A high protein Panda Express order pairs grilled chicken or steak entrees with veggie sides so you land roughly 30–70 grams of protein per meal.
Walking into Panda Express while trying to hit a protein target can feel extra tricky. The trays are full of saucy chicken, fried beef, and carb heavy sides, yet you still want a meal that helps muscle, satiety, and steady blood sugar. The good news is that with a tiny bit of planning you can turn this busy fast casual stop into a surprisingly high protein plate.
This concise article breaks down how much protein sits in popular Panda Express entrees and sides, shows you which combinations give you the most protein for your money, and helps you avoid the easy traps that leave you with lots of calories but not much protein. You will see that the highest protein orders at Panda Express are usually a simple bowl or plate built around lean grilled meat and a thoughtful side.
Best Panda Express Order For Protein: Bowls, Plates, And A La Carte
Panda Express lets you build meals as a bowl, plate, bigger plate, or as single a la carte entrees and sides. To keep protein front and center, start by choosing the right main dish, then stack your meal from there. Most adults do well with at least 25 to 35 grams of protein per meal, so that is the range we will aim for as a baseline.
Current menu data from Panda Express and nutrition analysts shows that grilled teriyaki chicken is one of the highest protein entrees, with about 36 grams of protein per serving. Kung Pao chicken, black pepper Angus steak, orange chicken, and several shrimp dishes land in the 15 to 20 gram range. Sides such as fried rice, chow mein, brown rice, and super greens add another 6 to 13 grams of protein on top of the entree.
Highest Protein Panda Express Entrees
The table below gives approximate protein counts for popular entrees so you can see how each one moves the needle. Values can shift slightly by location, but this summary lines up with recent nutrition write ups and the chain’s published information.
| Entree | Approx Protein Per Serving (g) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grilled Teriyaki Chicken | 36 g | Lean grilled chicken with sauce on the side; top choice for protein. |
| Black Pepper Angus Steak | 19 g | Stir fried steak with vegetables and moderate calories. |
| Orange Chicken | 19 g | Crispy fried chicken in a sweet glaze; high protein but also higher sugar. |
| Kung Pao Chicken | 16 g | Spicy chicken with peanuts and vegetables, good protein and texture. |
| Honey Sesame Chicken Breast | 16 g | Breaded chicken in a sweet sauce; higher calories with solid protein. |
| String Bean Chicken Breast | 14 g | Chicken with string beans and onions, adds fiber and vegetables. |
| Mushroom Chicken | 12–13 g | Lighter chicken entree with plenty of mushrooms and zucchini. |
| Honey Walnut Shrimp | 13 g | Crispy shrimp with candied walnuts; solid protein, richer sauce. |
If your goal is the best panda express order for protein, grilled teriyaki chicken almost always deserves a place on the tray. Doubling this entree or pairing it with another higher protein choice like black pepper Angus steak turns a basic fast food meal into something that easily passes 40 grams of protein.
How To Build A High Protein Panda Express Meal
Once you know which mains deliver the most protein, the next step is to build the actual order. Panda Express has a few standard formats, and each one can fit a high protein approach when you pick carefully.
Start With A Protein Focused Entree
Begin by choosing grilled teriyaki chicken, black pepper Angus steak, kung pao chicken, string bean chicken breast, or another entree in the 15 to 36 gram range. Fried options can still work when protein is the main target, yet grilled or stir fried dishes usually give a friendlier balance of calories and protein. If you need a bigger protein hit, order a plate with two entrees instead of just one bowl entree.
Use Sides To Boost Protein Rather Than Only Carbs
Sides at Panda Express do not just add starch. Chow mein has about 13 grams of protein per serving and fried rice sits close to 11 grams. Steamed white rice lands near 7 grams and brown rice lands near 8 to 9 grams. Super greens, which mix broccoli, kale, and cabbage, contribute around 6 grams of protein along with fiber and micronutrients.
If you already chose a rich fried entree, it often makes sense to pair it with super greens or steamed rice so the plate stays balanced. When the entree is very lean, such as grilled teriyaki chicken, you can afford a heavier side like chow mein and still keep the overall meal aligned with a higher protein goal.
