McDonald’s Gluten-Free Options

McDonald’s is a fast food chain with locations all around the world, and it is known for its burgers, fries, and other classic menu items. However, for people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, these menu items may not be suitable. Fortunately, there is now a range of McDonald’s gluten-free options in the United States to accommodate customers with special dietary needs.

Despite being entirely free of gluten, there is still a chance of cross-contamination in the kitchen. Nevertheless, the firm strives to give choices that are appropriate for those who adhere to a gluten-free lifestyle.

Gluten-Free Options at McDonald’s

Eating a gluten-free diet can sometimes be a challenge when it comes to finding options at fast food restaurants. However, at McDonald’s, there are gluten-free options you can order.

Here is a list of McDonald’s gluten-free options:

1. Breakfast items(McMuffins, Biscuits, McGriddles, and Oatmeal)
2. Burgers
3. Sides
4. Sauces and Condiments
5. Coffees
6. Desserts
7. Beverages

These items are gluten free according to McDonald’s allergen guide. It is a great resource for those who has diet restrictions and want to dine in at any restaurants.

Gluten Free Breakfast Items

When ordering these breakfast items, omit the following: Griddle Cakes, English Muffin, and Biscuits.

• Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit
• Egg McMuffin
• Sausage McMuffin
• Sausage McMuffin with Egg
• Bacon, Egg, and Cheese McGriddles
• Sausage, Egg, and Cheese McGriddles
• Fruit and Maple Oatmeal
• Breakfast Sausage Burritos (No Tortilla)

Burgers (For Lunch and Dinner)

To make this gluten-free make sure to omit the burger buns!

• Hamburger (Classic McDonald’s burger)
• Big Mac
• McDouble
• Cheeseburger
• Double Cheeseburger
• Quarter Pounder with Cheese
• Double Quarter Pounder
• Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe
• Smokey BLT Quarter Pounder

Sides

Unfortunately, the only gluten-free sides you can order at McDonald’s are:

• Apple Slices

Sauces

Here are your sauces for your gluten-free food items:

• Tangy Barbeque Sauce
• Spicy Buffalo Sauce
• Creamy Ranch Sauce
• Honey Mustard Sauce
• Honey
• Sweet ‘N Sour
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• Mayonnaise

Coffees

Coffee Drinks? Lucky for you, McDonald’s has a wide range of coffee options. These selections include:

• Caramel Macchiato (Hot/Iced)
• Cappuccino
• Caramel Cappuccino
• French Vanilla Cappuccino
• French Vanilla (Hot/Iced)
• Mocha Latte
• Iced Mocha
• Mocha Frappe
• Americano
• Premium Roast Coffee
• Iced Caramel Coffee
• Iced Coffee
• Iced French Vanilla Coffee
• Latte
• Ice Latte
• Caramel Latte
• Caramel Frappes

Desserts

Want to satisfy your sweet tooth? No worries! If you’re looking for something sweet while following a diet, McDonald’s has several options to choose from.

This include:

• McFlurry with M&M’S
• Chocolate Shake
• Vanilla Shake
• Strawberry Shake
• Hot Fudge Sundae
• Hot Caramel Sundae

Beverages

Aside from coffee, McDonald’s offers a range of refreshing gluten-free drink options to choose from. This includes:

• Coca-Cola
• Sprite
• Dr. Pepper
• Fanta Orange
• Diet Coke
• Hi-C Orange Lavaburst
• Strawberry Banana Smoothies
• Mango Pineapple Smoothies
• Sweet Tea
• Unsweetened Iced Tea
• Hot Tea
• Minute Maid Orange Juice
• Honest Kids (Apple Ever After Organic Juice Drink)
• 1% Low Fat Milk Jug
• Reduced Sugar Low Fat Chocolate Milk Jug
• Hot Chocolate
• Bottled Dasani Water

Risk of Cross Contamination

It’s worth noting that while McDonald’s does offer these gluten-free options, it’s important for customers with celiac disease or gluten intolerance to be mindful of cross-contamination. This can occur when gluten-free food comes into contact with food that contains gluten, such as when the same utensils or cooking surfaces are used. To reduce the risk of cross-contamination, it’s a good idea to communicate with the staff at McDonald’s and to be clear about your dietary needs.

