Following the paleo diet, which is based off of the foods that were accessible to our Paleolithic ancestors to hunt and gather, can be difficult to stick to in the 21st century – especially if you’re dining out at a fast food restaurant.
But some places provide more diet-friendly options than others, and Culver’s happens to be one of them.
If you’re curious about what you can order on the Culver’s menu while on the paleo diet, we’ve rounded up everything that will pass as paleo-friendly.
Paleo-friendly food and drink choices on the Culver’s menu
A disclaimer to begin: you most likely know this already if you’re familiar with the paleo diet, but fast food in general isn’t a great option for those on a paleo diet due the nature of its many processed ingredients and the way the food is made. So take these recommendations with a grain of salt, as even the better choices are likely to be more processed or contain additive ingredients.
However, if you’re looking to enjoy the occasional quick meal on the go or indulge once in a while, there are options on the Culver’s menu that will help you stick to an overall paleo diet.
You’ll have two main proteins to choose from at Culver’s that are paleo-friendly. The first is Culver’s beef patty, known as the ButterBurger, which is made with 100% ground beef and seasoned with salt and pepper. The second is the grilled chicken, which does contain a few added ingredients like preservatives but still makes for one of the better options.
While Culver’s offers a plethora of other meats, like beef pot roast, corned beef, and seafood, these items are all either made with too many processed ingredients or fried in highly processed oils, deeming them unfriendly for a paleo diet.
Between the beef patties and the grilled chicken, you’ll have your choice of several burgers, sandwiches, and salads – although, you’ll need to remove the bread or bun from any orders since the paleo diet eliminates grains.
Some other items you’ll need to modify or remove are mayonnaise, certain dressing that contain added sugar or processed oils, and cheese. This last one is moreso up to your discretion, though; while most paleo dieters eliminate cheese and dairy altogether, some allow for certain types of dairy or consume it on occasion. Ultimately it’s up to you whether to remove the cheese from your order, but keep in mind the cheese at Culver’s will be highly processed.
You’ll want to stay away from items like the soups, which all include things like grains, legumes, and added sugars. And obviously anything that’s fried is not considered paleo-friendly, so items like the crinkle cut fries, jumbo shrimp and seafood sandwiches, and corn dog are all no-gos.
The good news is that even with the ingredient removals, there are several paleo-friendly items on the menu that will still make for a substantial meal without them. And you’ve also got some options when it comes to sides, like steamed broccoli and applesauce.
There are a few dressings and dips that you can spice things up with, but again keep in mind that these are generally more processed products. We’ve included the handful of those available that contain fewer ingredients and no added sugar.
Speaking of sugar, those sugary desserts and beverages are off the table – but you can enjoy a coffee or unsweetened iced tea with your meal!
Below is the full list of everything on the current Culver’s menu that’s considered paleo-friendly, along with any modifications required for the order.
| Paleo-Friendly Burgers + Sandwiches | Required Modifications |
| ButterBurger | No bun |
| The Culver’s Deluxe | No bun No cheese No mayonnaise |
| Mushroom & Swiss | No bun No cheese |
| Sourdough Melt | No sourdough No cheese |
| Wisconsin Swiss Melt | No bread No cheese |
| Grilled Chicken Sandwich | No bun |
| Paleo-Friendly Salads + Sides | Required Modifications |
| Chicken Cashew Salad | No cheese |
| Strawberry Fields Salad | No cheese |
| Cranberry Bacon Bleu Salad | No dried cranberries No bacon No cheese |
| Garden Fresco Salad | No croutons No cheese |
| Garden Side Salad | No croutons No cheese |
| Steamed Broccoli | |
| Apple Sauce | |
| Paleo-Friendly Condiments + Dressings | |
| Della Terra Marinara | |
| Mustard | |
| Hot Sauce | |
| Paleo-Friendly Beverages | |
| Coffee | |
| Fresh Brewed Tea |
Unfortunately Culver’s does not currently offer a lettuce-wrapped option, but since the burgers and sandwiches are made to order you can ask your cashier to remove the bun. In some cases, they may be able to add some extra lettuce underneath to make the burger order more like a bowl.
Culver’s Harvest Veggie Burger is not paleo-friendly because it contains several ingredients that are to be avoided on a paleo diet: milk, wheat flour, corn, chickpeas, and cheese.
The beef patties that Culver’s uses in all of their signature ButterBurgers is made of 100% ground beef that’s seasoned with salt and pepper.
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