The 10 Unhealthiest Mexican Takeout Orders & 10 Smarter Picks
Mexican Takeout Can Go Either Way
Mexican takeout can be colorful, flavorful, comforting, and surprisingly easy to turn into a very heavy meal. The difference often comes down to portion size, whether something is fried, processed meats, cheese, sour cream, sugary drinks, and how many extras join the order. That doesn't mean you need to avoid your favorite dishes forever, but knowing which choices tend to be heavier and which ones give you more fiber and vegetables can make the meal a lot smarter. Here are the 10 unhealthiest Mexican takeout orders and 10 smarter picks.
1. Loaded Nachos
Loaded nachos can go from appetizer to full-blown calorie event very quickly. A pile of fried chips, melted cheese, sour cream, refried beans, seasoned meat, queso, and guacamole can be delicious, but it's rarely a light choice. The chips alone bring plenty of refined carbs and sodium before the toppings even arrive.
2. Chimichanga
A chimichanga is essentially a deep-fried burrito. The filling may include meat, rice, beans, and cheese, but the fried tortilla adds extra fat and heaviness. Many versions are also covered with queso, sour cream, or creamy sauce, which pushes the meal even further.
3. Queso-Smothered Burrito
A large burrito already has plenty going on, especially when it's filled with rice, beans, meat, cheese, and sour cream. Once it's smothered in queso or creamy sauce, it becomes much richer and harder to treat like a balanced meal. The tortilla can be large, the sodium can climb fast, and the toppings may hide how much food is really there.
4. Carne Asada Fries
Carne asada fries are tasty, messy, and not pretending to be subtle. Fries topped with steak, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, and sometimes queso can turn into a very dense takeout order. You get protein from the steak, but the base is still fried potatoes covered in rich toppings.
5. Cheese Enchiladas With Cream Sauce
Cheese enchiladas can be heavy when the main filling is cheese and the sauce is rich. Add rice, refried beans, sour cream, and chips on the side, and the meal can become very high in saturated fat and sodium. Creamy sauces can make the dish feel comforting, but they also make it easier to overdo the richness.
6. Taco Salad in a Fried Shell
A taco salad sounds healthy until it arrives inside a giant fried tortilla bowl. The lettuce may be doing its best, but cheese, sour cream, ground beef, fried shell pieces, and creamy dressing can take over quickly. The shell is often the sneaky part because it looks like a container but eats like a pile of chips.
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7. Chorizo Breakfast Burrito
A chorizo breakfast burrito can be flavorful, filling, and very heavy. Chorizo is often high in saturated fat and sodium, and it is usually paired with eggs, cheese, potatoes, and a large tortilla. That combination can make breakfast feel more like a full-day project.
8. Quesadilla With Extra Cheese
A quesadilla can seem simple, but extra cheese changes the story quickly. A large flour tortilla filled heavily with cheese, meat, sour cream, and guacamole can become much richer than it looks. Because it is often sliced into triangles, it is easy to keep eating without noticing how much you have had.
9. Chile Relleno Plate
A chile relleno plate can be much heavier than it first looks. The pepper is often stuffed with cheese, battered, fried, and served with rice, refried beans, sauce, and extra toppings. You do get a vegetable in the mix, but it is carrying quite a bit of cheese and oil along with it.
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10. Churros With Chocolate Sauce
Churros with chocolate sauce can turn a filling takeout meal into a serious sugar-and-fat finale. The churros are usually fried, coated in cinnamon sugar, and served with a rich dipping sauce that makes them hard to stop eating. They are fun and absolutely worth enjoying sometimes, but they aren't exactly a healthy choice.
Now that we've covered the 10 unhealthiest Mexican takeout orders, let's talk about the ones that can actually pass as healthy.
1. Chicken Fajitas
Chicken fajitas are one of the better takeout choices because they usually come with grilled protein and plenty of peppers and onions. You can control how many tortillas you use and go lighter on sour cream, cheese, or creamy sauces. The dish still feels satisfying because it is hot, flavorful, and customizable.
2. Grilled Fish Tacos
Grilled fish tacos can be a lighter alternative to fried tacos or heavy burritos. Fish brings lean protein, and toppings like cabbage, pico de gallo, salsa, and lime keep things fresh. The main thing is to skip creamy sauces or ask for them on the side if the restaurant uses a lot.
3. Chicken or Veggie Tacos on Corn Tortillas
Simple tacos on corn tortillas can be a smart order when the fillings are grilled chicken, vegetables, beans, or leaner proteins. Corn tortillas are usually smaller than large flour tortillas, which helps keep portions more reasonable. Add salsa, cilantro, onions, lettuce, or pico de gallo for flavor without piling on too much richness.
4. Burrito Bowl With Brown Rice or Lettuce
A burrito bowl gives you more control than a wrapped burrito because you can see what's actually going into it. Choosing lettuce, brown rice, beans, grilled protein, vegetables, salsa, and a small amount of guacamole can make it filling without relying on a giant tortilla. You can skip queso and sour cream or ask for them lightly if you still want some creaminess.
5. Black Bean Tostada
A black bean tostada can be a good choice when it is topped with vegetables, salsa, lettuce, and a reasonable amount of cheese. Beans provide fiber and plant-based protein, which helps the meal feel satisfying. The tostada shell may still be crisp, but one tostada is usually more controlled than a giant platter of nachos.
6. Shrimp Tacos
Shrimp tacos can be light, flavorful, and quick to feel satisfying. Shrimp is a lean protein, and it pairs well with cabbage, salsa, avocado, lime, and fresh herbs. The healthier version is grilled or sautéed rather than battered and fried. If you keep the toppings fresh instead of creamy, these tacos can feel bright rather than heavy.
7. Pozole
Pozole can be a smarter order because it's broth-based, filling, and often packed with hominy, meat, and flavorful toppings. Compared with fried entrées or cheese-heavy platters, it can feel more balanced and satisfying. The toppings matter, so go easy on fried extras and load up on cabbage, radishes, onion, and lime if available.
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8. Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken tortilla soup can be a lighter takeout option when it's broth-based and not overloaded with fried strips, cheese, or sour cream. It usually offers protein, vegetables, and a lot of flavor in a more manageable portion. Ask for toppings on the side if you want more control.
9. Grilled Steak or Chicken Plate With Beans & Vegetables
A grilled protein plate can work well if you choose beans and vegetables instead of automatically doubling up on rice and chips. Steak or chicken gives you protein, while beans add fiber and help make the meal filling. Salsa, pico de gallo, and lime can bring plenty of flavor without adding much heaviness.
10. Veggie Fajitas With Beans
Veggie fajitas can be colorful, filling, and much lighter than many fried or cheese-heavy orders. Peppers, onions, mushrooms, squash, and other vegetables bring volume and flavor, especially when paired with beans. You can build your own tortillas or eat the filling as a bowl, depending on how hungry you are.
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