In the mood to eat out at Chili's? If you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, be sure to check out this post before heading out.
Chili's has a gluten free menu, but they call it gluten friendly, and that word choice matters. The items on it are made without gluten containing ingredients. They are not made in a gluten free kitchen.
The good news is that the list is longer than most people expect. Steaks, fajitas, ribs, bone-in wings, and the chili all come back clean on Chili's own allergen chart. The catch is the fryer and the shared grill, where the real risk lies.
Menus change often, so this is not guaranteed to be accurate. Always check with your server.
Menu checked against Chili's allergen guide on 9/3/2026.
Is Chili's Gluten Free?
Yes and no. Unfortunately, it's a bit complicated.
Chili's uses the term 'gluten-friendly menu' instead of 'gluten free menu'. While this may not seem like a big difference, there is when it comes to celiac disease or gluten intolerance.
According to the official Chili's website, any item marked on their gluten-friendly menu is prepared without gluten-containing ingredients, based on information they receive from approved suppliers.
However, they also state that they do not claim that these items meet the definition of gluten-free, which is defined as containing less than 20 ppm of gluten under FDA standards.
This is because Chili's has a high risk of cross-contamination. They mention multiple sources of gluten in their kitchen, so there is a risk of gluten cross-contact during preparation and cooking.
Chili's also marks individual items with a cross-contact note indicating that the ingredient is cooked on a surface with other gluten-containing foods or in shared fryers. Read that item by item rather than trusting the list as a whole.
So it's important to inform the manager of your food allergy before placing an order.
Where that leaves you. If you have celiac disease, the ingredient list is the easy part and the kitchen is the hard part. If you are avoiding gluten without an allergy, you will eat well here.
What Is Actually Safe at Chili's
These come back with no wheat or gluten on Chili's allergen chart. Cross-contact still applies to anything not cooked on the grill or in the fryer.
- Steaks. Classic Ribeye, Classic Sirloin, Surf and Turf Ribeye, Surf and Turf Sirloin, Guiltless Sirloin
- Fajitas without tortillas. Chicken, steak, or shrimp, with corn tortillas instead of flour
- Ribs. House BBQ and Dry Rub, both the Texas-size and the half rack
- Bone-in wings in every sauce. Plain, Lemon Pepper, Buffalo, Honey Chipotle, and House BBQ
- Margarita Grilled Chicken and Ancho Salmon
- The Original Chili and the Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Any burger ordered without the bun
- Santa Fe Chicken Salad with grilled chicken and the House Salad without croutons
- Chipotle Chicken Fresh Mex Bowl
- Sides. Black beans, Mexican rice, roasted asparagus, steamed broccoli, mashed potatoes, garlic butter mushrooms, roasted street corn, mandarin oranges
- Chips, salsa, and guacamole on ingredients. See the fryer note below
- Every salad dressing except the croutons that come with the salad
Two items are worth calling out because they surprise people. The Oldtimer Burger without the bun and the Margarita Grilled Chicken come back with no listed allergens. Not wheat, not milk, not soy, nothing. If you are avoiding more than one thing, those are your two orders.
Chili's Gluten Free and Allergen Chart
Every item on Chili's allergen chart, what it contains, and whether the fryer or grill is a factor. Chili's lists these as served, so a modification changes the row.
