Texas Roadhouse sidekick is the menu name for a half-portion add-on you attach to an entree, usually ribs or shrimp. It is not a standalone meal and does not include sides. Add-on cost typically runs about $6 to $10 depending on location.
What a sidekick is at Texas Roadhouse
A sidekick is a smaller add-on portion of a protein you order alongside a full entree, most commonly a half-rack-style rib portion or a skewer of grilled shrimp. It rides on your existing plate rather than replacing it.
The word confuses people because it sits in a strange spot on the menu. It is not an appetizer, not a side dish, and not an entree. Think of it as an upgrade line: you already picked a sirloin, a chicken breast or a pork chop, and the sidekick bolts a second protein onto that same plate for a smaller upcharge than a full combo dinner would cost.
Two practical consequences follow from that. First, a sidekick does not come with its own two sides, because your entree already carries them. Second, servers will sometimes not volunteer it, since combos are listed more prominently. You usually have to ask by name.
Sidekick spec table
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | Half-size protein add-on attached to a full entree |
| Category | Add-on / upgrade, not a standalone entree |
| Common versions | Sidekick of ribs; sidekick of grilled shrimp |
| Size / portion | Roughly half of the standalone appetizer or entree portion; shrimp typically a single skewer |
| Price | Commonly about $6 to $10 as an add-on; confirm with your store |
| Calories | Not separately printed at most locations; ribs run higher than shrimp |
| What is included | The protein only, plus its usual sauce or butter. No extra sides, no extra rolls charge |
| Cooked to order | Yes, fired with your entree so both hit the table together |
Which sidekicks you can order
The two sidekicks you will find at most locations are ribs and grilled shrimp. Ribs come with the house barbecue glaze; shrimp arrive skewered with garlic lemon butter. Some stores quietly allow other small add-ons but do not print them.
The rib sidekick is the heavier of the two. It is a short portion of the same slow-cooked ribs the kitchen serves on full rib plates, so the meat quality is identical, you are just getting fewer bones. If you like the sauce but do not want a whole rack sitting next to a steak, this is the version to pick.
The shrimp sidekick is lighter and cleaner tasting. Because it is grilled in butter rather than fried, it does not fight a steak the way a fried appetizer would. It is also the easier one to share across the table if two people just want a taste.
Beyond those two, availability gets local. A few stores will add a small portion of chicken or an extra skewer at a manager’s discretion, and a few will refuse anything not on their printed board. Ask rather than assume.
Sidekick price and what it adds to your check
Expect roughly $6 to $10 added to your entree price for a sidekick, with shrimp usually landing at the lower end and ribs at the higher end. Exact pricing is set regionally and is not published nationally, so confirm at your location.
The useful comparison is not the dollar amount on its own but what the same money buys elsewhere on the menu. A full grilled shrimp entree runs around $16.99 and includes two sides. A sidekick of shrimp gives you the protein for meaningfully less because you are not paying for the sides again.
| Way to add a second protein | Roughly what it costs | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Sidekick add-on | About $6-$10 on top of your entree | Half portion of protein, no extra sides |
| Printed combo plate (for example sirloin + ribs) | Around $22-$25 total | Both proteins in set sizes, two sides included |
| Second full entree | $16-$20+ | Full portion plus its own two sides |
To confirm current pricing, pull up your specific store on the official Texas Roadhouse site or app, since that reflects local pricing rather than a national average. Phoning the store also works and takes under a minute.
Calories and nutrition
Sidekick calories are not separately printed on most location menus, so treat any single number you see online with suspicion. The reliable approach is to read the calorie figure for the full-size version of the same item and roughly halve it.
For scale, the standalone grilled shrimp entree is listed at 670 calories, and that figure includes the seasoned rice underneath. A shrimp sidekick with no rice sits far below that. Ribs are the heavier choice by a wide margin once the glaze is counted.
If you are tracking intake seriously, ask for the printed nutrition guide at the host stand or check the nutrition section of the official site. Chain kitchens portion by hand, so a half portion is an approximation, not a measured weight.
How to order a sidekick well
Order it by name at the same time as your entree so both fire together. Say “add a sidekick of shrimp to that” rather than describing it, since the term is what the point-of-sale system recognizes. Ask the price before confirming.
