Culver’s Sides Menu, Updated for 2026: Prices, Calories & What to Order

Standing at the counter trying to decide between Cheese Curds and Crinkle Cut Fries is basically a Culver’s rite of passage. The burgers get all the attention, but ask any regular and they’ll tell you the Culver’s sides menu is where some of the real decisions happen.
Maybe you’re trying to figure out what a Medium Cheese Curds actually costs before you order. Maybe you’re checking calories because you already know you’re getting the Chili Cheddar Fries and just want to know what you’re signing up for. Or maybe someone in your group needs gluten-free options and you’re trying to figure that out without calling the store. Whatever brought you here, it’s all below prices, calories, what the sides taste like, which options fit different diets, what to get for kids, and how the lineup compares. No need to check five other sites after this one.

Sides Menu With Prices and Calories

Here’s the full classic sides menu in one table, so you can plan your order before you even get in line.

Fried Pickles

$4.39/ 350 Cal

Small Crinkle Cut Fries

$2.59/ 220 Cal

Medium Crinkle Cut Fries

$2.99/ 350 Cal

Large Crinkle Cut Fries

$3.49/ 430 Cal

Family Crinkle Cut Fries

$6.99/ 1320 Cal

Medium Wisconsin Cheese Curds

$4.39/ 490 Cal

Large Wisconsin Cheese Curds

$6.49/ 980 Cal

Family Wisconsin Cheese Curds

$9.89/ 1480 Cal

Medium Jalapeño Cheese Curds

$4.39/ 500 Cal

Large Jalapeño Cheese Curds

$6.49/ 1000 Cal

Family
Jalapeño Cheese Curds

$9.89/ 1500 Cal

Medium Onion Rings

$3.79/ 420 Cal

Large Onion Rings

$5.99/ 840 Cal

Family Onion Rings

$8.89/ 1260 Cal

Medium Pretzel Bites

$4.39 / 440 Cal

Large Pretzel Bites

$6.49 / 880 Cal

Family Pretzel Bites

$9.89 / 1320 Cal

Medium George’s® Chili

$4.29 / 310 Cal

Large George’s® Chili

$6.39 / 430 Cal

Medium George’s® Chili Supreme

$4.39 / 430 Cal

Large George’s® Chili Supreme

$6.49/ 620 Cal

Medium Broccoli Cheese Soup

$3.79/ 250 Cal

Large Broccoli Cheese Soup

$5.99/ 360 Cal

Medium Chicken Noodle Soup

$3.79/ 130 Cal

Large Chicken Noodle Soup

$5.99/ 180 Cal

Medium Tomato Florentine Soup

$3.79/ 140 Cal

Large Tomato Florentine Soup

$5.99/ 190 Cal

Medium Chili Cheddar Fries

$4.39/ 610 Cal

Family Chili Cheddar Fries

$9.89/ 1870 Cal

Steamed Broccoli

$2.99/ 40 Cal

Medium Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

$2.99/ 130Cal

Large Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

$4.49/ 260Cal

Medium Coleslaw

$2.99/ 200Cal

Large Coleslaw

$3.79/ 400Cal

Garden Side Salad

$4.49/ 50Cal

Applesauce

$2.59/ 50Cal

3 PC Butterfly Jumbo Shrimp

$4.29/ 160Cal

Side of Pickles

$Free/ 5 Cal

A few things stand out once the numbers are lined up side by side. The jump from a Medium to a Large Cheese Curds nearly doubles the calories (490 to 980), which isn’t something you’d guess just by looking at the cup sizes. Meanwhile, Steamed Broccoli and Garden Side Salad barely register on the calorie scale 40 and 50 calories making them the two obvious picks if you’re trying to keep the rest of your meal a little more indulgent.

Does the Sides Menu Price Change by Location?

Yes, and this trips a lot of people up. Culver’s restaurants are independently owned and operated, which means each location sets its own pricing based on local costs: rent, labor, even state taxes all play a role. The prices in this guide reflect a national average, but if you’re in a bigger city, don’t be surprised to see everything run 30–60 cents higher across the board.

The most reliable way to check your exact local pricing is the Culver’s app or your restaurant’s in-store menu board both pull live pricing for that specific location, not a national estimate. If you’re ordering for a group or trying to hit a budget, it’s worth double-checking there before you commit.

Culver’s Soups Today: Full Rotating Menu, Prices & What’s Available

Soup at Culver’s doesn’t get nearly enough credit it’s tucked into the sides section on most menus, but it deserves its own spotlight, especially with four solid options in regular rotation.

