How Many Calories In One Taco

Note: Menus will scroll horizontally and vertically so that you can view all of the data. Updated 2021.

Tacos – Nutrition charts for tacos vary slightly by ingredients but generally contain between 170 and 190 calories, with 10 or so grams of fat and less than 20 grams of carbohydrates.

Burritos – Traditional offerings include the chicken burrito, which boasts 440 calories per serving, 18 grams of fat, 46 grams of carbs, 960mg of sodium, and 30mg cholesterol. Patrons ordering grilled stuffed burritos should expect to consume at least 830 calories for chicken versions of the menu item and upwards of 40 grams of fat, 96 grams of carbs, 2,200mg of sodium, and 85mg of cholesterol.

Nachos – A standard order of nachos contains 290 calories and 16 grams of fat. Customers should expect to consume 100s of milligrams of sodium per serving of nachos due to the salted corn chips used as the bases for the menu items.

Cheese & sauces – Reduce fat by leaving out cheese and forgoing the use of dipping sauces like ranch dressing.

Breakfast – Customers may order breakfast crunchwrap meals featuring egg, bacon, sausage, and cheese (700 calories/41 grams of fat), or A.M. grillers containing breakfast meats, eggs, and cheese (230 calories/14 grams of fat).

Sizeable and widely diverse menus, convenient hours, and affordable prices draw patrons to Taco Bell restaurants by the millions on an annual basis. Customers flock to the more than 6,500 storefronts offering dine-in, pick-up, and drive-thru options. Both corporate-owned and franchised locations offer similar menus featuring Tex-Mex staples like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, and nachos as well as several specialty items unique to the fast food chain. In 2013, the major franchised operation began offering breakfast options. Other selections include side items, drinks, and desserts.

156 calories

How Many Calories in a Taco: The Numbers

There are few foods more diverse than tacos, which can be filled with just about anything. So, let’s count the calories among the usual culprits, then add it all up. (These calorie counts are rough estimates. Every taco is like a snowflake — one-of-a-kind down to its caloric makeup.)

  • The Tortilla: Flour is 140 calories, corn is 100 and hard shells are 150.
  • The Meat: A standard taco contains about two ounces of meat, which means chicken comes to 136 calories, beef to 155, pork to 137 and shrimp to 81.
  • The Onions: Four calories per tablespoon
  • The Cilantro: Zero calories per tablespoon
  • The Pico de Gallo: Five calories per tablespoon
  • The Salsa: Four calories per tablespoon
  • The Cheese: 37 calories per tablespoon
  • The Lettuce: One calorie per tablespoon
  • The Tomato: Three calories per tablespoon
  • The Avocado: 18 calories per tablespoon
  • The Beans: No matter what beans you choose — black, pinto or refried — a tablespoon will arrive near 15 calories.
  • The Sour Cream: 23 calories per tablespoon
  • The Lime Juice: 4 calories per tablespoon
  • Going by these numbers, a classic taco — corn tortilla, beef, onions, cilantro, pico de gallo, salsa and a squeeze of lime — totals to 272 calories. If you’re feeling spicy, a mighty taco made of all these ingredients — including all the meats and beans, tucked into a flour tortilla — amounts to a whopping 793 calories. (Three of those would put the average man just under his daily recommended caloric intake and the average woman well over hers.)

    Tacos – Nutrition charts for tacos vary slightly by ingredients but generally contain between 170 and 190 calories, with 10 or so grams of fat and less than 20 grams of carbohydrates.

    Breakfast – Customers may order breakfast crunchwrap meals featuring egg, bacon, sausage, and cheese (700 calories/41 grams of fat), or A.M. grillers containing breakfast meats, eggs, and cheese (230 calories/14 grams of fat).

    Note: Menus will scroll horizontally and vertically so that you can view all of the data. Updated 2021.

    Burritos – Traditional offerings include the chicken burrito, which boasts 440 calories per serving, 18 grams of fat, 46 grams of carbs, 960mg of sodium, and 30mg cholesterol. Patrons ordering grilled stuffed burritos should expect to consume at least 830 calories for chicken versions of the menu item and upwards of 40 grams of fat, 96 grams of carbs, 2,200mg of sodium, and 85mg of cholesterol.

    Nachos – A standard order of nachos contains 290 calories and 16 grams of fat. Customers should expect to consume 100s of milligrams of sodium per serving of nachos due to the salted corn chips used as the bases for the menu items.

    Breakfast tacos are a fun way to consume classic breakfast foods, like eggs, sausage, and potatoes, wrapped up in a flour or corn tortilla.

    Limit white flour tortillas and deep-fried corn tortillas — they’re the least nutrient-dense and often the highest in calories.

    Furthermore, multiple studies have observed that eating too many fried foods appears to increase the risk of heart disease and death (38, 39, 40).

    Studies examining people’s food intake have also observed that tacos are a major source of salt in the average person’s diet (37, 41, 42, 43).

    With the right ingredients, tacos can also be part of a fresh, filling, and nutritious meal.

    FAQ

    How many calories are in a regular beef taco?

    There are 170 calories in 1 taco (78 g) of Taco Bell Crunchy Taco.

    How many calories are in 1 Taco Bell taco?

    There are 170 calories in 1 taco (78 g) of Taco Bell Crunchy Taco.

    How many calories are in a regular hard taco?

    There are 170 calories in 1 taco (78 g) of Taco Bell Crunchy Taco.

    How many calories are in a homemade taco?

    There are 170 calories in 1 taco (78 g) of Taco Bell Crunchy Taco.

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