Jimmy John’s is a famous sandwich chain in the United States. They have over 2,755 restaurants and 98% of them are franchised. They are known for serving a wide variety of delicious sandwiches. They also serve different flavors of chips, all types of meat, cheese, and more. But are there Jimmy John’s gluten-free options?
Unfortunately, Jimmy John’s does not offer gluten-free bread, but you can modify any of their sandwiches into a gluten-free version by wrapping it in lettuce and the rest of its ingredients are gluten-free. Most Jimmy John’s spreads, as well as several of their chip choices, are gluten-free. However, they don’t have much to offer when it comes to dessert.
What is Gluten?
Before we go on the list of gluten-free options, let’s understand first why gluten should be avoided.
Gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten makes dough elastic or chewy (which is why it’s used in bread). People who are allergic to gluten may not be able to digest products with gluten in them – such as by eating bread (in sandwiches) and other items at Jimmy John’s.
The problem with gluten is that it’s hard to digest because the human body lacks enzymes that can break down proteins into amino acids that are small enough to be absorbed by our body. If our body can’t absorb it, it causes inflammation and damage to the surrounding tissue. The symptoms include diarrhea, bloating, fatigue, joint pain, or headaches.
Due to these health implications, more and more people are turning to a healthier lifestyle and being more conscious of what they eat, especially in fast food restaurants.
Tips for Ordering Gluten-Free at Jimmy John’s
As mentioned earlier, you should order all of their sandwiches without the bread, you can have it in a lettuce wrap instead. The company doesn’t offer gluten-free bread so it’s the only option to put all the sandwich ingredients together or you can have it in a bowl without the lettuce.
Lettuce sandwiches offer an alternative to bread and save you around 230-350 calories each time. For sandwiches that consist mostly of bread, a lot of calories can be saved-up to 80%! It’s also a great way to lose weight. Consumers with diabetes or sugar imbalances may find it better to limit their intake of carbohydrates, as it can help manage their condition.
Jimmy John’s desserts are off-limits. They don’t offer any gluten-free desserts, which is unfortunate.
Almost all of Jimmy John’s dressings and spreads are gluten-free except the Thai Satay Sauce which contains gluten. So make sure to avoid it.
Most types of cheeses are gluten-free. However, you might want to avoid the provolone cheese that has trace amounts of gluten. So if you’re gluten intolerant, be sure to opt for something else like parmesan cheese, shredded pepper jack cheese, or avocado spread just to be on the safer side.
Jimmy John’s Gluten-Free Options
The gluten-free market is growing exponentially. In fact, it has been reported that the gluten-free industry will be worth $5.9 billion in 2021. This is largely due to the increase in people diagnosed with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity.
Jimmy John’s has been one of the first major chains to offer a wide range of gluten-free options in their stores, which is a testament to their commitment to providing an inclusive dining experience for all customers.
We’ve compiled a list of Jimmy John’s gluten-free options. To make it easier for gluten-free consumers like you. You can create a Jimmy Johns sandwich with these ingredients and with Unwich® (their brand for their lettuce wrap sandwich).
The gluten-free list includes:
Meat Options
- Turkey
- Ham
- Roast Beef
- Capicola
- Salami
- Bacon
- Seasoned Chicken
Jimmy John’s also has tuna, which is naturally gluten-free. However, according to their allergen menu guide, it contains gluten. We are not sure what the ingredient is, but just to be safe, it’s better to avoid their tuna (tuna salad).
Condiments
- Jimmy Mustard
- Yellow Mustard
- Gray Poupon
- Oregano-Basil
- Oil & Vinegar
- Hellman’s Mayo
- Kickin Ranch
These gluten-free condiments are one of my favorite parts of making a sandwich. It’s really easy to make and with just one can transform your sandwich into something completely new and exciting.
Toppings
- Lettuce
- Cucumber
- Tomato
- Jimmy Peppers
- Onion
- Pickled Red Onions
- Pickles
These vegetables are made fresh every day, your best source of nutrients, and especially they’re gluten-free.
Sides
- Regular Jimmy Chip
- Thinny Chip
- Jalapeno Jimmy Chip
These Jimmy chips are great to pair up with your Unwich for some added crunch. Make sure to avoid their BBQ Jimmy Chip and Salt & Vinegar Jimmy Chips for it contains gluten.
Limited Time Items
The limited (seasonal items) Jimmy John’s gluten-free options are:
- Pickled Red Onions
- Fire-Roasted Pineapple
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Mango Habanero Sauce
The other two limited ingredients are wasabi ranch wonton strips and red peppers with pineapple guajillo seasoning both have gluten.
Top 10 Jimmy John’s Sandwich Combo Orders
- Spicy East Coast Italian – made with lettuce wrap, double salami, double capicola, hot peppers, cheese, onions, oil and vinegar, and oregano-basil.
- Billy Club – also in a lettuce wrap, with roast beef, ham, cheese, and Dijon.
- Italian Night Club – made of a lettuce wrap, salami, capicola, ham, cheese, onion, oil & vinegar, and oregano-basil.
- Hunter’s Club – also an Unwich® (lettuce wrap), double roast beef, and double cheese.
- Country Club – made of a lettuce wrap, turkey, ham, and cheese.
- Beach Club – contains lettuce wrap, turkey, double cheese, avocado spread, and cucumber.
- Jimmy Cubano – is also made with lettuce wrap, bacon, ham, cheese, sliced pickles, and Dijon mustard.
- Club Lulu – made with a turkey wrap, turkey, and bacon.
- Ultimate Porker – made of a lettuce wrap, ham, and bacon.
- The J.J. Gargantuan – contains lettuce wrap, salami, capicola, ham, roast beef, turkey, cheese, onion, oil & vinegar, and oregano-basil.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Jimmy John’s is known for its sandwiches and chips. They are also one of the best fast-food restaurants for gluten-sensitive customers. Their sandwich ingredients are gluten-free and can be made into any combinations you want. They might not offer gluten free bread yet, but Jimmy Johns Unwich (lettuce wrap) is not only gluten-free but also a great alternative for holding sandwich ingredients together.
In recent years, the trend of a healthier lifestyle has been on the rise due to health benefits. To meet this demand, more and more restaurants are adapting to this trend to cater to their consumers with different types of diets (vegan, keto, and gluten free diet) including Jimmy John’s, Chick Fil A, Burger King, Taco Bell, Wendy’s, and more.
If you want to stop by one of these fast-food chains, we also have a guide for other restaurants be sure to check them out! I hope this article has been helpful. Thanks for reading!
Gluten Free Buns (Fast Food Edition) - Fast Menu
Wednesday 19th of October 2022
[…] Jimmy John’s […]
Oliver Paul
Tuesday 18th of October 2022
Hey, thanks for this! I've already tried their Spicy East Coast Italian, it's actually buzzin'!
Fast Menu Chief Editor
Friday 25th of November 2022
You're welcome!