You know those mornings when you wake up craving warm, fluffy pancakes but also don’t feel like cooking? If you follow a gluten-free diet, satisfying that craving can feel impossible. Luckily,  IHOP’s got you covered with a dedicated gluten-friendly menu, so you can treat yourself to pancakes, waffles, and more of the good stuff. 

Like any fast-food restaurant, there’s always a risk of gluten cross-contamination when dining out. Shared kitchens, workspaces, utensils, preparation methods, and even accidental exposure can pose challenges for those with strict dietary needs. If you have celiac disease or another health condition requiring a strict gluten-free diet, it’s best to exercise caution when dining at IHOP.

If 24-hour breakfast sounds like your kind of vibe, don’t miss our ultimate guide to gluten-free dining at IHOP.

Top Gluten-Free Menu Items At IHOP

IHOP’s gluten-free menu includes tasty options like gluten-free pancakes, Belgian waffles, and a variety of gluten-free sides. For a full list of gluten-free menu items, you can use their Special Diet Wizard on the Allergen Information page to filter out gluten to view menu items that are safe to order. 

Before heading to IHOP, it’s a good idea to check the online menu so you know exactly what’s safe to order. It’s also important to call ahead and confirm they have the dishes you’re looking for, since menu items can vary by location.

Here are the gluten-free menu items at IHOP:

Pancakes and Waffles

• Original Gluten-Friendly Pancakes 
• Gluten-Friendly Belgian Waffles 

Sides

• Hash Browns 
• Seasonal Fruit
• Fresh Fruit
• Crispy Breakfast Potatoes
• Slice of Ham
• Hickory-Smoked Bacon Strips
• Turkey Bacon Strips
• Pork Sausage Links
• Smoke Sausage Link
• French Fries
• Bacon Slices
• Avocado 
• Corn Tortillas
• Grits
• Plant-Based Sausage
• Rosette Whipped Topping
• Whipped Butter

Combos

• Migas
• Plant-Based Power Sausage Combo
• Quick 2-Egg Breakfast

Omelettes and Toppings

• Veggie Egg White Omelette
• Egg White Omelette
• American Cheese 
• Flour-Cheese Blend, Shredded 
• Jack and Cheddar Blend, Shredded 
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese 
• Diced Bacon
• Diced Ham
• Pork Sausage Link
• Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
• Sauteed Green Peppers and Onions 
• Sauteed Mushrooms
• Sauteed Spinach
• Tomato
• Avocado
• Fire Roasted Poblano Salsa
• Sour Cream

Eggs

• Fried Egg
• Hard Boiled Egg
• Poached Egg
• Scrambled Egg
• Scrambled Egg White

Salad and Soups

• Chopped Chicken Salad with Grilled Chicken
• House Salad
• Tomato Basil Soup

Salad Dressing

• Balsamic Vinaigrette 
• Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
• Honey Mustard 

Dipping Sauce

• Honey Mustard
• IHOP Sauce
• Ranch Dressing

Entrees

• Salmon
• Sirloin Steak Tips
• T-Bone Steak (10 oz)

Entrees Sides

• Broccoli with Garlic Butter
• Green Beans with Garlic Butter
• House Salad (without dressing)
• Red Skin Mashed Potatoes
• Seasoned Fries

Limited Time Offers

• Explorer’s Caramel Apple Butter Hot Chocolate
• House Scramble with Hash Browns
• Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate 

Kids

• Applesauce

55+ Breakfast

• 55+ Rise ‘N Shine

Beverages and Syrups

• Hot Chocolate
• Blue Raspberry Lemonade Splasher
• Mango Lemonade Splasher
• Strawberry Lemonade Splasher 
• Caramel Apple Butter Milkshake
• Chocolate Milkshake
• Cinn-A-Stack Milkshake
• Cupcake Milkshake
• Strawberry Milkshake
• Vanilla Milkshake
• Blueberry Syrup
• Butter Pecan Syrup
• Old-Fashioned Syrup
• Strawberry Syrup

IHOP’s Gluten-Free Statement

I appreciate IHOP’s effort to provide clear allergen information, especially about gluten-containing ingredients. IHOP uses the term “gluten-friendly” instead of “gluten-free” because their offerings don’t meet the FDA’s definition of gluten-free, and there’s a notable risk of cross-contamination in their kitchens.

Here is IHOP’s official statement about their gluten-friendly menu items:

“IHOP defines gluten-friendly as menu items prepared without gluten-containing ingredients based on information from our approved suppliers. We do not claim that items marked as gluten-friendly are “gluten free” because we cannot confirm that they meet the FDA’s definition of “gluten free” (< 20 parts per million of gluten). Because we have multiple sources of gluten in our shared cooking and prep areas, including common fryer oil, we are unable to guarantee that any menu item can be completely free of gluten or allergens.”

Special Requests 

To reduce the risk of cross-contamination, ask the IHOP kitchen staff to clean appliances, utensils, and preparation spaces before preparing your meal. You can also ask them to use fresh gloves when handling your gluten-free order. While there’s no guarantee they’ll be able to prevent cross-contamination, it’s important to take steps to reduce it when possible.

What To Avoid At IHOP

Avoid products with bread and breadcrumbs or fried foods, which are often prepared in oil shared with gluten-containing items. Flavorings, sauces, and dressings usually have hidden sources of gluten, so stick to options on the gluten-friendly menu. 

Other Gluten Free Menu Guides

We are on a mission to analyze all the popular restaurants near you for what is and isn’t gluten-free. If you have a restaurant you want us to visit, please let us know! You can contact us or send us a DM on Instagram. Here are other guides we have written so far:

• Wendy’s Gluten Free Menu Items
• McDonald’s Gluten Free Menu Items
• Panera Gluten Free Menu Items
• Starbuck’s Gluten Free Menu Guide
• Chipotle Gluten Free Menu Items
• Olive Garden Gluten Free Menu Items
• Chick-fil-A Gluten Free Menu Items
• Taco Bell Gluten Free Menu Items
• Jersey Mike’s Gluten Free Menu Items
• Buffalo Wild Wings Gluten Free Menu Items
• Domino’s Gluten Free Menu Items
• Applebee’s Gluten Free Menu Items
• Dunkin’ Donuts Gluten Free Menu Items
• Shake Shack Gluten-Free Menu Items
• Cheesecake Factory Gluten-Free Menu Items

Photos: Julianne Tripp Hillian