| Item | Wheat / Gluten | Other allergens | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starters | |||
| Bone-In Wings, Buffalo | No | Egg, fish, milk | |
| Bone-In Wings, Honey Chipotle | No | Egg, milk | |
| Bone-In Wings, House BBQ | No | Egg, milk | |
| Boneless Wings, all sauces | Yes | Egg, milk, soy | Breaded |
| Bottomless Tostada Chips & Salsa | No | None listed | Vegan. Shared fryer |
| Fresh Guacamole & Chips | No | None listed | Vegan. Shared fryer |
| Fresh Salsa | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Fresh Guacamole | No | None listed | Vegan |
| White Queso | No | Milk, soy | |
| White Skillet Queso & Chips | No | Milk, soy | Shared fryer |
| Skillet Beef Queso | Yes | Milk, soy | |
| House-Made Ranch | No | Egg, milk | |
| Texas Cheese Fries, full order | No | Egg, milk | Shared fryer |
| Texas Cheese Fries with Chili | No | Egg, milk | Shared fryer |
| Classic Nachos | Yes | Milk, soy | |
| Fried Mozzarella | Yes | Egg, milk | |
| Nashville Hot Mozzarella | Yes | Egg, milk | |
| Quesadillas, brisket or bacon ranch | Yes | Egg, milk, soy | |
| Southwestern Eggrolls | Yes | Egg, milk, soy | |
| Wings and wing sauces | |||
| Bone-In Wings, plain | No | None listed | |
| Bone-In Wings, lemon pepper | No | Soy | |
| Boneless Wings, plain or lemon pepper | Yes | Egg, soy | Breaded |
| Buffalo sauce | No | Fish | |
| Garlic Parmesan sauce | No | Milk, soy | |
| Honey Chipotle sauce | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Honey Sriracha sauce | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Nashville Hot sauce | No | Milk | |
| House BBQ sauce | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Mango Habanero sauce | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Ranch | No | Egg, milk | |
| Santa Fe sauce | No | Egg | |
| Sweet Chili Zing sauce | Yes | Soy | The only wing sauce with wheat |
| Burgers, ordered without the bun | |||
| Oldtimer Burger, no bun | No | None listed | Nothing at all on the chart |
| Oldtimer with Cheese, no bun | No | Milk | |
| Double Oldtimer, no bun | No | Milk | |
| Alex's Santa Fe Burger, no bun | No | Egg, milk, soy | |
| Bacon Rancher Burger, no bun | No | Egg, milk, soy | |
| BBQ Brisket Burger, no bun | No | Milk, soy | |
| Just Bacon Burger, no bun | No | Egg, milk, soy | |
| Mushroom Swiss Burger, no bun | No | Egg, milk, soy | |
| The Big Smasher, no bun | No | Egg, milk | |
| Veggie Santa Fe Burger | Yes | Egg, milk, soy | The patty itself has wheat |
| Black Bean Patty | Yes | Soy | Not a swap that helps here |
| Add-on guacamole | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Add-on garlic butter mushrooms | No | Milk, soy | |
| Add applewood smoked bacon | No | None listed | |
| Fajitas, without tortillas or sides | |||
| Chicken | No | Milk, soy | Shared grill |
| Steak | No | Milk, soy | Shared grill |
| Shrimp | No | Milk, shellfish, soy | Shared grill |
| Jalapeno-cheddar sausage | No | Milk | |
| Fajita toppings | No | Milk | |
| Side Mexican rice and beans | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Corn tortillas | No | None listed | Vegan. Ask for these |
| Flour tortillas | Yes | None listed | The default. Swap them |
| Steaks and grilled entrees | |||
| Classic Ribeye | No | Milk, soy | Shared grill |
| Classic Sirloin, 6 or 10 oz | No | Milk, soy | Shared grill |
| Guiltless Sirloin, 6 or 10 oz | No | Milk | Shared grill |
| Surf and Turf Ribeye | No | Milk, shellfish, soy | Shared grill |
| Surf and Turf Sirloin, 10 oz | No | Milk, shellfish, soy | Shared grill |
| Cilantro-Lime Carne Asada | Yes | Milk | The one steak with wheat |
| Ancho Salmon | No | Fish, milk | Shared grill |
| Margarita Grilled Chicken | No | None listed | Nothing at all on the chart |
| Add shrimp | No | Shellfish, soy | |
| Ribs | |||
| Ribs, House BBQ | No | None listed | Check the side separately |
| Ribs, Dry Rub | No | Soy | Check the side separately |
| Salads and bowls | |||
| Santa Fe Chicken Salad, spicy grilled chicken | No | Egg, milk, soy | |
| Santa Fe Chicken Salad, no protein | No | Egg, milk | |
| Santa Fe Chicken Salad, with crispers | Yes | Egg, milk | Crispers are breaded |
| House Salad, no dressing, no croutons | No | Milk | |
| House Salad, no dressing, with croutons | Yes | Milk | The croutons are the problem |
| Chipotle Chicken Fresh Mex Bowl | No | Egg, milk, soy | |
| Quesadilla Explosion Salad, any version | Yes | Milk, soy | |
| Add Ancho Salmon | No | Fish | |
| Add shrimp | No | Shellfish, soy | |
| Salad dressings - none contain wheat | |||
| Citrus Balsamic Vinaigrette | No | None listed | Vegan. The dairy free pick |
| Honey-Mustard | No | Egg | |
| Santa Fe | No | Egg | |
| Thousand Island | No | Egg | |
| Avocado Ranch | No | Egg, milk | |
