Vegan Options You Can Order At Major Fast Food Restaurants
Vegans face unique challenges when eating out. Avoiding animal products like dairy, meat, poultry, and eggs can be difficult at major fast food restaurants. However, more companies are offering meat alternatives these days. Thanks to products like Impossible Burgers, vegans have more opportunities to enjoy fast food.
Of course, meatless burgers aren't vegans' only fast food option. Some chains have "accidentally vegan" items (ones that happen to be made without animal products) on their menus. Others offer entire meals composed of only vegan products. Vegans also can make substitutions to remove animal products from vegetarian meals to make them vegan, or can order a DIY vegan item by selecting that it be made with only vegan ingredients.
It's important to note, though, that many fast food places, like Burger King, warn about potential cross-contamination due to all foods — vegan products and animal products alike — being prepared on the same surfaces. For example, if your meatless patty is cooked on the same griddle as a meat patty, it may contain trace amounts of beef. But cross-contamination in this manner would be a concern at most restaurants that aren't exclusively vegan; so, to some vegans, finding fast food meals made with vegan ingredients is adequate.
If you're looking for vegan meals at your favorite fast food restaurants, you can't go wrong with these.
1. Papa John's
Papa John's is primarily known for its pizzas. While this doesn't seem like a food that vegans could enjoy, there are ways for vegans to dine at Papa John's. As the company explains, the best way to do this is by creating a pizza with vegan ingredients.
The most important step to veganizing your Papa John's pizza is skipping the cheese. As of this writing, Papa John's doesn't offer vegan cheese so you're going to want to leave out this component altogether. Not all of Papa John's pizza doughs are vegan, but its original crust is. The same goes for sauces. Papa John's Original and BBQ sauces are made without animal products.
From there, vegans have more menu options to get creative. Vegetable toppings like onions, jalapeño peppers, mushrooms, banana peppers, Roma tomatoes, green peppers, pineapple, and spinach are, of course, vegan — although available veggies may vary by location. Dipping sauces like Papa John's garlic sauce, buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce, and pizza dipping sauce are also free from animal products. Finally, additional menu items like whole pepperoncini, crushed red pepper flakes, and special seasoning packets are also vegan. Even the chain's original breadsticks are vegan-friendly.
2. Taco Bell
At Taco Bell, there are a few "accidentally vegan" items. These include sides and desserts like the chain's nacho chips, black beans and rice, cinnamon twists, and hash browns. All you will have to do for a larger meal is swap out a few ingredients.
A tool for doing this is to order a meal "fresco style," — a hack that substitutes diced tomatoes for ingredients that contain dairy. You can order a Black Bean Crunchwrap Supreme, then ask to remove the sour cream and nacho cheese sauce to make it vegan. To do the same to the Power Menu Bowl, ask for it to be made without cheese, avocado ranch sauce, and sour cream. To veganize a crunchy or soft taco, remove the seasoned beef, add black beans, and order it fresco style. To get a vegan-friendly bean burrito, just order it fresco style.
These are not the only vegan items available at Taco Bell. If you're interested in getting creative, know that the following are some offerings that are safe for vegans to eat at this chain: seasoned refried beans, seasoned rice, potato bites, Chalupa shells, premium guacamole, taco shells, Gordita flatbread, tortillas, and tostada shells. If you like the chain's famous sauces, know that the breakfast salsa, Diablo Sauce, Fire Sauce, hot sauce, mild sauce, and red sauce are all vegan.
3. KFC
Even at KFC, vegans can find something to eat. According to KFC's nutrition, allergen, and ingredient guide, there are a few sides that are made vegan. These include vegetable dishes like KFC's sweet kernel corn, green beans, secret recipe fries, and corn on the cob. Dessert sides like KFC's apple turnover are also vegan.
If you want a salad, order the chain's House Side Salad without the Parmesan Garlic Croutons and with Marzetti Light Italian Dressing, which is vegan. If you have a vegan child with you, there is something for them as well. Musselman's Applesauce is made without animal products.
Early in 2022, vegans were able to sample plant-based chicken at participating KFC locations. Beyond Fried Chicken, a vegan version of KFC's beloved protein, was temporarily sold in stores. For some customers, this was a step in the right direction. As of this writing, however, Beyond Fried Chicken is no longer available.
4. McDonald's
If you're looking to eat vegan at McDonald's, you have a few menu options. The McPlant, a plant-based burger developed by McDonald's and Beyond Meat, is available at select locations in the United States. You should hold off on ordering fries, though, as these are unfortunately not vegan.
If the McPlant is not available near you, you can still get the chain's vegan-friendly baked apple pie. This treat is a pastry filled with apple pieces, contained in a flaky outer crust, and topped with sugar. And, if you're at McDonald's in the morning, you may be able to veganize the restaurant's Fruit & Maple Oatmeal. Ingredients in this oatmeal include oats, apples, cranberries, two types of raisins, and sugar. To make this McDonald's item vegan, make sure you ask for it to be created without cream.
