McDonald’s offers a variety of gluten-free breakfast options for customers with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. With some modifications, most McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches and platters can be made gluten-free. Eggs, cheese, meat, and potatoes are naturally gluten-free. Breads and buns containing gluten can be removed or substituted with a gluten-free English muffin or tortilla. McDonald’s uses separate prep areas and cooking tools to reduce cross-contamination for gluten-free orders.
Can You Get Gluten-Free Breakfast at McDonald’s?
Yes, McDonald’s has gluten-free breakfast options. While McDonald’s does not have a dedicated gluten-free menu, most breakfast items can be modified to be gluten-free by removing the bun or substituting a gluten-free English muffin or tortilla shell.
What McDonald’s Breakfast Has No Gluten?
The following standard McDonald’s breakfast menu items are gluten-free as-is:
- Egg White Delight McMuffin without the muffin
- Egg McMuffin without the English muffin
- Sausage Burrito without the tortilla
- Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit without the biscuit
- Sausage Biscuit without the biscuit
- Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles without the pancake bread
- Sausage McGriddles without the pancake bread
- Side of eggs
- Side of sausage patties
- Side of bacon slices
- Side of hash browns
- Yogurt parfait
- Fruit & Maple Oatmeal without brown sugar
- Cinnamon melts
McDonald’s also has some limited time and regional gluten-free offerings that may be available, such as gluten-free pancakes or breakfast bowls.
Gluten-Free English Muffin and Tortilla Options
While McDonald’s does not offer a gluten-free English muffin or tortilla, most locations allow substitutions with gluten-free bread the customer provides. Some approved alternatives include:
- Udi’s Gluten Free English Muffins
- Schar Gluten-Free English Muffins
- Canyon Bakehouse Gluten-Free English Muffins
- Mission Gluten-Free Tortillas
- Tumaro’s Gluten-Free Tortillas
Check with your local McDonald’s to see if they allow gluten-free bread substitutions in breakfast sandwiches. Policies may vary by location.
How to Order Gluten-Free McDonald’s Breakfast
Here are some tips for ordering a gluten-free McDonald’s breakfast:
- Request no bread, bun, biscuit or muffin on breakfast sandwiches
- Ask for sausage or bacon as a side instead of on a sandwich
- Order eggs, cheese, or oatmeal without biscuits, gravy, or brown sugar
- Ask for hash browns or yogurt as a side
- Request a sandwich with your own gluten-free bread
- Ask for new gloves and clean cooking tools to avoid cross-contamination
- Clarify that you have celiac disease or a gluten allergy when ordering
Being clear about needing fully gluten-free items is important when ordering.
McDonald’s Gluten-Free Breakfast Sandwiches
Here are some gluten-free sandwich options at McDonald’s:
Egg McMuffin
The Egg McMuffin comes with an English muffin, but you can order without the muffin to make it gluten-free. Ask for the egg, American cheese slice, and Canadian bacon or sausage patty prepared together without the English muffin.
Egg White Delight
Order the Egg White Delight McMuffin without the muffin to get just the egg whites, cheese, and Canadian bacon.
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit
Remove the biscuit to make this sandwich gluten-free. Order the folded eggs, cheese slice, and bacon together.
Sausage Biscuit
Ask for the sausage patty without the biscuit to make this gluten-free.
Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles
The pancake bread in the McGriddles contains gluten. Order without the bread for a gluten-free option.
Sausage McGriddles
Hold the pancake griddle bread and order just the sausage patty.
Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast comes with pancakes, which contain gluten. Order the scrambled eggs, hash browns, and sausage patty without pancakes.
Gluten-Free McDonald’s Breakfast Platters
McDonald’s breakfast platters make convenient gluten-free options. Order any of the following without biscuits, muffins, or pancakes:
- Egg White Delight McMuffin Meal
- Sausage Burrito Meal
- Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Meal
- Sausage Biscuit Meal
- Bacon, Egg & Cheese McGriddles Meal
- Sausage McGriddles Meal
- Big Breakfast Meal
- Hotcakes and Sausage Meal
The platters come with hash browns and a small drink, which are gluten-free. Hold the pancakes, biscuit or muffin from the platter when ordering.
Gluten-Free McDonald’s Breakfast Sides
McDonald’s offers several sides that are naturally gluten-free:
- Hash browns
- Scrambled eggs
- Sausage patties
- Bacon slices
- Apple slices
- Yogurt parfait
- Fruit & Maple Oatmeal without brown sugar
- Cinnamon melts
These make safe gluten-free additions to any McDonald’s breakfast.
Gluten-Free McDonald’s Breakfast Drinks
All McDonald’s hot and cold beverages are gluten-free, including:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Orange juice
- Milk
- Soda
- Smoothies
- Shakes
Ask for no biscuit crumbs or brown sugar toppings on blended McCafe drinks.
Is McDonald’s Hash Brown Gluten Free?
Yes, McDonald’s hash browns are certified gluten-free to less than 20 ppm. Hash browns are cooked in dedicated fryers separate from French fries that may contain traces of gluten.
Is McDonald’s Oatmeal Gluten Free?
The plain Fruit & Maple Oatmeal without added brown sugar is gluten-free. McDonald’s adds gluten-containing brown sugar to the oatmeal by default, so request it plain with just fruit. Avoid the Honey Nut Oatmeal.
Is McDonald’s Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit Gluten-free?
