No matter if you eat fast food on a regular basis or just occasionally, sometimes it is your only option. That doesn’t mean that there can’t be healthy-ish gluten-free options wherever you end up eating. It is all about knowing what to order at each restaurant. It is getting easier and easier to find gluten-free options but here are some of my favorite fast food and quick-serve restaurants!
I’ve designed this blog post to provide lots of great info, but I also want you to screenshot these graphics I made so you can access them any time you are out and about and need some gluten free fast food! You can also click here to get a PDF of all the graphics in this post!
P.S. Menu’s change all the time so if you see something that needs to be updated please let me know either in the comments below or at questions@ashleybmorgan.com!
Contents
Chick-Fil-A
Chick-Fil-A is hands down the best gluten-free fast food restaurant out there. What makes it even better is how EASY it is to eat gluten-free there! My favorite breakfast option is the Hash brown Scramble Bowl with Sausage, and my favorite lunch option is the grilled nugget meal. I coat my grilled nuggets in their buffalo sauce and dip my fries in the Chick-fil-A sauce! SO good!
They also have a gluten-free bun for their Grilled Chicken Sandwich, but it’s not my favorite. I would much rather have the Grilled Nuggets instead!
Enough of my personal favorites! Here is a list of the items that you can get at Chick-fil-A:
You can also check out their nutrition and allergen menu here!
Taco Bell
Taco Bell can get a bad rap sometimes but you guys…Taco Bell is actually SO good in my personal opinion. Sometimes you just need to get a taco in a drive-thru format ya know!? I would definitely stay away if you have Celiac Disease or if you are extremely sensitive to cross-contamination, but if you haven’t crossed off Taco Bell from those two things, then read on to find the world of drive-thru Mexican food that awaits!
Taco Bell lists 8 items on its website as “not containing gluten ingredients.” They include:
I know it doesn’t sound like a ton of great options, but I love the accessibility when it’s either late at night (I used to get this all the time when I got off work at 11 PM) or in areas that might not have as many restaurants. Personally, I love getting a taco and some fire sauce!
Chipotle
I just love Chipotle. It’s fast, easy, relatively healthy, and EVERYTHING is gluten free except their flour tortillas. Not only does that make it super easy to order, but it also decreases your chances of cross-contamination. A win-win! My go-to meal here is a burrito bowl with rice, black beans, chicken, hot salsa, corn salsa, sour cream, and cheese. I also love their tacos, which is already served on corn tortillas! Chipotle is a great option for gluten free fast food that is also pretty healthy!
Panera
Panera is definitely not a place to go if you can’t handle a little cross-contamination risk….I mean the whole place is filled with bread. Cross-contamination risk aside, Panera has some really great options! For breakfast, I love their oatmeal. It comes with berries and is so so good! However, they are not made with gluten-free certified oats, so if that’s something that bothers you, then I would definitely get the fruit parfait instead.
For lunch and dinner, I love their salads and soups that are gluten free. For soup, I would recommend their Baked Potato Soup or their Tomato Soup (without croutons). My favorite salads are the Southwest Chile Lime Ranch or the Fuji Apple Chicken.
Five Guys
I sure do love a Five Guys burger, and what is great is that their meat is SO good that I don’t even miss the bun! You can get this in a lettuce wrap or just a bowl (my personal choice). If you specify that you have a gluten allergy, they will use a separate part of the grill (where buns do not go) for your meat, and change gloves along the way. Their fries are cooked in a dedicated fryer meaning they are safe for anyone avoiding gluten! Five Guys is a great gluten free fast food restaurant that is safe for even those that are extremely sensitive to cross-contamination. There are only 4 items on their entire menu that you need to avoid: buns, malted milk (in their milkshakes), cherry flavoring, and their Oreo cookie mix-ins.
Wendy’s
Wendy’s has some great options for gluten-free living! First, and most importantly, all flavors of the Wendy’s frosty are gluten free. They have some great salad options as well, my personal favorite is Apple Pecan Chicken Salad. It’s a great summer salad, but if you’re not in the mood for a salad (because sometimes veggies are just NOT what the doctor ordered) then you can get their grilled chicken sandwich or burgers without the bun. I know, not as exciting as some of these other restaurants that provide gluten free bread, but their fries are gluten free (not in a dedicated fryer though) along with all their loaded fry options for a good carb fix! If you have never had Wendy’s chili before, you are definitely missing out! Good thing it is also gluten free! Go try it out!
Zaxby’s
Mmm I used to love a good Zaxby’s meal back in my gluten filled days. After I stopped eating gluten, I assumed there was nothing for me at Zaxbys, but I was wrong. Their Traditional Wings are one of my favorite fast food items! Just make sure to get traditional, not boneless, and avoid their Hot and Sour sauce as well as their teriyaki sauce. Their fries are also gluten free, along with any of their dipping sauces!
Domino’s
Domino’s is hands down my favorite mainstream gluten free pizza crust out there. They aren’t like some other restaurants that try to make their gluten free pizza crust also be their “healthy” pizza crust option. Let’s be real, you aren’t trying to be healthy if you are eating pizza…this crust is thin and crispy and just what you need when you’re craving a pizza and movie night.
Jason’s Deli
Jason’s Deli is definitely my favorite (chain) sandwich place. They have amazing gluten free bread, so you can have any of their sandwiches! My personal favorite is to get the Manager’s Special. The Manager’s Special is half of a sandwich, chips, and a one time trip to the salad bar! My favorite sandwich is the Club Royale. They have a full list of all of their gluten free ingredients here! Finish up your meal with a gluten free snickerdoodle cookie or complementary ice cream!
Nothing but Noodles
This was my favorite restaurant back in the day when I could eat gluten, so I was super excited when I could still eat all my favorite dishes here when gluten was no longer an option for me.
They have two different types of gluten free pasta; rice noodles and a gluten free penne. I actually get both types depending on what I am ordering. If it is a lighter sauce like their Margarita pasta (one of my faves) I get the rice noodles, and if it is a heavier sauce like their Basil Pesto (another fave) I get the penne. The penne is a little thicker and better at holding the more robust sauces, but you can taste the difference (from regular pasta) when you pair a thinner sauce with them. Nothing but Noodles provides a list of their gluten free pastas, I can vouch for every single one…they’re all delicious!
Moe’s Southwest
Moe’s Southwest is a great option when you are needing something quick, but aren’t feeling like true fast food. Or…just for a quick queso pick me up…their queso is some of the best out there! Pretty much all of their ingredients are gluten free except for their flour tortillas. Their chips are fried in the same fryer as their flour taco bowls meaning there is a high cross-contamination rate, but I’ve never had an issue. My go-to meal here is to get a bowl with whatever toppings I am feeling that day!
That is all the restaurants I have for now. Did I leave out your favorite restaurant? If so, let me know in the comments below! As always, you can always reach me at questions@ashleybmorgan.com or on Instagram @ashley.b.morgan!
If you’re new to the gluten free guide check out these posts to help get you started:
My Favorite Gluten Free Products
What You Need To Know About Starting a Gluten Free Diet
Or, just visit the Gluten Free Life page on my blog!
If you want a list of gluten free pantry staples, click on the image below to download yours!
