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Cava · Burrito Bowl

Highest Protein Cava Bowl Build (~780 cal, 79g protein)

By Alec Zakhary

TL;DR

The highest-protein Cava bowl tops out at 79g protein for 780 calories — double grilled chicken on a black lentils base, plus light toppings. Lentils alone bring 18g protein; doubling chicken adds 66g. Skip avocado and pita crisps to keep the ratio.

Illustration for Highest Protein Cava Bowl Build (~780 cal, 79g protein)
1 bowl (black lentils base, double grilled chicken, greens, salad veggies, light dressing) (510 g)
780
cal
≈ 39% of 2000-cal daily reference
1 USDA verified2 Brand-claimed8 User-reported (11 sources — see below)
Macro Per serving Per 100g % DV
Protein 79.0 g 15.5 g 158%
Carbs 50.0 g 9.8 g 18%
Fat 25.0 g 4.9 g 32%
↳ Saturated fat 6.0 g — 30%
Fiber 15.0 g — 54%
Sodium 1500 mg — 65%

Daily-value percentages reference a 2,000-calorie diet (FDA 2020).

What customer reports show

Beyond the brand-claimed numbers, here's what aggregated customer reports and independent investigations turned up:

My take

Cava's highest-protein build is double chicken on black lentils — 79g protein at 780 cal. Lentils as the base double the protein vs greens for the same cal spend. Skip avocado and pita crisps.

Frequently asked questions

What's the highest-protein bowl you can build at Cava?

Black lentils base + double grilled chicken + light toppings = around 79g protein at 780 cal. The lentils alone bring 18g protein, and double chicken adds 60-66g (per Cava's nutrition data and the BowlMacros analysis). Add tzatziki for protein without much calorie hit; skip avocado and pita crisps to keep the ratio.

Are lentils really the best base for high protein at Cava?

Yes — black lentils are 18g protein per base portion, more than 3× any greens base (~6g). They also bring 7-8g fiber. The trade-off is more carbs (~30g vs ~5g for greens) — fine for most goals but worth noting if you're strict keto.

Should I order double chicken or chicken plus another protein?

Double chicken is the most efficient single move — same protein source, predictable scoop sizes. "Half chicken, half lentils" or other splits can hit similar macros but introduce variance. For competition cutting or precise tracking, stick with double of one protein.

Is steak or chicken better for a high-protein Cava bowl?

Chicken — it has a better protein-per-calorie ratio. Cava's grilled chicken is around 250 cal / 28g protein. Steak is more flavor-dense but lower protein-to-calorie. If you're cutting, chicken wins. If you're bulking and want flavor variety, steak.

Can I get this build vegetarian or vegan?

Vegetarian: yes, sub falafel (~250 cal / 8g protein per portion) for chicken — but protein drops to ~35g total, well below the 79g of the chicken build. Vegan: same falafel sub, also avoid tzatziki and feta. Cava's plant-based protein options don't reach 80g protein in a single bowl — chickpeas, lentils, and falafel together top out around 40g.

Sources

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