Does McDonald’s Have Grilled Options?

McDonald’s does not currently offer grilled chicken on its menu. Instead, the chain’s chicken options include the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, made with breaded and fried chicken, and Chicken McNuggets, made with white meat chicken that is breaded and fried. These items are NOT suitable for those following a gluten-free diet due to the wheat in the breading and the cross-contamination in the fryer.

Order Burgers Without The Bun

If you are following a gluten-free diet, you can often order burgers without the bun at most restaurants. If the firm does not offer gluten-free bun, you can ask for a lettuce wrap instead. Many fast-food chain restaurants offer this option, allowing you to enjoy a burger without the risk of consuming gluten.

You can order McDonald’s gluten-free options (burgers and biscuits) in a lettuce wrap or bowl.

McDonalds Gluten Free Salad

McDonald’s once offered a range of gluten-free salads to accommodate customers with special dietary needs. These salads were made with fresh ingredients and were a convenient and healthy option for those following a gluten-free diet. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McDonald’s was forced to make changes to its menu and temporarily discontinue certain items. As a result, gluten-free salads are no longer available at McDonald’s locations in the United States.

How Does Gluten Affect Someone’s Health?

Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. It is responsible for the elastic texture of the dough and helps to hold bread and other baked goods together. While gluten is not inherently harmful, some people have difficulty digesting it and may experience adverse effects when consuming it.

One group of people who may need to avoid gluten is those with celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes the body to attack the small intestine when gluten is consumed. This can lead to damage to the small intestine and other serious health problems. People with celiac disease must follow a strict gluten-free diet to avoid these negative effects.

In addition to celiac disease, some people may have a non-celiac gluten sensitivity, which means if they eat gluten they experience symptoms such as bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea when they consume gluten.

McDonald’s Gluten-Free Options FAQs

Is the Crispy Chicken Sandwich gluten-free?

No, the Crispy Chicken Sandwich is not gluten-free. It contains wheat in the breading and is not suitable for those following this diet.

Are French Fries gluten-free?

No, French Fries are not gluten-free. They are cooked in the same fryer as other menu items that contain gluten like hashbrowns, breaded chicken, and more, which means that there is a risk of cross-contamination.

Is the McFlurry Oreo gluten-free?

No, the McFlurry Oreo is not gluten-free. Oreo cookies contain wheat, which means that the McFlurry Oreo is not suitable for those following this diet.

Is the Baked Apple Pie gluten-free?

No, the Baked Apple Pie is not gluten-free. It contains wheat in the crust, which means that it is not suitable for those following this diet.

Are the Chocolate Chip Cookies gluten-free?

No, the Chocolate Chip Cookies are not gluten-free. They contain wheat.

Does McDonald’s offer gluten-free buns?

McDonald’s does not currently offer gluten-free buns in the United States. Instead, the chain’s sandwiches are served on regular buns that contain wheat. If your McDonald’s location offers lettuce wrap, you can opt for that instead or another McDonald’s gluten-free menu items.

Conclusion: Enjoying a Gluten-Free Meal at McDonald’s

Overall, McDonald’s has made an effort to provide gluten free menu items for customers with special dietary needs, including those following a gluten-free diet. By communicating with staff and being mindful of cross-contamination, customers with celiac disease or gluten intolerance can enjoy a meal at McDonald’s with confidence.

Due to health implications, more and more people are turning to a healthier lifestyle. Nowadays, with the growing demand for healthier lifestyles, fast-food chains are adopting and creating new products to cater to this trend. We also provide more dietary guides on the different fast food chains in the United States. You can check them out below. Thanks for reading!