sliders cost more calories than tenders, while cauliflower cuts calories modestly and protein sharply.
| Combo | Calories | Protein | Sodium (Mild+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dave’s #1 — 2 tenders + fries | 1,230–1,350 | 56g | 3,080–3,630mg |
| Dave’s #2 — 2 sliders + fries | 1,500–1,620 | 68g | 3,340–3,900mg |
| Dave’s #3 — 1 tender + 1 slider + fries | 1,370–1,490 | 62g | 3,400–3,950mg |
| Dave’s #4 — 1 slider + fries | 1,060–1,110 | 37g | 2,350–2,620mg |
| Dave’s #5 — 1 tender + fries | 930–990 | 31g | 2,410–2,680mg |
| Not Chicken #1 — 2 cauli tenders + fries | 970–1,040 | 10g | 2,700mg |
| Not Chicken #2 — 2 cauli sliders + fries | 1,230–1,310 | 23g | 2,970mg |
| Not Chicken #3 — 1 cauli tender + slider + fries | 1,100–1,180 | 16g | 3,020mg |
| Not Chicken #4 — 1 cauli slider + fries | 920–960 | 14g | 2,160mg |
| Not Chicken #5 — 1 cauli tender + fries | 790–830 | 8g | 2,220mg |
The lightest combo of any kind is the Not Chicken #5 at 790–830 calories; the lightest chicken combo is the #5 at 930–990. The #4 and #5 are the practical choices for a lighter meal; the #2 is the heaviest numbered combo at up to 1,620 calories. Sodium for the cauliflower combos is shown at the hotter tier only — Dave’s chart does not publish a low-tier sodium figure for them, so no range is given.
Tenders, Sliders & Bites
À la carte nutrition, from the same official chart. A single tender has 25g of protein for 490–550 calories — the best protein-per-calorie item Dave’s sells — and the 10-piece Bites deliver 41g of protein at 650 calories without fries, the strongest protein-to-calorie ratio on the menu.
| Item | Calories | Protein | Sodium | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Tender | 490–550 | 25g | 1,210mg | 29g |
| Single Slider | 620–680 | 31g | 1,150mg | 37g |
| Dave’s Bites (10 pc) | 650 | 41g | – | – |
| Dave’s Mini Sliders (4 pc) | 620 | – | – | – |
| Hot Mozz (1 piece) | 420–430 | 5g | – | – |
| Hot Mozz Slider | 650 | 11g | – | – |
| Single Cauli Tender | 490–550 | – | – | – |
| Single Cauli Slider | 620–680 | – | – | – |
Full macros, where Dave’s publishes them: a single tender is 29g fat (5g saturated, 0g trans), 65mg cholesterol, 1,210mg sodium, 30g carbs, 0g fiber, 3g sugars, 25g protein. A single slider is 37g fat (7g saturated), 70mg cholesterol, 1,150mg sodium, 41g carbs, 0g fiber, 7g sugars, 31g protein. Dave’s does not publish fat or sodium for the Bites, Mini Sliders, Hot Mozz or cauliflower singles — the table shows “–” rather than a guess. A single Hot Mozz piece, at 420 calories, is the lightest single item on the menu.
Cauliflower Line
The Dave’s NOT Chicken line, from the official chart. Cauliflower cuts calories modestly and protein sharply against the chicken equivalents — the Not Chicken #1 carries 10g of protein against 56g in the chicken #1 — so it is a lighter meal, not a protein meal.
| Item | Calories | Protein | Sodium (Mild+) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single Cauli Tender | 490–550 | – | – |
| Single Cauli Slider | 620–680 | – | – |
| Cauli Bites (10 pc) | – | – | – |
| Not Chicken #1 | 970–1,040 | 10g | 2,700mg |
| Not Chicken #2 | 1,230–1,310 | 23g | 2,970mg |
| Not Chicken #3 | 1,100–1,180 | 16g | 3,020mg |
| Not Chicken #4 | 920–960 | 14g | 2,160mg |
| Not Chicken #5 | 790–830 | 8g | 2,220mg |
Dave’s does not publish calories, protein or sodium for the Cauli Bites, or protein and sodium for the cauliflower singles — those cells read “–”. The cauliflower is fried in the same oil as the chicken, so the line is vegetarian by ingredient, not by preparation.
Sides, Shakes & Sauces
Sides and drinks, from the official chart (food) and the earlier chart (shakes and drinks, revised 6/13/2024). Kale slaw at 270 calories and mac and cheese at 290 are the two lightest sides; fries at 440 are heavier than either. On sodium, the brine and the spice rub push most items well past 1,000mg, and there is no low-sodium route through this menu — choosing No Spice does not reduce sodium meaningfully, because the salt is in the brine rather than the rub.
| Item | Calories | Sodium |
|---|---|---|
| Fries | 440 | 1,200mg |
| Kale Slaw | 270 | 170mg |
| Mac & Cheese | 290 | – |
| Cheese Fries | 460 | – |
| Dave’s Sauce (1.5 oz) | 270 | – |
| Large Dave’s Sauce | 1,530 | – |
| Cheese Sauce (side cup) | 90 | – |
| Vanilla / Chocolate / Strawberry Shake (S) | 590–610 | – |
| Vanilla / Chocolate / Strawberry Shake (M) | 740–760 | – |
| Vanilla / Chocolate / Strawberry Shake (L) | 1,170–1,210 | – |
| Top-Loaded Shake (regular) | 760–950 | – |
| Top-Loaded Shake (large) | 950–1,200 | – |
| Frozen Slushers | 400 | – |
| Soft Drink (small / regular / large) | 0–290 / 0–330 / 0–380 | – |
Shake and drink sodium is not published — Dave’s earlier chart lists calories only for shakes and drinks. A large shake at 1,170–1,210 calories is heavy enough to count as a meal on its own. A single cup of Dave’s Sauce is 270 calories and the large tub is 1,530; one tracker lists the side cup at 180 calories, against the official chart’s 270 for a 1.5 oz cup — the official figure is used here and the difference is stated.
