McDonald’s is loved around the world for its nostalgia-inducing food, with iconic menu items from the Big Mac to the Happy Meal to the Filet-O-Fish. Everyone’s got their McDonald’s order down by now, whether it’s a regular lunch stop, a once-in-a-while treat, or a trusted meal on the road.
But as long as the McDonald’s menu is, it’s notoriously not very diet-friendly (which isn’t necessarily surprising coming from the giant of fast food chains). If you’re looking for options that fit various dietary restrictions or lifestyles, whether it’s vegan, keto, or gluten-free, it’ll be a bit tough to find what you need at McDonald’s – but with some order modifications, it’s possible!
So if you follow a gluten-free diet and you find yourself driving through those golden arches, what are your options? Here’s everything you can grab at McDonald’s for a gluten-free meal on the go.
Gluten-free food and drink options on the McDonald’s menu
As with all fast food chains, it’s important to keep in mind that although some items are gluten-free or can be modified to remove any products that contain gluten, McDonald’s can’t guarantee the absence of cross-contamination and thus does not have any certified gluten-free items on the menu. If cross-contamination is a particular concern or could be harmful to you, it’s best not to order anything that’s not pre-packaged.
When it comes to ordering a gluten-free meal or snack at McDonald’s, your main choices will be sandwich menu items, with the bun removed. Without a gluten-free bread option or a proper lettuce wrap offering, your meal will usually just end up being meat, cheese, and a few other toppings – but you can essentially order any of McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches or burgers sans muffin, biscuit, or bun.
Unfortunately none of the chicken or fish protein options at McDonald’s are gluten-free (that includes nuggets and chicken sandwiches) due to the fact that they’re all breaded and fried. And a few other items are no-nos thanks to some hidden ingredients: sadly both the fries and hash browns contain a “natural beef flavor” additive that’s made from wheat.
You’ll definitely have more luck with beverages at McDonald’s, so if you’re thirsty there’s plenty you can order at the drive-thru. And if you’re craving something sweet, you’re in luck – McDonald’s shakes and ice cream sundaes are gluten-free!
Here’s everything on the current menu that you can order at McDonald’s if you’re gluten-free.
| Breakfast Items | Required Modifications |
| Egg McMuffin | No english muffin |
| Sausage McMuffin | No english muffin |
| Sausage McMuffin with Egg | No english muffin |
| Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit | No biscuit |
| Sausage Biscuit with Egg | No biscuit |
| Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddle | No griddle cake |
| Sausage, Egg & Cheese McGriddle | No griddle cake |
| Big Breakfast | No hash brown, no biscuit |
| Side of Bacon | |
| Lunch + Dinner Items | Required Modifications |
| Hamburger | No bun |
| Cheeseburger | No bun |
| Double Cheeseburger | No bun |
| McDouble | No bun |
| Big Mac | No bun |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese | No bun |
| Quarter Pounder with Cheese Bacon | No bun |
| Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese | No bun |
| Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese Deluxe | No bun |
| Dipping Sauces + Condiments | Required Modifications |
| Apple Slices | |
| Dipping Sauces + Condiments | Required Modifications |
| Ketchup | |
| Mustard | |
| Mayonnaise | |
| Spicy Buffalo Sauce | |
| Creamy Ranch Sauce | |
| Honey Mustard Sauce | |
| Tangy Barbeque Sauce | |
| Honey | |
| Sweets + Treats | Required Modifications |
| Vanilla Shake | |
| Chocolate Shake | |
| Strawberry Shake | |
| Hot Fudge Sundae | |
| Hot Caramel Sundae | |
| Regular McFlurry w/ M&Ms | *Technically gluten-free but high risk of cross-contamination from other McFlurrys |
| McCafe Coffees | Required Modifications |
| Premium Roast Coffee | |
| Americano | |
| Cappuccino | |
| Caramel Cappuccino | |
| French Vanilla Cappuccino | |
| Caramel Macchiato (Hot or Iced) | |
| Iced Coffee | |
| Iced Caramel Coffee | |
| Iced French Vanilla Coffee | |
| Latte (Hot or Iced) | |
| Caramel Latte (Hot or Iced) | |
| Mocha Latte (Hot or Iced) | |
| French Vanilla Latte (Hot or Iced) | |
| Caramel Frappe | |
| Mocha Frappe | |
| Hot Chocolate | |
| Beverages | Required Modifications |
| All beverages! |
Unfortunately, McDonald’s fries are not gluten-free as they technically contain wheat. One of the ingredients in McDonald’s french fries is a “natural beef flavor”, which is an additive derived from wheat. The same goes for McDonald’s hash browns, so those are also not gluten-free.
No, at this time McDonald’s does not offer a gluten-free bread or bun option, and there are no known plans to add one to the menu. McDonald’s doesn’t offer lettuce wrapped items either, but you can ask for your protein over shredded lettuce in place of the bread.
McDonalds had several entree and side salads on the menu for a long time, but the chain recently discontinued salads in the US in 2020.
Big Mac sauce isn’t gluten free.
McDonald’s in Norway and several other European countries offer gluten-free buns. They don’t give any guarantees when it comes to cross-contamination though.