Condiments like the tangy barbecue sauce and the sweet 'n sour sauce are also vegan. Since salads are no longer on the United States menu of McDonald's, this completes the current list of available vegan items at this fast food chain.
5. Del Taco
Since there aren't Del Taco locations in every state, not all American vegans will have access to this chain. However, vegans who do have a Del Taco nearby will have no trouble finding something on the menu that fits their diet — from sides to mains to many individual ingredients.
Sides like Del Taco's Crinkle Cut Fries and Hashbrown Sticks are fit for vegans. Main dishes like the Epic Beyond Fresh Guacamole Burrito and the Beyond Guacamole Taco, which are both made with Beyond Meat, are vegan, according to the chain. Many other mains can be transformed into vegan meals by removing cheese, sour cream, and meat. Instead, substitute them with ingredients like beans, guacamole, or Beyond Meat, all of which are vegan. As for sauces, vegans can feel comfortable ordering Del Taco's mild sauce, Del Scorcho sauce, Del Inferno sauce, or ketchup without worry — all of these condiments are made without animal products, according to the chain's allergen guide.
6. Chick-fil-A
While there isn't a vegan chicken alternative at Chick-fil-A — not yet, at least — there are a handful of options to choose from. The chain's iconic Waffle Potato Fries are vegan, according to the company. The same goes for sides like Chick-fil-A's saltines, Waffle Potato Chips, Buddy Fruits apple sauce, Fruit Cup, Hash Brown, and the Kale Crunch Side — a side salad consisting of kale, cabbage, almonds, and Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette Dressing.
Other Chick-fil-A salads require a few substitutions to make them vegan. The Side Salad just needs to be made without cheese, and the Spicy Southwest Salad and Market Salad can be made vegan by removing the chicken and cheese. The Cool Wrap can also be made with a vegan salad dressing and without cheese and chicken.
Luckily, Chick-fil-A has a number of vegan salad dressings — like Light Italian Dressing, Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette, and Light Balsamic Vinaigrette — that you can substitute into this wrap and other menu items. Other sauces, including Polynesian Sauce, Sweet and Spicy Sriracha, and Barbecue Sauce, are also made without animal products. According to the chain's nutrition and allergen guide, individual ingredients like the plain English muffin (and more) are also vegan.
7. Panda Express
It may come as a surprise to readers to learn that vegans can eat at Panda Express. Nevertheless, there are a handful of menu items that can be combined to create a full vegan meal at this Asian-inspired fast food chain. Most importantly, there is plant-based orange chicken. The Beyond Original Orange Chicken is made to have a similar flavor to the chicken-based item, except it is vegan, of course. This imitation chicken can also be used as the base protein for a bowl or plate from the Panda Express menu.
As for sides, there are a few vegan ones. Panda Express's Chow Mein, Eggplant Tofu, Brown Steamed Rice, and White Steamed Rice are all vegan, according to the chain's nutrition and allergen guide. The restaurant's fortune cookies and Vegetable Spring Rolls are also free from animal products. Condiments such as soy, chili, and teriyaki sauces are vegan, as well as Sweet & Sour Sauce, Potsticker Sauce, hot mustard, and plum sauce.
8. Domino's
If you desire to order a vegan option from Domino's menu, your best option is to create a plant-based pizza. Thanks to the information outlined in the fast food restaurant's nutrition, allergen, and ingredient guides, it's not too difficult. Start by ordering a gluten-free or thin-crust pizza. Next, add pizza sauce — specifically, Robust Inspired Tomato Sauce, as this is the only vegan pizza sauce at Domino's. Skip the cheese, as the chain doesn't make a vegan version.
When it comes to toppings, there are quite a few options. Jalapeño peppers, hot buffalo sauce, onions, banana peppers, diced tomatoes, black olives, mushrooms, pineapples, spinach, roasted red peppers, green peppers, and hot buffalo sauce are all vegan. If you want to add a dipping cup to your meal, you can order the garlic dipping sauce or the marinara dipping sauce.
For some extra flavor, vegans don't need to shy away from using some of the seasoning packets that Domino's has available. The oregano blend, garlic and herb blend, cinnamon sugar blend, crushed red pepper packet, and creole seasoning are all vegan.
9. Chipotle
At Chipotle, the customizable format of the restaurant works in vegans' favor. Patrons can use vegan ingredients from the menu to create a plant-based burrito, lifestyle bowl, burrito bowl, quesadilla, salad, or taco. There are vegan options available in every section of the menu, according to the chain's special diet guide.
