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I was so happy to discover that Taco Bell offers gluten-free and gluten-friendly options, including many of their most popular tacos, bowls, and sides. It’s such an easy choice for families when in a big hurry, craving Mexican style food, and need a fast solution. In my guide below, I will detail gluten-friendly menu items from Taco Bell and also tell you how to find out which items at your local store are best to try, and avoid.
When you’ve got a hankering for some gluten-free Mexican food, Taco Bell’s has your back. Their made-to-order and customizable menu makes it easy for families to avoid gluten, so those that want can indulge in some crispy tacos worry-free. Taco Bell’s website features a helpful Allergen Tool to customize your meal according to a gluten-free diet. It details which menu items contain wheat and gluten, with comprehensive ingredient lists for each recipe.
I appreciate Taco Bell’s transparency about ingredient and allergen information, so families can plan and enjoy their menu whether dining in or out. However, like many other fast food chains, foods are prepared in a shared kitchen with gluten, so there’s still a risk of cross-contamination. For those with celiac disease or other health conditions that require strict gluten avoidance, it’s important to be cautious when eating at Taco Bell. In fact, their website recommends against eating at Taco Bell for individuals with celiac disease.
Explore my complete Taco Bell guide for gluten-friendly choices if you’re in the mood to “think outside the bun!”
Top Gluten-Friendly Menu Items At Taco Bell
Here’s my list of the top menu items at Taco Bell that are made without gluten:
- Power Menu Bowl
- Black Beans and Rice
- Crunchy Taco Supreme
- Hash Brown
- Doritos Locos Tacos
Keep in mind that these menu items are prepared in a common kitchen, with shared utensils, prep spaces, and fryer oil, so there is a significant risk of gluten exposure.
Gluten-Friendly Entrees At Taco Bell
According to the Taco Bell Allergen Tool, the following entrees are free of wheat and gluten:
- Crunchy Taco
- Crunchy Taco Supreme
- Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Taco
- Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Taco Supreme
- Cantina Chicken Bowl
- Cantina Crispy Chicken Taco
- Kalua Pork Power Bowl
Gluten-Friendly Sides At Taco Bell
According to the Taco Bell Allergen Tool, the following sides are free of wheat and gluten:
- Black Beans and Rice
- Black Beans
- Pintos N Cheese
- Hash Brown
Gluten-Friendly Sauces and Dressings At Taco Bell
According to the Taco Bell Allergen Tool, the following sauces and dressings are free of wheat and gluten:
- Avocado Salsa Verde Packet
- Diablo Sauce Packet
- Hot Sauce Packet
- Mild Sauce Packet
Gluten-Friendly Beverages At Taco Bell
According to the Taco Bell Allergen Tool, the following beverages are free of wheat and gluten:
- Limonada Freeze
- Limonada Vanilla Creme Freeze
- Strawberry Limonada Freeze
- Cinnabon Delights Coffee – hot and iced
- Hot Coffee with Creamer
- Iced Coffee with Creamer
- Low Fat Milk
- Orange Juice
- Premium Roast Coffee – hot and iced
- Wild Strawberry Freeze
- Vanilla Creamer
Taco Bell Gluten-Free Official Statement
I value Taco Bell’s commitment to transparency regarding ingredients, allergen information, and disclosure of shared cooking and preparation areas. If you want to read for yourself, here’s Taco Bell’s official statement on gluten-free offerings:
“Taco Bell does not claim “gluten-free” for any of its food. Some Taco Bell items are made without gluten containing ingredients but are prepared in common kitchen areas, including common fryer oil, risking gluten exposure. Taco Bell does not recommend products for customers with celiac disease. Customers with gluten sensitivities should exercise judgment when ordering.”
Special Requests
To reduce the risks of cross contamination, you can ask the Taco Bell kitchen staff to change gloves and clean all appliances, utensils, and prep spaces before preparing your order. Also, remember to request sauces and dressings on the side, as not all of them are gluten and wheat free.
What To Avoid At Taco Bell
If you want to avoid eating gluten and wheat at Taco Bell, stay away from anything made with bread-like ingredients or fried foods (since they share the same fryer oil). Use Taco Bell’s Allergen Tool for a complete list of items and ingredients that contain wheat and gluten.
FAQ’s
What are the ingredients in Taco Bell’s grilled chicken?
White meat chicken with rib meat, water, seasoning (modified potato starch, salt, yeast extract, spices, sugar, citric acid, disodium inosinate and guanylate, torula yeast, maltodextrin, dextrose, natural flavors, and 2% or less of soybean oil added as a processing aid), sodium phosphates.
Am I able to view the nutrition information for Taco Bell?
Yes, Taco Bell’s website offers detailed nutrition information for each menu item and a Nutrition Calculator too.
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
- Starbucks Gluten Free Menu Items
- Chipotle Gluten Free Menu Items
- Jersey Mike’s Gluten Free Menu Items
- Olive Garden Gluten Free Menu Items
- Chick-fil-A Gluten Free Menu Items
Photos: Julianne Tripp Hillian
Thank you for doing this series on the gluten content of fast foods. For so many years I have avoided fast food restaurants because I didn’t have any idea of the use of gluten in the food. Now I can be included with my friends and family when they go out for lunch at fast food restaurants.