Highest-protein Cava Order

The most protein you can get in one ordinary meal, kept under 750 calories so it still fits a normal day.

The order

Order ½ Baby Spinach, ½ Black Lentils, 2 × Grilled Chicken, Tzatziki, Crumbled Feta, Yogurt Dill. That comes to 740 calories and 74g protein, with 40% of the calories coming from protein.

Item	Amount	Calories	Protein	Carbs	Fat
½ Baby Spinach	½ × 1 serving	10	2g	2g	0g
½ Black Lentils	½ × 1 serving	135	9g	19g	4g
2 × Grilled Chicken	2 × 1 serving	500	56g	6g	26g
Tzatziki	1 serving	30	2g	1g	3g
Crumbled Feta	1 serving	35	3g	0g	3g
Yogurt Dill	1 serving	30	2g	1g	2g
Total	Total		740	74g	28g	37g

Change it in the Cava calculator

Add these freely

None of these adds more than 30 calories, so they barely move the total: Salt-Brined Pickles (5), Shredded Romaine (5), Tomato + Cucumber (5), Persian Cucumber (15), Pickled Onions (20), Tomato + Onion (20), Sumac Slaw (30).

2 other options

Each one is the best order built around a different main choice, so you can pick by taste.

Black Lentils, 2 × Grilled Steak, Crazy Feta, Crumbled Feta, Yogurt Dill

745 calories, 73g protein, 41g carbs, 36g fat. Compared with the order above: ±0g protein, +5 calories.

Swaps 2 × Grilled Chicken for 2 × Grilled Steak; adds Black Lentils, Crazy Feta; drops ½ Baby Spinach, ½ Black Lentils, Tzatziki.

Black Lentils, Grilled Chicken, Grilled Steak, Tzatziki, Yogurt Dill

750 calories, 73g protein, 43g carbs, 34g fat. Compared with the order above: ±0g protein, +10 calories.

Swaps 2 × Grilled Chicken for Grilled Chicken, Grilled Steak; adds Black Lentils; drops ½ Baby Spinach, ½ Black Lentils, Crumbled Feta.

What would break it

These add the most calories for the least protein. Adding one to the order above takes it to:

Garlic Dressing: 920 calories (0g protein added)
Sumac Sour Cream + Onion Pita Chips: 1,030 calories (10g protein added)
Pita Chips: 1,020 calories (10g protein added)

How this order was chosen

We tried every Cava bowl a person would realistically order from the published menu (greens or grains, main, dips and spreads, toppings, dressing, side) and kept the ones with 750 calories or fewer. Among those, the order with the most protein wins, but an item only earns its place if it adds at least 1g of protein for every 100 calories. Without that rule the winner fills up with sides that add a gram or two of protein and a lot of calories. Drinks are left out; pair the meal with a zero-calorie one.

Extra protein costs more at CAVA.
Dressings are listed per serving. Garlic Dressing is 180 calories, so the one you choose can move a bowl more than any topping.

Nutrition from Zolt's Cava menu data, last reviewed 2026-08-19 against CAVA. Portions in the restaurant vary, so log what you were actually served.