To start, Chipotle's flour tortillas and crispy corn tortillas are safe for vegans to eat. This means you can use them in making a vegan version of burritos, tacos, or quesadillas. The chain even has a plant-based protein called sofritas. If that isn't your thing, you can choose the veggie option, which will guarantee that avocado is added to your meal. Additional vegan ingredients available at Chipotle include cilantro-lime white rice, cilantro-lime brown rice, pinto beans, black beans, fajita veggies, romaine lettuce, or the super greens lettuce blend.
"One of my favorite plant-based fast food meals is the Chipotle vegetarian salad made with a base of lettuce, black beans, pinto beans (or both!), fajita vegetables, salsa, and guacamole," Samantha Cassetty, a nutrition and wellness expert, told The Healthy. "This meal stands out for taste, nutrition, and for being super filling. With a scoop of both black and pinto beans, it delivers 20 grams of plant-based protein and 25 grams of fiber — more than what most Americans eat in a day!"
To round out your meal, add a side of chips and dip. Dips like guacamole, chili-corn salsa, fresh tomato salsa, tomatillo-green chili salsa, and tomatillo-red chili salsa are all free from animal products. With anything that you order at Chipotle, make sure to skip the cheese, sour cream, queso, and meat.
10. Auntie Anne's
Auntie Anne's has a surprising amount of vegan menu items. This is convenient for vegans who often find themselves in a mall, where Auntie Anne's eateries tend to be located. You can request that certain pretzels or pretzel nuggets be made without butter — this will make some (but not all) baked goods sold here vegan.
The Original, Cinnamon Sugar, Sweet Almond, Raisin, and Jalapeño pretzels can all be made vegan by ordering them without butter. You can also use the "no butter" hack with the chain's Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel Nuggets or the Original Pretzel Nuggets. As for condiments, there are both sweet and savory options. For a savory pretzel, consider getting the Marinara Dip. For a sweet pretzel, you might want to get the Sweet Glaze Dip (via PETA).
It is worth noting, however, that even without butter, Auntie Anne's products may contain trace amounts of animal products, including milk and eggs.
11. Hardee's/Carl's Jr.
Both Hardee's and Carl's Jr. — two chains owned by the same parent company, CKE Restaurants Holdings, that share a very similar menu — have vegan options. At Hardee's, you won't find vegan meat, but sides like grits, Hash Rounds, Natural-Cut French Fries, and Crispy Curls are vegan. Per the allergen guide, you can also get a handful of plant-based sauces (like ketchup) to go with your order.
At Carl's Jr., you have the option of ordering a vegan sandwich. As of this writing, the chain serves the Beyond Famous Star, a vegan burger made with Beyond Meat. Typically, this item comes with cheese and mayonnaise. You will need to order the burger without these items for it to be fully vegan. Luckily, you can make up for the absence of these foods with other flavorful ingredients. Burger toppings like lettuce, tomato, white onion, red onion, jalapeños, guacamole, Sweet & Bold BBQ Dipping Sauce, ketchup, and mustard are all vegan (via Carl's Jr.). For plant-based sides, vegans can choose between Natural Cut Fries, Hash Rounds, CrissCut Fries, and fried zucchini.
12. Burger King
From mains to sides to desserts, the Burger King menu is full of vegan options. First and foremost, the chain offers a meat-free burger. The Impossible Whopper and other burgers made with Impossible patties require only a few modifications to become vegan. Customers following a plant-based diet simply need to order a burger with an Impossible patty and without dairy (cheese and/or mayonnaise).
Registered dietitian nutritionist Ginger Hultin told The Healthy, "Though they are often similar in calories and saturated fat to regular beef burgers, [Impossible burgers] are completely free of animal products and are vegetarian and vegan friendly. Ask for extra lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onions to boost up the flavor, nutrients, and fiber in this order."
According to many customers, this plant-based burger is a great substitute for the traditional Whopper at Burger King. "It's honestly not that much different than a regular whopper," wrote one person on Reddit. Another wrote, "It tastes like a whopper. I worked at BK back in the '90s. It tastes largely the same and even includes the flame-broiled taste." The fries, hash browns, and applesauce are also vegan. If you happen to stop into Burger King during breakfast, you can feel safe ordering the French Toast Sticks.
13. Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut has a few vegan sides on the menu. Per the fast food restaurant's nutritional information, the chain's Cinnamon Sticks (if you order them without icing) and Straight-Cut Fries are both vegan. The rest of the vegan options come from creating a pizza made with plant-based ingredients.
To start, choose between a Hand Tossed, Original Pan, or Thin 'n Crispy crust for your base. These doughs are all vegan. Next, select the plant-based Classic Marinara sauce. Don't add cheese, as Pizza Hut doesn't have vegan cheese on the menu. Finally, you can choose to add any number of vegan toppings, such as jalapeño peppers, Roma tomatoes, banana peppers, Mediterranean black olives, mushrooms, spinach, pineapple, or onions. If you prefer, you can add an extra serving of marinara dipping sauce to your order. Vegan customers who have followed similar recipes are ultimately satisfied with their food, according to one Reddit thread.