Let’s be honest—when the Moe’s craving hits, you want big flavor, not big regret. The good news? Moe’s Southwest Grill is one of the most customizable fast-casual chains out there, which means you can absolutely eat healthy without eating boring.
As someone who’s spent years in the fast-food world (and eaten more burrito bowls than I can count), I can tell you this: Moe’s can be a nutrition goldmine—or a calorie bomb—depending on how you order.
This guide breaks down the Top 12 Healthiest Items at Moe’s Southwest Grill, explains what actually makes a menu item healthy, and gives you pro-level ordering tips so you can walk in confident and walk out happy.
What Makes a Menu Item “Healthy” at a Fast-Casual Spot?
Before we dive into the delicious details, let’s align on what “healthy” means in this context. It’s not about deprivation! For me, a winning, health-conscious meal at Moe’s hits three key notes:
- Balanced Macros: A good mix of lean protein for satiety, fiber-rich carbs for energy, and healthy fats for flavor and nutrients.
- Nutrient Density: Meals packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from fresh vegetables, beans, and salsas.
- Mindful Customization: It leverages Moe’s greatest strength—you control what goes in. Avoiding calorie-dense traps (we’re looking at you, massive tortilla shell salad bowl) and opting for smarter swaps is the name of the game.
Got it? Good. Now, let’s get to the good stuff. Here are my top 12 picks, curated for maximum flavor and nutrition.
Also Read: Moe’s vs Chipotle: The Ultimate Burrito Chain Showdown
The Top 12 Healthiest Orders at Moe’s Southwest Grill
1. The “Earmuffs” Bowl with Chicken (Hold the Queso)
This is my absolute go-to. Ordering a bowl “Earmuffs” style means skipping the tortilla entirely—a brilliant move that saves you over 300 calories right off the bat. Start with a base of romaine lettuce, add grilled chicken (a lean 130 calories and 23g of protein), and load up on black beans for fiber and plant-based protein. The magic is in the veggie toppings: pile on grilled onions, peppers, pico de gallo, and fresh lettuce. Skip the queso and sour cream; instead, add a dollop of guacamole for creamy, heart-healthy fats. This bowl is a high-protein, high-fiber powerhouse that will keep you full for hours.
2. Chicken Burrito Bowl with Brown Rice and Black Beans
Craving the heartiness of rice? This bowl is your answer. Opt for the seasoned rice over the cilantro lime rice, which can contain significantly more sodium. The combo of brown rice (complex carbs) and black beans (fiber and protein) creates a fantastic nutritional foundation. Top it with grilled chicken, fresh salsa, lettuce, and a sprinkle of cheese. You get all the comforting flavors of a burrito without the carb-heavy, calorie-dense flour tortilla.
3. Veggie Burrito Bowl with Pinto Beans & Grilled Veggies
A champion for vegetarians and veggie-lovers alike. This bowl is a celebration of plants. Start with a base of cilantro-lime or seasoned rice, add both pinto and black beans for a double dose of fiber and protein, and then go to town on the grilled vegetable medley. Grilled onions, peppers, and mushrooms add incredible depth and umami. Top with fresh pico, corn salsa, lettuce, and guacamole. For a vegan protein boost, don’t forget Moe’s offers seasoned organic tofu!
4. Chicken Taco on a Whole Grain Shell (Lettuce, Pico, Avocado)
Sometimes, you just need a taco. For a lighter option, choose the soft whole-grain tortilla for your taco shell—it offers more fiber and nutrients than its refined flour counterpart. Fill it with grilled chicken, then keep it bright and fresh with shredded lettuce, pico de gallo, and a generous helping of avocado or guacamole. This is a perfectly portioned, balanced meal that satisfies the taco craving without the food coma.
5. Power Wagon Kids Meal with Chicken and Black Beans
Don’t let the “kids” label fool you—this is a genius hack for a perfectly portioned adult meal. The Power Wagon comes with a manageable-sized entree, a side (choose apple slices!), and a drink. Opt for a single chicken taco on a soft whole-grain shell or a small bowl with chicken and black beans. It’s a built-in portion control strategy that delivers flavor and nutrition without overdoing it.
6. El Guapo Salad with Chicken, No Queso, Vinaigrette on Side
The El Guapo is Moe’s entree-sized salad, and with a few tweaks, it’s a nutritional superstar. Crucially, ask for it without the fried tortilla bowl, which can add 455 empty calories. Instead, have it served on a regular plate or in a bowl. Load it with romaine, grilled chicken, a variety of beans, and all the fresh veggies. Always get the dressing (like the Southwest Vinaigrette) on the side so you can control the amount—a little dip goes a long way.
7. Mini Masterpiece Burrito with Pinto Beans & Veggies
The Mini Masterpiece is essentially a “junior” burrito, featuring a smaller 10-inch tortilla that saves you about 100 calories compared to the standard 12-inch. This is a game-changer for burrito lovers. Fill it with lean protein, pinto beans, grilled peppers and onions, lettuce, and tomato. Skipping the rice here is an easy way to keep it even lighter and let the flavors of the beans and veggies shine.