Soup	Size	Price	Calories
Broccoli Cheese Soup	Medium	$3.79	250 Cal
Broccoli Cheese Soup	Large	$5.99	360 Cal
Chicken Noodle Soup	Medium	$3.79	130 Cal
Chicken Noodle Soup	Large	$5.99	180 Cal
Wild Rice with Chicken Soup	Medium	$3.79	300
Wild Rice with Chicken Soup	Large	$5.99	430
Boston Clam Chowder	Medium	$3.79	290
Boston Clam Chowder	Large	$5.99	420

Chicken Noodle is the clear lightweight pick if you’re after something warm without a big calorie hit 130 calories for a Medium is lower than even some of the “light” sides. Boston Clam Chowder and Broccoli Cheese lean richer and heartier, better suited to a cold day when you actually want the soup to be the main event rather than a starter.

Which soups are actually available on a given day varies by location and rotates regularly, so treat this list as what’s typically in circulation rather than a daily guarantee. The Culver’s app or a quick question at the counter will tell you exactly what’s in the pot today.

Culver’s Chili Sizes, Prices & Calories

Soup at Culver’s doesn’t get nearly enough credit it’s tucked into the sides section on most menus, but it deserves its own spotlight, especially with four solid options in regular rotation.

Item	Size	Price	Calories
George’s® Chili	Medium	$4.29	310 Cal
George’s® Chili	Large	$6.39	430 Cal
George’s® Chili Supreme	Medium	$4.39	430 Cal
George’s® Chili Supreme	Large	$6.49	620 Cal

The Supreme version adds toppings (typically cheese, onion, and sour cream) on top of the base chili, which explains the calorie jump a Medium Supreme sits at the same calorie level as a Large regular chili. If you’re trying to keep things simpler and lighter, the standard George’s Chili is the better call; if you want it to feel like a full meal, Supreme is worth the extra 30 cents.

Chili also shows up baked right into the Chili Cheddar Fries mentioned above, which is really the “go big” version of ordering chili as a side.

Sides Ranked From Worst to Best

Ranking always comes down to personal taste, but weighing flavor, value, and how the item actually holds up by the time you get to your table, here’s how the lineup shakes out.

Wisconsin Cheese Curds Best overall. Nothing else on the menu matches the texture, and it’s the item Culver’s is known for nationally.
Crinkle Cut Fries Best everyday pick. Reliable, reasonably light at 220 calories for a Small, and it’s hard to have a bad batch.
Onion Rings Best middle ground. Fried, satisfying, but not as heavy as the curds or chili cheddar fries.
.Chili Cheddar Fries Best for sharing, worst for solo dieting.** Incredible if you’re splitting it; a lot to take on alone at 610+ calories.
Pretzel Bites Solid but unremarkable. Good if you want something warm and shareable that isn’t fried in the traditional sense.
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy Underrated comfort pick. Light at 130 calories and pairs well with almost any entrée.
George’s Chili Reliable, forgettable. Filling and fine, but it doesn’t have a standout personality like the curds or fries do.
Coleslaw Good, divisive. Some people love the creamy style, others want more tang. Worth trying once to know where you land.
Garden Side Salad Fine, not exciting. A safe pick if you’re trying to lighten the meal, but not a side anyone orders for the flavor.
teamed Broccoli Last place, but for a reason. It’s not trying to compete on flavor. It’s there for people who want the lightest possible option, and at that one job, it delivers.

Nutrition: Lowest-Calorie Options

If you’re watching Nutrition calories without wanting to skip a side entirely, here’s where to look, ranked lightest to heaviest:

Item	Calories
Side of Pickles	5 Cal
Steamed Broccoli	40 Cal
Garden Side Salad	50Cal
Applesauce	50Cal
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy	130Cal

On the opposite end, Family-size portions of Cheese Curds (1,480 calories), Chili Cheddar Fries (1,870 calories), and Crinkle Cut Fries (1,320 calories) are built for sharing across multiple people, not solo eating worth keeping in mind before ordering a Family size “for the group” and realizing it’s just you and the car.

Gluten-Free Sides: What’s Actually Safe to Order

This comes up a lot, and it deserves a straight answer rather than a vague one.

Naturally gluten-free by ingredients: Steamed Broccoli, Garden Side Salad (watch the dressing), Applesauce, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Coleslaw, and George’s Chili (check for gluten-based thickeners at your location). When choosing from a Value Basket or the Kids’ Menu, check the individual ingredients and preparation details, as options and cross-contact risks can vary by location.
Not gluten-free: Crinkle Cut Fries, Wisconsin Cheese Curds, Onion Rings, Pretzel Bites, and Fried Pickles all breaded or battered items.

One thing matters more here than anywhere else on this page: if you have celiac disease rather than a general preference, several of the “safe” items above are still cooked in the same fryer or prep area as breaded items, so cross-contact is a real possibility. If gluten is a medical issue and not a lifestyle choice, confirm with your specific location how their fryers and prep stations are set up before ordering.