Bowls, Plates, And Bigger Plates For Protein
A standard bowl comes with one side and one entree. When you pick grilled teriyaki chicken and super greens, you land around 42 grams of protein with moderate calories. A plate with two servings of grilled teriyaki chicken and a side of brown rice can reach roughly 54 to 58 grams of protein. A bigger plate with three entrees, such as two grilled teriyaki chickens plus black pepper Angus steak over super greens, can reach the 60 to 70 gram range.
That kind of intake suits people who lift weights, play sports, or who simply like one large meal that keeps them full for hours. If your needs are lower, stick with a bowl and keep the entree to one serving.
Watch Sodium, Added Sugar, And Sauces
High protein does not automatically mean high quality nutrition. Many entrees at Panda Express carry large sodium loads and sweet sauces. Orange chicken, honey walnut shrimp, Beijing beef, and honey sesame chicken breast all bring a lot of flavor along with more sugar and fat. They can fit into a protein focused meal, though it helps to pair them with vegetables and water instead of soda.
Reading the official Panda Express nutrition and allergen information or a trusted nutrition article before you order gives helpful context on sodium and added sugar. That way you can decide whether a richer entree fits your day or if you prefer leaner chicken breast or shrimp options.
If you often share meals, you can still track protein. Split a bigger plate between two people and roughly halve the protein numbers listed for each entree and side. This quick mental math keeps you honest without bringing a calculator to the food court, even when you are in a rush.
Sample High Protein Panda Express Orders Table
To make choices even easier, here is a quick reference for sample orders that align with different protein goals. These are estimates, yet they capture the pattern you can follow every time you step up to the counter.
| Order Type | Example Combo | Approx Protein (g) |
|---|---|---|
| Protein Focused Bowl | Super greens with grilled teriyaki chicken | About 42 g |
| Moderate Protein Plate | Half brown rice, half super greens, teriyaki chicken, black pepper Angus steak | Around 45 g |
| Comfort Plate With Protein | Chow mein with two servings of orange chicken | Around 45 g |
| Lower Calorie Plate | Super greens with mushroom chicken and string bean chicken breast | About 35 g |
| Seafood Focused Plate | Super greens with honey walnut shrimp and firecracker shrimp | Roughly 35–40 g |
| High Protein Bigger Plate | Super greens, two grilled teriyaki chickens, one black pepper Angus steak | About 65–70 g |
| Hearty Steak And Chicken Plate | Brown rice, two black pepper Angus steaks, string bean chicken breast | About 55–60 g |
Pointers For Ordering High Protein Meals At Panda Express
A few simple habits keep your high protein Panda Express routine both effective and pleasant. These pointers help you get what you need while still enjoying the meal.
Scan Nutrition Information Before You Order
Taking a moment to check Panda Express nutrition tools before you reach the counter can save a lot of guesswork. The company publishes a full nutrition and allergen chart and several health sites maintain updated breakdowns of protein, calories, fat, and carbohydrates for each entree and side. Glancing at those numbers at home or on your phone makes it far easier to design a meal that hits your protein goal without surprises.
Prioritize Protein When You Customize
Staff can usually accommodate simple requests such as sauce on the side, extra vegetables, or swapping one entree for another in a plate. When you think about the meal, treat protein as the anchor instead of the starch or the sauce. Once the protein piece is set, you can adjust sides and drinks around it.
Balance Protein With Overall Health Goals
Protein helps with fullness, muscle maintenance, and steady energy, yet it is still only one part of the meal pattern. Many people also watch sodium, added sugar, or total calories. If that sounds like you, high protein combinations built around grilled teriyaki chicken, super greens, string bean chicken breast, and brown rice usually line up better with long term health targets than plates full of heavily fried items and sugary drinks.
When you use that mindset, the best panda express order for protein stops being one fixed plate. It becomes a pattern: pick a lean entree with about 15 to 20 grams of protein, add a side that contributes steady protein without crowding the plate with empty calories, and keep sweets and sugary drinks in check. Follow that pattern and Panda Express becomes a reliable option in your protein playbook rather than a random splurge.