Chipotle’s queso’s more fattening than a Big Mac and fries

Chipotle fans went wild this summer when the burrito chain added queso dip to its menu — but diners watching their waistlines (or their health) may want to think twice before ordering.

Nutrition information reveals that a large order of chips and queso come with a whopping 1,270 calories and 71g fat.

But even cheese lovers with a speedy metabolism should beware: They also have 1,390mg sodium, 127g carbohydrates, and 104mg of cholesterol.

Breakdown: Chipotle released its queso dip this summer, and a large serving with chips has 1,270 calories, 71g fat 1,390mg sodium, 127g carbohydrates, and 104mg of cholesterol

How bad is that, really? The FDA recommends adults consume 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, so a large chips and queso from Chipotle will get you more than halfway through your allowance.

The FDA used to recommend consuming no more than 300mg of cholesterol daily, but now simply suggests limiting intake as much as possible.

Opting for a regular-sized serving of chips and queso is definitely better, but still eye-opening: The smaller size has 770 calories, 41g fat, 82g carbs, 50mg cholesterol, and 790mg sodium.

An even bigger shocker: Those nutritional numbers are about the same as an order of chips and guacamole, which has 770 calories, 47g fat, 760mg sodium, and 81g carbs. Only the cholesterol — 0mg — is significantly lower.

That’s because much of the caloric content (810) and half of the fat (38g) in a large order of chips and queso comes from the chips. (All of the cholesterol, though, comes from the queso.)

On par: Moe's Southwest Grill's bowl of queso (the larger size; they also have a cup) has 848 calories, 69g fat, 212mg cholesterol, 2,756mg sodium, and 39g carbohydrates

On par: Moe’s Southwest Grill’s bowl of queso (the larger size; they also have a cup) has 848 calories, 69g fat, 212mg cholesterol, 2,756mg sodium, and 39g carbohydrates

A tad worse: Chili's serves a Loaded White Queso with 1,630 calories, 99g fat, 135mg cholesterol, 4,100mg sodium, and 133g carbohydrates

A tad worse: Chili’s serves a Loaded White Queso with 1,630 calories, 99g fat, 135mg cholesterol, 4,100mg sodium, and 133g carbohydrates

The healthiest option: Qdoba's Queso Diablo has 160 calories, 13g fat, 40mg cholesterol, 7g carbohydrates, and 700mg sodium

The healthiest option: Qdoba’s Queso Diablo has 160 calories, 13g fat, 40mg cholesterol, 7g carbohydrates, and 700mg sodium

In fact, though the calories, fat, and cholesterol of the queso seems high, Chipotle’s offering appears to be on par with — or even better than — similar menu items from other chain restaurants. 

Moe’s Southwest Grill’s bowl of queso (the larger size; they also have a cup) has 848 calories, 69g fat, 212mg cholesterol, 2,756mg sodium, and 39g carbohydrates — making it better in terms of calories but much worse in the cholesterol and sodium categories.

Chili’s serves a Loaded White Queso with 1,630 calories, 99g fat, 135mg cholesterol, 4,100mg sodium, and 133g carbohydrates.

Only Qdoba’s queso menu items have nutritional information that won’t leave jaws on the floor.

Just a touch? Wendy's also released several menu items ¿ a burger, a chicken sandwich, and fries ¿ with queso on top, though nutritional information is not available online

Just a touch? Wendy’s also released several menu items — a burger, a chicken sandwich, and fries — with queso on top, though nutritional information is not available online

Cheesy calories: Taco Bell also has no nutritional information for its queso online

Cheesy calories: Taco Bell also has no nutritional information for its queso online

A serving of the restaurant’s Queso Diablo has 160 calories, 13g fat, 40mg cholesterol, 7g carbohydrates, and 700mg sodium. Their Three Cheese queso, meanwhile, has just 90 calories per serving, 8g fat, 29mg cholesterol, 350mg sodium, and 3g carbs.

Taco Bell and Wendy’s have not published nutrition information for their queso online. 

Though some might think Chipotle’s queso doesn’t seem so bad — especially when it’s compared to other queso items — it’s important to point out that the chips and queso are a side dish, and not the main meal.

That being said, it’s more caloric, fattening, and cholesterol-laden than several ‘meal’ options from other restaurants.

Say what? Meanwhile, a Big Mac and large fries from McDonald's has fewer calories and grams of fat than Chipotle's queso

Say what? Meanwhile, a Big Mac and large fries from McDonald’s has fewer calories and grams of fat than Chipotle’s queso

Meal: Wendy's Baconator sandwich is less caloric, too: It has 'just' 950 calories, 62g fat, 205mg cholesterol, 38g carbs, and 1,810mg sodium

Meal: Wendy’s Baconator sandwich is less caloric, too: It has ‘just’ 950 calories, 62g fat, 205mg cholesterol, 38g carbs, and 1,810mg sodium

Wendy’s Baconator sandwich — which is made with a 1/2lb of hamburger, bacon, and cheese — has just 950 calories, a whopping 320 calories less than that large chips and queso.

It also has 62g fat, 205mg cholesterol, 38g carbs, and 1,810mg sodium.

Over at McDonald’s, a Big Mac fares better, too: One has 530 calories, 27g fat, 85mg cholesterol, 960 mg sodium, and 47g carbs. It’s both less caloric and less fattening than Chipotle’s chips and queso.

Ordering that Big Mac with a large serving of fries (510 calories, 24g fat) still falls 230 calories and 20g fat short of a large chips and queso.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk