Allergen guide · Updated October 11, 2026
In N Out Gluten Free Guide: What Is Safe, What to Skip, and How to Order
⚡ Quick answer
Yes, eating in n out gluten free is easy. The bun is the only food item on the official allergen chart that contains wheat. Order your burger Protein Style, add fries, and tell the cashier you have a gluten allergy.
1
item in the fryer: potatoes
0
wheat ingredients in the fries
360
calories in a regular order of fries
460
calories, Double-Double Protein Style
Quick answer
In-N-Out gluten free at a glance
Gluten free: beef patties, American cheese, spread, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, chilies, fries, shakes, sodas, lemonade, tea, coffee.
Not gluten free: the bun. In-N-Out has no gluten free bun.
Watch out: hot cocoa and marshmallows carry a wheat cross-contact note.
Order like this: “Double-Double Protein Style, fries, and please mark it as a gluten allergy.”
The basics
Is In N Out Gluten Free?
In-N-Out is not a gluten free restaurant, but most of the menu is naturally free of gluten. Whether you call it In-N-Out or In and Out Burger, gluten free eating there comes down to one swap. The bun is the one food item that lists wheat as an ingredient on the company’s allergen chart.
That short menu works in your favor. There are no breaded chicken strips, no onion rings, and no fried pies. A burger, fries, and a drink are almost the whole menu, so the gluten sits in one place: the bread.
The catch is the kitchen. Buns are toasted and handled in the same small space where your burger gets built. In-N-Out says it will make a reasonable effort with allergy requests, but it cannot promise zero exposure.
Safe list
In-N-Out Gluten Free Menu at a Glance
This In N Out gluten free list follows the company’s published ingredient lists and allergen chart. Wheat is the only gluten grain on that chart, and the bun is the only ingredient that also lists malted barley.
Beef patty
100% beef with salt, black pepper, and canola oil
American cheese
Contains milk and soy, no wheat
Spread
Contains egg, no wheat listed
Lettuce, tomato, onion, grilled onions
Plain produce
Pickles and chopped chilies
No wheat in the ingredient list
Ketchup and mustard
No wheat in the ingredient list
French fries
Potatoes, sunflower oil, salt, pepper
Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry shakes
No wheat on the chart
Sodas, lemonade, iced tea, coffee, milk
No wheat listed
Hot cocoa and marshmallows
Made where wheat is present
Bun
Wheat flour, wheat gluten, malted barley
| Item | Gluten free? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Beef patty | Yes | 100% beef with salt, black pepper, and canola oil |
| American cheese | Yes | Contains milk and soy, no wheat |
| Spread | Yes | Contains egg, no wheat listed |
| Lettuce, tomato, onion, grilled onions | Yes | Plain produce |
| Pickles and chopped chilies | Yes | No wheat in the ingredient list |
| Ketchup and mustard | Yes | No wheat in the ingredient list |
| French fries | Yes | Potatoes, sunflower oil, salt, pepper |
| Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry shakes | Yes | No wheat on the chart |
| Sodas, lemonade, iced tea, coffee, milk | Yes | No wheat listed |
| Hot cocoa and marshmallows | Caution | Made where wheat is present |
| Bun | No | Wheat flour, wheat gluten, malted barley |
Item by item
What Is Gluten Free at In-N-Out?
Your In-N-Out gluten free options cover everything on the burger except the bun. That means the patties, cheese, spread, produce, and every add-on topping the kitchen offers.
Are In-N-Out Burgers Gluten Free?
Hamburgers at In-N-Out are gluten free once the bun is gone, because the beef patty itself has no gluten. In-N-Out lists them as 100% ground beef seasoned with salt, black pepper, and canola oil, with no fillers or binders.
The American cheese is gluten free too. Its allergens are milk and soy. So the meat and cheese are safe, and the bun is what turns a regular burger into a gluten problem.
Is In-N-Out Protein Style Gluten Free?
Protein Style is the easiest In-N-Out gluten free burger order, and it works on any burger. The kitchen swaps the bun for crisp, hand-leafed lettuce, and every other ingredient stays the same.
A Double-Double Protein Style comes to 460 calories and 12 grams of carbs on the official nutrition sheet. It is messy in the best way, so grab extra napkins.
Is the Flying Dutchman Gluten Free?
The Flying Dutchman is gluten free by ingredients. It is two beef patties with two slices of melted cheese and nothing else, with no bun, no lettuce, and no spread. You can read more about how the Flying Dutchman is built and ordered on our main guide.
Because it skips the bun from the start, it is one of the cleanest gluten free picks on the secret menu. Still mention the allergy, since the patties cook on the same grill as everyone else’s order.
Is In-N-Out Spread Gluten Free?
In-N-Out spread is gluten free. The ingredient list is oils, cucumbers, tomatoes, vinegar, eggs, sugar, mustard seed, and spices, with egg as its only listed allergen.
Spread is a Thousand Island style sauce, and some people call it secret sauce, special sauce, or animal sauce. Under every name it is the same recipe, so In-N-Out sauce is gluten free whatever you call it.
Is In-N-Out Ketchup Gluten Free?
Yes, the ketchup is gluten free. It is tomato concentrate, sugar, vinegar, salt, spices, and onion powder, so it is safe for fries or a bunless burger.
The mustard, pickles, chopped chilies, and grilled onions are also free of wheat. That means you can still order Animal Style or add peppers without breaking your gluten free plan.
The bread
Does In-N-Out Have Gluten Free Buns?