A few things that make the plate better:
- Pair the sidekick against your entree, not with it. Shrimp next to a steak works because the butter cuts the char. Ribs next to a pulled pork dinner is barbecue sauce on barbecue sauce.
- Ask for sauce on the side if you do not want rib glaze pooling into your mashed potatoes or steak fries.
- Keep your two included sides in mind. Your entree already includes two, and the free unlimited rolls with cinnamon butter arrive regardless. A sidekick on top of a loaded potato and mac and cheese is a lot of plate.
- Doneness only applies to your entree. Shrimp and ribs are not cooked to temperature order, so specify doneness for the steak only.
- Ordering takeout? Add-ons are easier to lose in an online order. Check the itemized receipt before you leave.
Is a sidekick worth it, or should you get the combo?
A sidekick is worth it when you want a taste of a second protein without a second full portion. If you actually want a meaningful amount of ribs, the printed combo plate is better value per ounce even though the total check is higher.
The honest test is appetite. People who order a sidekick because it sounds like a bargain often leave half the entree behind, which makes it the most expensive way to eat less. People who order one because they genuinely want two proteins on the plate tend to be happy with it.
Compared with a shared appetizer, the sidekick wins on timing. Fried pickles or a cactus blossom arrive early and blunt your appetite before the entree lands. A sidekick arrives with the meal and does not compete for stomach space in the same way.
Availability and why some menus do not show it
Sidekicks are not printed on every location’s menu and are not always listed in the app. Availability, naming and pricing are set locally, which is why one store lists them clearly and the next store’s server needs a moment to look it up.
If you cannot find it on the menu in front of you, ask directly whether you can add a half portion of ribs or shrimp to your entree. Most kitchens can do it even when the printed menu stays silent. If the answer is no, the combo plates cover the same craving.
Honest limitations of this page
This is an independent guide, not the official Texas Roadhouse site, and we have no access to internal recipes or corporate pricing. Sidekick pricing in particular is not published nationally, which is why this page gives a range rather than a single figure.
Portion sizes are described from location menus and observed servings, not from a corporate spec sheet. Calories for the sidekick portions specifically are not published, so the numbers here are framed as comparisons to full-size items rather than exact counts. Availability changes without notice.
Before you rely on any figure here, confirm with your local store through the official app, the store’s own menu page or a quick phone call. If you spot something out of date, that is the fastest correction path.
Sidekick FAQ
What is a sidekick at Texas Roadhouse?
A sidekick is a half-size add-on portion of a protein, usually ribs or grilled shrimp, that you attach to a full entree. It is not a standalone meal and does not come with its own sides, since your entree already includes two.
What is a Texas Roadhouse sidekick?
It is an upgrade line rather than a menu category. You order your entree as normal, then add a sidekick of ribs or shrimp on top of it for a smaller upcharge than ordering a full combo plate or a second entree.
How much does a sidekick cost at Texas Roadhouse?
Typically around $6 to $10 added to your entree, with shrimp generally cheaper than ribs. Pricing is set regionally and is not published nationally, so check your store in the official app or call ahead to confirm.
Does a sidekick come with sides?
No. The sidekick is the protein only. Your entree already includes two sides, and the free unlimited rolls with cinnamon butter come with dine-in service regardless of what you add.
Can you order a sidekick by itself?
Generally no. It is designed as an add-on to an entree, so most locations will not sell it alone. If you want a small standalone portion, look at the appetizer menu instead.
What sidekick options are available?
Ribs and grilled shrimp are the two you will find at most locations. Some stores allow other small add-ons at the kitchen’s discretion, but they are not printed and should not be assumed.
Is a sidekick the same as a combo?
No. A combo is a printed entree with two proteins in set sizes plus two sides at one price. A sidekick is a smaller add-on layered onto an entree you already chose, so the portion is smaller and the upcharge is lower.
Why is the sidekick not on my menu?
Menus, pricing and add-on availability vary by location. If it is not printed, ask your server whether you can add a half portion of ribs or shrimp to your entree, because many kitchens will do it anyway.