Highest Protein, Lowest Calorie, Highest Sodium
Highest protein per calorie: the 10-piece Dave’s Bites, 41g of protein at 650 calories, and the single tender, 25g at 490–550. Lowest calorie meal: the Not Chicken #5 at 790–830 calories, or the chicken #5 at 930–990. Highest sodium: the #3 at 3,400–3,950mg, followed by the #2 at 3,340–3,900mg and the #1 at 3,080–3,630mg — each one more than a day’s recommended sodium in a single box. The Large Top-Loaded Buffalo Mac is heavier still at 2,960 calories, but it is built for sharing.
Allergens
All Dave’s Hot Chicken food is prepared in a shared kitchen with shared cooking equipment, including fryers, so cross-contact with allergens is possible for every item. The tender’s published allergens are egg, milk, mustard and soy; the slider adds sesame and wheat. The chicken and the cauliflower are both breaded, the buns and bread contain wheat, and everything is fried in shared oil. Read the chain’s allergen menu and confirm with staff before ordering.
How to Eat Lighter at Dave’s Hot Chicken
Order the #5 or the Not Chicken #5 — the two lightest combos. Take a single tender at 490–550 calories with a kale slaw at 270 and water, and the meal lands at about 820 calories; dropping the Dave’s Sauce saves another 270. Order the Bites instead of tenders if you want more pieces for fewer calories. Skip the large shake — a regular is 740–760 calories, a large is 1,170–1,210. And know that No Spice will not save you on sodium: the salt is in the brine, not the rub.
Reviews
Yelp scores swing by location because Dave’s is franchised: Rowland Heights, California at 3.9 stars from 91 reviews; Beaverton, Oregon at 4.1 from 260; Seattle’s Capitol Hill store at 3.7 from 276; West Palm Beach at 3.5 from 29; Lee’s Summit, Missouri at 2.6 from 14. Google reviews aggregated for the Los Angeles stores run around 4.4 out of 5. “The chicken is SUPER juicy too!!!” — a Yelp reviewer at Rowland Heights. “The sliders were big, made fresh and the chicken was hot and tender,” a Beaverton reviewer wrote. The full menu behind these numbers is in the Dave’s Hot Chicken menu guide, and the fan builds are in the Dave’s Hot Chicken secret menu guide.
Dave’s Hot Chicken Nutrition FAQs
How many calories are in a Dave’s Hot Chicken tender?
A single tender is 490 calories at Not Hot or Lite Mild and 550 at Mild through Reaper, with 25g of protein. The #1, two tenders with fries, is 1,230–1,350 calories.
What is the healthiest thing at Dave’s Hot Chicken?
The Not Chicken #5, a cauliflower tender with fries, at 790–830 calories, is the lightest combo. For chicken, the #5 at 930–990 calories. A single tender with kale slaw and water lands at about 820 calories.
How much sodium is in Dave’s Hot Chicken?
A lot. The #3 carries 3,400–3,950mg at the hotter tier, the #2 3,340–3,900mg and the #1 3,080–3,630mg. A single tender is 1,210mg and kale slaw is 170mg.
Does the spice level change the calories?
Yes. Dave’s official chart lists two numbers for each spiced item: one for Not Hot and Lite Mild, and a higher one for Mild through Reaper. On the #2 the difference is 120 calories and 560mg of sodium.
How many calories are in a Dave’s shake?
A small regular shake is 590–610 calories, a regular 740–760, and a large 1,170–1,210. Top-Loaded shakes run 760–950 regular and 950–1,200 large. These figures come from Dave’s earlier chart (revised 6/13/2024).
Is Dave’s Hot Chicken gluten-free?
No. The chicken and cauliflower are breaded, the buns and bread contain wheat, and everything is fried in shared oil.
Conclusion
Dave’s Hot Chicken does not pretend to be a light menu, and the chart proves it: the #2 is 1,500–1,620 calories with up to 3,900mg of sodium, and the sauce alone is 270 calories a cup. But the chart also shows the lighter routes, if you build them yourself — a #5, a single tender with slaw, the Bites for protein. The numbers that matter are all from Dave’s own chart, revised March 16, 2026, and where the chart is silent — shake sodium, Bites fat, cauliflower singles’ protein — this guide says so instead of guessing. The prices are in the Dave’s Hot Chicken menu guide, the fan builds in the Dave’s Hot Chicken secret menu guide, and the savings in the Dave’s Hot Chicken coupons guide. For more chicken boards, see the Raising Cane’s menu and the Zaxby’s menu.
Sources: official Dave’s Hot Chicken nutrition chart (revised 3/16/26) and allergen documentation; earlier nutrition chart (revised 6/13/2024) for shakes and drinks; tracker captures from daveshotchickenmenusprices.com, bowlmacros.com and usamenufinder.com (November 2026). Values are Dave’s published figures for the standard recipe; customizations change them. Not for medical use.
