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KFC, aka Kentucky Fried Chicken, has been dishing out some of America’s favorite fried chicken and comforting southern-style sides since 1930. But like many fast food joints, this place might not be an ideal drive-through location for someone on a gluten-free diet.
If you aren’t able to consume gluten for health reasons or you’re simply avoiding it in your diet, can you still enjoy one of your favorite fast food chains? The short answer: sadly the fried chicken itself is off limits, but you can dig into a handful of KFC’s famous sides.
For the long answer, keep reading to find out everything on the current KFC menu that’s considered gluten-free.
Gluten-free food and drinks available on the KFC menu
KFC’s fried chicken – which is included in most of their menu items, from family-size chicken buckets, to chicken tenders and nuggets, to sandwiches and wraps – is unfortunately not gluten-free. That’s because the original recipe calls for marinated chicken that’s breaded with wheat flour and spices, and then deep fried. While KFC had grilled chicken on the menu at one point, it’s currently limited to certain locations and largely unavailable, but even the grilled chicken contains wheat flour in the recipe.
The fast food chain does offer a handful of other menu items that are naturally gluten-free; however, with many items removed over recent years to allow for a more simplified menu, the options are slim nowadays. So former gluten-free go-tos like the green beans and side salads are gone – but a few of KFC’s current homestyle sides are free of wheat or gluten and can still make for a hearty snack or meal.
One important note to consider is that, as is the case at most fast food joints, ordering a gluten-free item doesn’t necessarily mean it’s completely free of any cross-contamination. Due to the nature of a place like KFC, which often uses shared food preparation spaces, the lack of cross-contamination with other wheat-containing ingredients isn’t guaranteed. So if you have celiac disease or are extra sensitive to gluten, you may want to avoid menu items like the Secret Recipe Fries, which are fried using the same fryer as gluten-containing items like the chicken.
Otherwise, the following food and drink items can all be enjoyed at KFC if you’re on a gluten-free diet.
| Gluten-Free Homestyle Sides | Notes |
| Coleslaw | |
| Mashed Potatoes | *Gravy contains flour, but is packaged separately |
| Secret Recipe Fries | *Cooked in a shared fryer |
| Sweet Kernel Corn | |
| Gluten-Free Sauces + Condiments | |
| BBQ Dipping Sauce Cup | |
| Buffalo Ranch Dipping Sauce Cup | |
| Colonel’s Buttery Spread | |
| Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce Cup | |
| Honey Sauce Packet | |
| Ketchup | |
| Ranch Dipping Cup | |
| Hot Sauce | |
| Gluten-Free Kids Meal Items | |
| Applesauce | |
| Gluten-Free Beverages | |
| All Sodas + Fountain Drinks | |
| Iced Tea + Sweet Tea | |
| Lemonade | |
| Orange Juice | |
| Milk + Chocolate Milk | |
| Capri Sun |
Do KFC fries contain gluten?
No, KFC fries do not contain wheat or flour and are made with a gluten-free recipe. However, the fries are fried using the same fryer as other gluten-containing food items at KFC, such as their breaded fried chicken. So if you are sensitive to cross-contamination, it’s best to avoid ordering KFC’s fries.
Does KFC have a gluten-free menu?
KFC does not currently specify a separate gluten-free menu; however, the company does have a nutrition guide available on their website that indicates which items contain certain allergens, including gluten.
Does KFC offer any gluten-free chicken?
Unfortunately, all of KFC’s chicken is breaded in wheat flour and fried. The fast food chain does not currently offer a grilled or non-breaded chicken option, or any other meat that’s gluten-free.
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About Carly Weaver
Carly is a writer, editor, and lover of all things food. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Telecommunications from Pepperdine University in 2011. With nearly ten years of experience in copywriting and editorial roles at creative marketing agencies, she now writes content for websites and online publications in the food, beverage, and travel industries. A New Jersey native turned Los Angeles local, her kitchen is chock-full of cookbooks and food puns.
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