8. Chicken Stack with Fresh Salsa & No Cheese
The Stack is Moe’s iconic Crunchwrap-style item. To healthify it, you need to be strategic. Order it with grilled chicken, and request no cheese and no queso. This simple swap cuts out a significant amount of saturated fat and calories. Ask for extra lettuce, pico de gallo, and fresh salsa inside for moisture and flavor. You still get the fantastic contrasting textures of the soft tortilla and crunchy shell without the heavy dairy.
9. Grilled Chicken Quesadilla (Light Cheese, Add Veggies, No Sour Cream)
Yes, you can have a quesadilla! The key is customization. Order it on a whole-wheat tortilla if available, ask for light shredded cheese, and insist on adding a heap of grilled vegetables inside. The chicken and veggies will make it satisfying, so you can easily skip the sour cream. Pair it with a side of pico de gallo or fresh salsa for dipping instead of queso. It’s a melty, comforting treat that’s been thoughtfully balanced.
10. Naked Homewrecker Burrito Bowl
Love the idea of the famous Homewrecker but not the calorie count? Go “naked.” Order a Homewrecker Bowl, which omits the massive tortilla. Build it with grilled chicken or steak, both beans, fajita veggies, salsas, and a sensible amount of cheese and guacamole. You get the legendary flavor profile in a much more waistline-friendly package.
11. Pork Carnitas Salad Bowl
For a delicious change of pace, try the pork carnitas. Surprisingly, Moe’s carnitas are a lean and flavorful option with great macros. Enjoy them over a salad bowl (no fried shell) with lettuce, black beans, pico, and a squeeze of lime. The carnitas are so tender and well-seasoned they don’t need heavy sauces or cheese to impress.
12. Simple Street-Style Tacos
When in doubt, keep it classic. Order two crispy corn tortilla tacos (each shell is only about 60 calories). Fill each with grilled chicken or steak, a pinch of cheese, lots of chopped onion, fresh cilantro, and a hefty spoonful of pico de gallo or tomatillo salsa. This is authentic, light eating that focuses on high-quality, simple ingredients.
Common Mistakes People Make When Ordering at Moe’s
One of the most common mistakes is assuming that because Moe’s ingredients sound fresh, the final meal automatically stays balanced. Customization cuts both ways. A bowl can quietly turn calorie-heavy once rice, both beans, cheese, queso, sour cream, and chips all make it in together.
Another frequent misstep is underestimating the impact of the base. Large flour tortillas and fried salad shells can add several hundred calories before protein or vegetables even enter the picture. Many people also overlook sodium buildup. Seasoned rice, beans, meats, and salsas stack sodium quickly when combined in one meal.
Finally, portion creep matters. Moe’s servings are generous, and it’s easy to eat past fullness simply because everything tastes good. Even nutrient-dense meals can work against you if portions and frequency aren’t considered across the week.
Pro Tips for Ordering Healthy at Moe’s
- Befriend the Bowl (or Salad): The single easiest way to save calories is to ditch the large tortilla. Burrito bowls and salads are your best friends.
- Master the Protein Picks: Grilled chicken and steak are consistently lean, high-protein choices. Adobo chicken is also excellent, but note it may have slightly more sodium.
- Load Up on Free Veggies: This is non-negotiable. Grilled onions, peppers, fresh lettuce, pico de gallo, and salsa add volume, fiber, and nutrients for virtually no extra calories.
- Sauce with Sense: Creamy dressings, queso, and sour cream are major calorie traps. Choose fresh tomato-based salsas for flavor. If you need creamy, get guacamole (healthy fats!) or ask for any dressing on the side.
- Resist the Free Chips: I know it’s hard, but that complimentary basket can add nearly 400 calories before your meal even starts. Politely decline, or share a single portion mindfully if you must.
Also Read: Moe’s Chicken Bowl Calories & Nutrition
Nutrition Tradeoffs & Limitations to Keep in Mind
Meals built around lean protein, beans, and vegetables are generally higher in protein and fiber, which often supports better fullness for many people. That said, results vary.
Portion sizes can differ slightly by location, ingredient scoops are not always identical, and calorie counts are still estimates rather than guarantees. Sodium can also become a limiting factor, especially when multiple seasoned components are combined in one bowl.
How filling or “healthy” a meal feels also depends on what you ate earlier in the day, your activity level, and how often similar meals show up in your routine. These orders are best viewed as flexible frameworks—not exact prescriptions.
Adjustment & Feedback: How to Know If Your Order Is Working
No single Moe’s meal determines your health. What matters more is how your choices fit into your routine over time.
After ordering similar builds for 1–2 weeks, check in with a few simple signals: Are you staying full between meals? Do you feel steady energy, or are you crashing later in the day? Are you unintentionally overeating snacks afterward?
If meals feel too heavy, reducing rice, cheese, or tortillas is often the easiest adjustment. If you’re getting hungry quickly, adding more protein or beans may help. Small, incremental changes tend to work better than complete overhauls, and your ideal order may shift depending on your schedule and goals.
Conclusion
Eating healthy at Moe’s Southwest Grill isn’t about limitation—it’s about smart, informed creation. With this guide in hand, you’re equipped to navigate the lineup like a pro, building meals that are as good for your body as they are for your taste buds.
The best tool in your arsenal? Knowledge. Before your next visit, If you prefer seeing how ingredients add up before ordering, the Moe’s Nutrition Calculator can be a helpful reference. Some people use it to compare builds or save go-to combinations for easier tracking over time. Here’s to eating well and living full!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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