This post may contain affiliate links. To learn more check my disclosure page.
I’m on a mission to visit popular restaurants and find out (and try!) what Gluten-Free menu items are available. There are always times my family wants to eat out at places like Wendy’s, or other chain restaurants, and it’s great to know what is and isn’t safe to eat if you are gluten-free.
At first glance, Wendy’s might not seem particularly accommodating to people who need to avoid items with gluten, considering the popular fast food chain doesn’t have gluten-free bread options. Additionally, the fries are cooked in the same fryer as many breaded items, so it’s best to avoid them due to the high risk of cross-contamination. However, there are actually quite a few menu items for people with wheat allergies and gluten sensitivities that I’ve found to be quite filling—assuming that you’re not needing to be particularly worried about the risk of cross-contamination. Fortunately, fan favorites like the baked potato and the taco salad are all gluten free without any modifications, as well as my personal favorite—the original Chocolate Frosty.
That said, like many other fast food restaurant chains, Wendy’s does use shared equipment and work surfaces to prepare food, so if you need to avoid any risk of gluten/wheat contamination, it’s safest to avoid eating at Wendy’s in my opinion. You can read the restaurant’s official allergen statement below. Also note that my research for this article references Wendy’s U.S. menu (which many vary in other countries), and that menu items change seasonally.
I personally tried all of these items and am excited to share my findings. Read our full Wendy’s gluten free guide to find out what to order on your next trip to this popular fast food chain.
Top Gluten Free Menu Items At Wendy’s
The following items on Wendy’s menu are made without wheat, so you can order them without requesting any changes. To make this list, I carefully reviewed the allergy disclosure information and ingredient lists of every item suggested here.
- Taco salad
- Baked potato (any toppings)
- Apple bites
- Classic chocolate Frosty
- Vanilla Frosty
- Orange Dreamsicle Frosty (seasonal)
My go-to order at Wendy’s is the baked potato with sour cream and chives, with a classic Frosty, and a small chili—which is gluten free except for the packages of crackers that come on the side (it’s easy to give these back or order it without them, more on that below).
Additionally, none of the beverages currently on the menu at Wendy’s contain wheat, including the three flavors of Frosty Cream Cold Brew drinks (chocolate, caramel and vanilla) and all four of the lemonade flavors (blueberry pomegranate, strawberry, pineapple mango and the classic all-natural flavor). I learned on my most recent trip to Wendy’s that the orange Dreamsicle Frosty has replaced the Vanilla Frosty for a limited time at some locations—but it’s a good reminder that seasonal changes can affect your plan for avoiding certain ingredients.
Easy Modifications To Make Wendy’s Menu Items Gluten Free
I’ve found there are quite a few items on Wendy’s menu that can be made gluten free with a simple request. For example, you can order many of the hamburgers and cheeseburgers without a bun to make them gluten free. It’s worth keeping in mind that most people with gluten sensitivities prefer to avoid the grilled chicken at Wendy’s due to the risk of cross-contamination from shared cutting boards, but it’s easy to order Wendy’s fresh-made salads without chicken or croutons (which contain wheat).
Here’s a list of menu options at Wendy’s that can easily be modified to be gluten free, and how to order them.
Burgers
- Dave’s single, no bun
- Dave’s double, no bun
- Dave’s triple, no bun
- Baconator, no bun
- Son of Baconator, no bun
- Big bacon classic, no bun
- Big bacon classic double, no bun
- Big bacon classic triple, no bun
- Jr. bacon cheeseburger, no bun
- Bacon double stack, no bun
- Jr. cheeseburger deluxe, no bun
- Double stack, no bun
- Jr. cheeseburger, no bun
- Jr. hamburger, no bun
- Loaded nacho cheeseburger (single, double or triple), no bun
Salads + Chili
- Chili, no crackers*
- Parmesan Caesar salad, no chicken** and no croutons
- Cobb salad, no crispy onions and no chicken**
- Apple pecan salad, no chicken**
*The crackers come wrapped separately and aren’t mixed into the dish, so if another person in your party or family wants them, I’ve found you can easily give them away.
**Because Wendy’s chicken might be sliced on the same cutting board or handled with the same tongs as foods containing gluten, cross-contamination is a risk.
What about the Breakfast Sandwiches
The sausage patty, eggs, bacon, and cheeses (American and Swiss) used in Wendy’s breakfast sandwiches are all gluten free. They may be served on a croissant, biscuit, or English muffin. To make it easier on the person taking your order, I’d recommend ordering the English Muffin versions.
- Sausage, egg and cheese, without the English muffin
- Bacon, egg and cheese, without the English muffin
Gluten Free Condiments At Wendy’s
Fortunately, many of the condiments, sauces, and add-ons at Wendy’s are free from wheat allergens. This includes the list below. You can consider ordering extras of these toppings to dress up any other gluten free dish.
- Caesar dressing
- Ranch dressing
- Applewood smoked bacon
- Cheddar cheese (shredded)
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Roasted pecans
- Poblano queso
- Spicy corn and tortilla strips
- Mayo
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Light sour cream
Wendy’s Official Allergen Statement
According to the restaurant’s website, wheat is one of the nine allergens that Wendy’s restaurants identify on their menus in the United States. However they also have the disclaimer that, “we are unable to guarantee that any menu item can be completely free of allergens” due to the shared space and equipment. Wendy’s site also says:
“On our website, in our restaurants and on our app, we provide food allergen information to make it easy to see items containing common food allergens. Many of our menu items can be customized to leave off ingredients you are trying to avoid, like cheese or condiments. You can make those modifications when ordering through our website or app, or at the restaurants simply by asking.”
What To Avoid
When eating at Wendy’s, people with gluten sensitivities will want to avoid any of the items that list wheat as an allergen on the menu, which includes the breaded chicken like chicken nuggets, hamburger buns, biscuits, English muffins, sausage gravy and homestyle French toast sticks. You’ll also want to skip the bakery items, including the oatmeal bar, chocolate chunk cookie, and sugar cookies.
Additionally, people who are concerned about gluten cross contamination will also want to avoid the french fries and grilled chicken at Wendy’s, because these foods share preparation equipment with menu items that contain wheat.
Also, keep in mind that new menu items are added all the time, and that menu options may vary from region to region at fast food and fast casual restaurants, so there may be items not discussed in this article that could contain wheat or gluten. If you have concerns, it’s always a good idea to ask the employee who is taking your order about potential allergens or cross contamination, or to check the restaurant’s app.
FAQ’s
Are the Frostys at Wendy’s gluten free?
Yes, both flavors of Frosty, the Classic Chocolate Frosty and Vanilla Frosty, are gluten free. The common allergens they contain is dairy. In Alaska and Hawaii, Frosty drinks also contain soy.
Does Wendy’s have gluten free bread?
No, at this time Wendy’s does not have gluten free bread. Instead, consider ordering a hamburger or cheeseburger without a bun for a wheat free option. Or consider the other items in our guide.
Are Wendy’s French fries gluten free?
Wendy’s French fries do not contain wheat as an ingredient. However, according to the restaurant’s website, they are “cooked in the same oil as menu items that contain wheat, milk, egg, soy, sesame, and fish.” For this reason, people who are concerned about gluten introduced into their food via cross contamination should avoid them.
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:
are burgers not made with oats and or breadcrumbs though?
I get the Apple Pecan Chicken Salad with grilled chicken. I do ok but not a celiac person,just have gluten intolerance.
This is incredibly helpful, Thank you for taking the time to do this!!!
I am so happy to see you take on this challenge!
It’s very helpful 😀 Thank you!