No, In-N-Out does not have gluten free buns. The company bakes one bun recipe, and it contains enriched wheat flour, wheat gluten, malted barley flour, and malt.
Your bread choices are the regular bun or no bun at all. Ask for Protein Style for a lettuce wrap, or order a Flying Dutchman. Some guests bring their own gluten free bread and build the burger at the table.
No gluten free bread also means the grilled cheese is off the list. If you lean meatless, our guide to the In-N-Out veggie burger shows how to order a bunless version.
Fries
Are In-N-Out Fries Gluten Free?
Yes, In-N-Out fries are gluten free. They are fresh potatoes cut in the store and cooked in 100% sunflower oil, then seasoned with salt and black pepper.
The fryer only cooks french fries, because nothing else on the menu gets fried. That makes the fryer gluten free by default, which is rare at a burger chain. In-N-Out does not call it a dedicated gluten free fryer in writing, so ask at the counter if that matters to you.
calories in a regular order of fries
item in the fryer: potatoes
wheat ingredients in the fries
Are In-N-Out Animal Fries Gluten Free?
Animal Style fries are gluten free by ingredients. The topping is melted cheese, spread, and grilled onions, and none of those contain wheat. Here is everything that goes on Animal Style fries if you want the full breakdown.
The toppings are added on the burger line, so the cross contact risk is a little higher than with plain fries. Ask for the allergy mark on the fries too, not only on the burger.
Are In-N-Out Shakes Gluten Free?
Yes, In-N-Out shakes are gluten free. The chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry milkshakes use real ice cream. The allergen chart lists milk, soy, and egg notes, but no wheat.
The milkshake ingredients are simple: milk, cream, sugar, stabilizers, vanilla, and a chocolate or strawberry syrup. Shakes are poured away from the bun station, and gluten free guests often call them one of the safest items here.
Is In-N-Out Hot Chocolate Gluten Free?
In-N-Out hot cocoa has no wheat ingredients, but it is not a safe pick for celiac guests. The cocoa mix is made in a facility where wheat is present, and the marshmallow bits carry the same warning.
If you are only cutting back on gluten, the risk may feel small. If you have celiac disease, skip the In-N-Out hot cocoa and grab a shake or coffee.
Gluten Free Drinks at In-N-Out
Every cold drink at In-N-Out is gluten free. The fountain has Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Cherry Coke, 7UP, Dr Pepper, and root beer. Pink lemonade, Lite Pink Lemonade, iced tea, milk, and coffee are safe too.
None of these drinks list wheat, barley, or rye. The pink lemonade is lemon juice, sugar, and natural flavors, so it is an easy match for an In-N-Out gluten free meal.
Cross Contamination at In-N-Out
Cross contamination is the real gluten risk at In-N-Out. Buns are toasted and handled a few feet from the patties, cheese, and toppings, and crumbs travel.
The company’s allergen sheet says it will make a reasonable effort with allergy requests but cannot guarantee your food avoids an allergen. Its nutrition page also notes that food is made in kitchens where cross contact may happen.
The good news is how the kitchen responds to the word allergy. When an order is flagged, the crew typically changes gloves, cleans the prep space, and keeps your food apart. Many gluten free guests report a careful, separate setup.
Step by step
How to Order Gluten Free at In-N-Out
Ordering gluten free at In-N-Out takes about four short lines at the speaker or counter. Say the word allergy early, because that is what triggers the special handling.
Gluten free order, step by step
Say it first.
Start with “I have a gluten allergy” before you name any food, so the staff know to take extra care with your order.
Pick a bunless burger.
Order Protein Style or a Flying Dutchman. Both skip the wheat bun completely.
Flag every item.
Ask them to mark the fries, Animal Style toppings, and any extra burgers with the allergy too.
Check before you eat.
Look at the wrapper and the burger. If a bun showed up or crumbs are visible, ask for a fresh one.
A sample order sounds like this: a gluten allergy, a Double-Double Protein Style, fries, and a vanilla shake. Going bigger works the same way, and our 4×4 ordering guide covers the stacked burgers.
Is In-N-Out Safe for Celiac?
Many people with celiac disease eat at In-N-Out without trouble, but it is never risk free. The kitchen is shared, and the chain makes no gluten free guarantee.
For In-N-Out gluten free celiac orders, your sensitivity decides how far to go. Plain fries and shakes come from stations away from the buns, so they carry less risk than a lettuce-wrapped burger. This guide is general information, not medical advice, so talk with your doctor about what is right for you.
You can also call In-N-Out customer service at (800) 786-1000 with specific allergen questions. The company itself suggests talking with a doctor if you have allergen concerns.
Two rules
Gluten Free and Dairy Free at In-N-Out
An In-N-Out gluten free and dairy free meal takes two changes. Drop the cheese and skip the shakes. The patty, spread, produce, fries, and most drinks contain no milk.
Spread is dairy free on the allergen chart, since egg is its only listed allergen. A hamburger Protein Style with fries and lemonade fits both rules. Vegan and vegetarian gluten free options are thin, with fries and a Protein Style veggie burger as the main picks.
Key Takeaways
FAQ
In-N-Out Gluten Free FAQ
Final Word on Eating Gluten Free at In-N-Out
In N Out gluten free eating is easier than at most fast food burger chains, because the bun is the only wheat item on the menu. Order Protein Style or a Flying Dutchman, add fries from the potato-only fryer, and finish with a shake.
Say gluten allergy before anything else, and skip the hot cocoa if you have celiac disease. When you are ready for the next order, see how the Flying Dutchman stacks up as a bunless favorite.