No, the regular Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit is not gluten-free because it is served on a gluten-containing buttermilk biscuit. Order without the biscuit to make it gluten-free.
Is McDonald’s Sausage McMuffin Gluten-Free?
No, the regular Sausage McMuffin is not gluten-free. The English muffin contains gluten. Order without the English muffin to make it gluten-free.
Is McDonald’s Steak Egg and Cheese Bagel Gluten-Free?
No, the Steak, Egg & Cheese Bagel is not gluten-free. The bagel contains gluten. Order the steak and eggs without the bagel to make it gluten-free.
Gluten-Free McDonald’s Breakfast Burritos
Burritos make a convenient gluten-free breakfast option at McDonald’s with some modifications:
- Sausage Burrito – Order without the tortilla
- Bacon, Egg & Cheese Burrito – Hold the tortilla
- Cheesy Bacon and Potato Bites Burrito – Order without the tortilla shell
You can also bring your own gluten-free tortilla to assemble into a burrito.
Gluten-Free McDonald’s Breakfast Wraps
Breakfast wraps normally contain flour tortillas with gluten. To make McDonald’s breakfast wraps gluten-free:
- Egg White Delight McWrap – Hold the tortilla
- Bacon, Egg & Cheese McWrap – Order without the tortilla
- Sausage McWrap – Ask for no tortilla
- Southwest Chicken McWrap – Omit the tortilla
You may be able to use your own gluten-free tortilla instead.
Gluten-Free McDonald’s Breakfast Sauce Options
Most McDonald’s breakfast sauces and condiments are gluten-free, including:
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayonnaise
- Butter
- Jelly
- Honey
- Syrup
Avoid sausage gravy, hollandaise sauce, and chicken sausage gravy, which may contain gluten. Request plain eggs without gravy or sauces.
Gluten-Free McDonald’s McCafé Bakery Items
Most McDonald’s McCafé bakery items contain gluten, except for the following:
- Cinnamon melts
- Cinnamon rolls – Order without icing which contains gluten
- Blueberry muffin tops – Remove muffin bottom
Avoid muffins, turnovers, bagels, cookies, scones, pies, and cake which all contain gluten.
Does McDonald’s Have Gluten-Free Buns or Muffins?
No, McDonald’s does not currently offer gluten-free buns or English muffins. Most locations allow you to bring your own gluten-free bread to assemble sandwiches. Some approved brands include Udi’s, Canyon Bakehouse, and Schar. Check with your local McDonald’s on their policies for gluten-free bread substitutions.
Is McDonald’s Sausage Gluten-Free?
Yes, McDonald’s sausage patties and sausage crumbles are gluten-free to less than 20 ppm according to McDonald’s allergen information. The sausage is made without wheat, barley, rye, or oats that contain gluten.
Can You Get Gluten-Free Pancakes at McDonald’s?
Unfortunately, the standard McDonald’s pancakes contain gluten. However, some locations may offer gluten-free pancakes regionally or seasonally, such as their Blueberry Oat Cakes. Check with your local restaurant on availability of gluten-free pancake options when ordering.
How to Make Your McDonald’s Breakfast Sandwich Gluten-Free:
Here is a summary of how to order popular McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches gluten-free:
Egg McMuffin:
Order without the English muffin
Bacon, Egg and Cheese Biscuit:
Hold the biscuit
Sausage McGriddles:
Order without the pancake griddles
Bacon, Egg and Cheese McGriddles:
Hold the pancake griddle bread
Sausage Burrito:
Ask for no tortilla shell
Sausage Biscuit:
Order just the sausage patty without biscuit
Gluten-Free Dairy-Free McDonald’s Breakfast
Those avoiding both gluten and dairy can order McDonald’s breakfast items without cheese, biscuits, muffins, or pancakes. Some options include:
- Scrambled eggs
- Sausage or bacon
- Hash browns
- Apples slices
- Coffee and tea
- Fruit & Maple oatmeal without brown sugar
Request plain eggs without cheese or butter and get sausage, bacon or hash browns as sides to customize a dairy-free and gluten-free McDonald’s breakfast.
What Gluten-Free Items Can You Order from McDonald’s All Day?
In addition to breakfast, the following gluten-free options are available all day at McDonald’s:
- French fries
- Hash browns
- Apple slices
- Most salads without croutons
- Hamburgers without the bun
- Chicken nuggets
- Soda, coffee, tea, milkshakes
Burgers can be modified to lettuce wrap or served without a bun over a salad. With some adjustments, many menu items can be prepared gluten-free.
McDonald’s Gluten-Free Menu Resources
McDonald’s offers several resources for customers seeking gluten-free menu options:
- Full allergen information guide online
- Mobile app with filtering for common allergens
- Allergy information and ingredient questions: 1-800-222-6227
- Guides for customizing popular menu items
- Care kitchen for allergy requests at some locations
- Allergen information cards in restaurants
These tools make it easier to identify gluten-free choices when ordering McDonald’s for breakfast or any meal.
Conclusion
While McDonald’s does not have a specific gluten-free menu, nearly all breakfast items can be customized to be gluten-free with some simple modifications. By holding the bun, biscuit or muffin and requesting clean preparation, you can enjoy tasty McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches, platters, and sides gluten-free. Do your research, communicate your needs clearly, and customize your order to get a safe and satisfying gluten-free McDonald’s breakfast.
