At Carl’s Jr., ask for a Double Cheeseburger without its bun and ketchup, keep sauces controlled and skip the fries. Charbroiled chicken is another option to request without bread. Breaded tenders and potato sides don’t become low carb because they’re next to a lettuce wrap.
All figures below come from the Carl’s Jr. nutritional information PDF, retrieved October 24, 2026. The guide says its information is current as of June 24, 2025. Values are as published by the chain for standard servings.
Start with a bunless burger
I’d keep the order simple: a Double Cheeseburger without its bun and ketchup. The Jalapeno Double Cheeseburger is another listed starting point if you want some heat. Ask whether the location can serve either in a container or lettuce, rather than treating a lettuce wrap as a guaranteed menu item.
Carl’s Jr.’s nutrition guide lists whole sandwiches and no separate bun or bunless values. Removing the bun lowers the carbs, but these figures describe the sandwiches as served.
| Item and published serving | Calories | Total carbs | Fiber | Net carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double Cheeseburger, as served | 370 | 34g | 1g | 33g | 19g |
| Jalapeno Double Cheeseburger, as served | 510 | 32g | 2g | 30g | 19g |
| Famous Star with Cheese, Single, as served | 680 | 57g | 4g | 53g | 28g |
| Charbroiled Chicken Club Sandwich, as served | 690 | 45g | 2g | 43g | 43g |
The Charbroiled Chicken Club is another starting point for a bread-free request. Keep it distinct from the Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich. Removing bread from around breaded chicken still leaves the coating.
Sauces and sides need their own count
| Item and published serving | Calories | Total carbs | Fiber | Net carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spicy Buffalo Dipping Sauce, 21g | 5 | 1g | 0g | 1g | 0g |
| House Dressing dipping cup, 25g | 90 | 1g | 0g | 1g | 0g |
| Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce, 25g | 110 | 2g | 0g | 2g | 0g |
| Sweet & Bold BBQ Dipping Sauce, 25g | 50 | 12g | 0g | 12g | 0g |
| Waffle Fries, full serving | 380 | 36g | 0g | 36g | 5g |
| Onion Rings, full serving | 560 | 66g | 4g | 62g | 9g |
| Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders, 3 pieces | 260 | 13g | 2g | 11g | 25g |
For a dipping sauce, Buffalo or House Dressing uses less of your carb budget than BBQ. Count the full listed serving if you finish it. A cup left in the bag doesn’t count; a cup emptied over dinner does.
Waffle Fries aren’t a low-carb substitute for regular fries. They list 36g total carbs and no fiber. Onion Rings list 66g total carbs and 4g fiber. Both belong on the skip list for this order, however attractive the basket looks.
Three Hand-Breaded Chicken Tenders list 13g total carbs and 2g fiber, giving 11g net carbs before sauce. That’s a countable tradeoff, not an unbreaded protein recommendation. Adding the BBQ dip raises the order to 25g total carbs and 23g net carbs.
Complete orders, counted
Carl’s Jr. doesn’t publish bunless totals, so the rows below are the published as-served comparisons. They include bread or breading and show the effect of fries and BBQ sauce. Drinks, extra sauces and other sides are included only when named.
| Order | Calories | Total carbs | Fiber | Net carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comparison: Famous Star Single as served + Waffle Fries | 1060 | 93g | 4g | 89g | 33g |
| Comparison: 3 Hand-Breaded Tenders + BBQ dip | 310 | 25g | 2g | 23g | 25g |
Breakfast needs more than a bread swap
The complete Breakfast Burger lists 67g total carbs and 4g fiber, or 63g net carbs. I’d choose a simpler burger over trying to make this the lowest-carb breakfast.
How to order
- Name a listed burger, then say no bun and specify any sauce you want removed.
- Ask for a container or lettuce if available. Check the food before leaving.
- If choosing chicken, say charbroiled, not hand-breaded.
- Skip Waffle Fries and Onion Rings. Don’t assume there’s a salad or green bean substitute.
- Choose a listed drink such as Coca-Cola Zero, which publishes 0g carbs for the 20 oz serving.
- Keep dips on the side and count each serving you use.
You don’t need a side just to complete the shape of a combo meal. Order the food you want to eat, keep the bread and potato sides out of it, and leave room for sauces you actually use.
For more chains, see our keto fast food guide and our comparison of high-protein, low-carb fast food orders.