Best Culver’s Sides for Kids Meals

Kids’ meals usually come with a smaller side, and simple choices like applesauce, mashed potatoes, small crinkle-cut fries, or steamed broccoli can work well for younger eaters. Cheese Curds and Chili Cheddar Fries are richer options, so they may be better for kids with bigger appetites.

How to Order and Customize?

In-store

Order at the counter or kiosk. Sides can be swapped into a Value Basket combo or added individually to any order.

Culver’s App

The most reliable way to see accurate local pricing, customize sides, and check what soup is available that day. Mobile ordering through the app also lets you build the order exactly the way you want before you even walk in.

Drive-thru

Standard ordering applies, and if you want fries or curds fresh out of the fryer rather than sitting under a heat lamp, it’s completely fine to ask if most locations are happy to make a fresh batch.

Customizing

Chili can be ordered plain (George’s) or Supreme with toppings. Fries can be turned into Chili Cheddar Fries by request even if it’s not listed that way on your local board. Dressings for the Garden Side Salad are chosen separately, so it’s worth asking what’s available rather than defaulting to whatever comes standard.

Delivery apps

Culver’s sides generally translate fine through DoorDash, Uber Eats, and similar platforms, though soup and chili can travel less well than fries or curds, something to keep in mind if you’re ordering for delivery rather than pickup.

What Culver’s Regulars Actually Say About the Sides

Ask around online forums, local Facebook groups, or just the person in line ahead of you and the same few opinions come up again and again. Cheese Curds are almost universally the answer to “what should I get,” with the caveat that they need to be eaten hot, not on the drive home. Crinkle Cut Fries get less hype but more loyalty; they’re the side people default to without thinking twice.

Chili Cheddar Fries tend to split opinion the most. Some people treat it as the best thing on the menu, others find it too heavy to finish. Steamed Broccoli, unsurprisingly, doesn’t come up much in casual conversation; it’s ordered with intention, not excitement, and that’s fine. Not every side needs to be the star.

Final Thought

The Culver’s sides menu has something for almost every kind of order, whether you want classic Crinkle Cut Fries, Wisconsin Cheese Curds, a lighter side like Steamed Broccoli, or something more filling like Chili Cheddar Fries. Prices and calories vary by size, while soups and some limited-time sides can change by location and availability. If you’re watching calories, the lighter sides make an easy choice, while the curds and Chili Cheddar Fries are better picks when you want something more indulgent. For the most accurate Culver’s sides prices, calories, and today’s availability, check your local Culver’s menu or app before ordering.

Frequently Asked Questions

The core lineup includes Crinkle Cut Fries, Wisconsin Cheese Curds, Onion Rings, Pretzel Bites, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Coleslaw, Steamed Broccoli, Garden Side Salad, and Applesauce, alongside George’s Chili and rotating soups.

Prices range from free (Side of Pickles) up to around $9.89 for a Family-size Cheese Curds, Onion Rings, or Chili Cheddar Fries. Most standard Medium sides fall between $2.99 and $4.39

Steamed Broccoli at 40 calories, followed closely by Garden Side Salad and Applesauce, both at 50 calories.

Steamed Broccoli, Garden Side Salad, Applesauce, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, and Coleslaw are made without gluten ingredients, though shared fryers mean cross-contact is possible check with your location if it’s a medical requirement.

No. Culver’s locations are independently owned, so prices vary by market. The numbers in this guide are national averages check the app for your exact local pricing.

Kids meals typically pair with lighter sides like Applesauce, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, or a small Crinkle Cut Fries, though most standard sides can usually be swapped in on request.

Not necessarily. Soup availability can vary by location and may also change based on the day’s rotating selection. It’s best to check your local Culver’s menu or call the restaurant before ordering if you’re looking for a specific soup.

Yes. Culver’s serves both chili and soup, but the soup selection rotates, so the available soups can vary by location and day. Chili is a separate menu item and may also be available depending on the restaurant’s current menu.

Culver’s doesn’t appear to publish an official ranking of its most popular soup. Since the soup selection rotates, popularity can also vary by location and season. If you want to recommend one in the article, it’s better to describe it as a popular or commonly chosen option rather than claiming it is officially the #1 soup.

Not exactly. Culver’s soup selection rotates, so the soups available can change from day to day and by location. If you’re looking for a specific soup, it’s best to check the local Culver’s menu before ordering.

Culver’s Sides Reviews

Note: These reviews are based on information from the official Culver’s site. 

Culver’s sides have more variety than I expected. The cheese curds were crispy, flavorful, and definitely worth trying with a ButterBurger.

— Emily

I usually go with the Crinkle Cut Fries, but the Chili Cheddar Fries have become my favorite. The portions are filling, and the menu makes it easy to compare calories before ordering.

— Daniel Brooks

I like that Culver’s has lighter options such as steamed broccoli and applesauce alongside the more indulgent sides. It makes choosing something for the whole family much easier.

— Megan Richardson