| Ranch | No | Egg, milk | |
| Blue Cheese | No | Egg, milk | |
| Caesar | No | Egg, fish, milk | |
| Soups and chili | |||
| The Original Chili | No | Milk | |
| The Original Chili, no cheese | No | None listed | |
| Loaded Baked Potato Soup | No | Milk, soy | |
| Chicken Enchilada Soup | Yes | Milk, soy | |
| Sides | |||
| Black beans | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Mexican rice | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Roasted asparagus | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Steamed broccoli | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Mandarin oranges | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Fries | No | None listed | Vegan on ingredients. Shared fryer |
| Mashed potatoes, plain | No | Milk, soy | |
| Loaded mashed potatoes | No | Milk, soy | |
| Garlic butter mushrooms | No | Milk, soy | |
| Roasted street corn | No | Egg, milk, soy | |
| Garlic toast | Yes | Milk, soy | |
| Kids | |||
| Grilled Chicken Dippers with ranch | No | Egg, milk | The only kids entree without wheat |
| Side fries | No | None listed | Shared fryer |
| Side mandarin oranges | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Side steamed broccoli | No | None listed | Vegan |
| Side mashed potatoes | No | Milk, soy | |
| Side salad with ranch | Yes | Egg, milk | Croutons |
| All other kids entrees | Yes | Varies | |
| Desserts - every dessert on the chart contains wheat | |||
| Cheesecake, molten cakes, skillet cookie | Yes | Egg, milk, soy | Nothing here works |
The Fries Are Not What You Think
Chili's fries contain no wheat. They are listed as vegan with no allergens at all, in three separate places on the allergen chart. Same with the tostada chips, the salsa, and the guacamole.
The problem is not the ingredient. It is the fryer. Chili's flags fried items as cooked in shared fryers with gluten-containing foods, which is a cross-contact issue, not an ingredient issue.
If you have celiac disease, skip the fries and the chips. A shared fryer is one of the most reliable ways to get glutened. If you are avoiding gluten without an allergy, the fries are fine. There is no wheat in them.
So you do not have to order the burger with no side. You just have to know what you are choosing.
Does Chili's Have Gluten Free Buns?
No. Chili's does not offer a gluten free bun.
What they do offer is better than what most chains offer. Chili's publishes a separate allergen line for each burger without the bun, and each one is wheat-free. The Oldtimer without the bun comes back with no allergens listed. Not wheat, not milk, not soy.
So order the burger without the bun and eat it with a fork, or ask for lettuce. Then pick a side from the chart. Black beans, steamed broccoli, or Mexican rice if you are being careful; fries if the shared fryer is not a concern for you.
Two burgers do not work this way. The Veggie Santa Fe Burger and the Black Bean Patty both have wheat in the patty itself, so removing the bun does not help.
Bone-In Wings: Yes, Boneless Wings: No
This one catches people every time.
Bone-in wings have no wheat in any sauce Chili's offers. Plain, lemon pepper, buffalo, honey chipotle and house BBQ all come back clean.
Boneless wings have wheat in all of them, because boneless wings are breaded. They are not really wings; they are nuggets.
One sauce to watch. Sweet Chili Zing is the only wing sauce on the chart that contains wheat. Every other sauce, including the buffalo and the house BBQ, is clear.
Is the Queso at Chili's Gluten Free?
Depends on which one, and the difference isn't obvious from the menu.
White Queso has no wheat. Milk and soy only.
Skillet Beef Queso does have wheat.
Both are served with chips out of a shared fryer, so the same celiac caveat applies as with the fries. If you are avoiding gluten without an allergy, the white queso and chips are a real option.
Tips for Placing an Order for Gluten Free Items at Chili's
Be Clear About Your Dietary Restrictions
When placing your order, make sure to clearly state your dietary restrictions to the waiter. Even though you are ordering from the 'gluten-friendly menu', it's important to emphasize your needs to ensure that your food is prepared safely and without risk of cross-contamination.
Tell the Manager, Not Just the Server
Chili's own guidance says to inform the manager of a food allergy. The manager is the one who can tell the kitchen to use a clean surface, and that is the part that actually changes your risk.
Double Check Your Order
Before your food arrives, double-check your order with your waiter to ensure that there have been no mix-ups and that all your dishes are indeed gluten-free.
Stay Current
Menus can change, so make sure you know their latest gluten-friendly menu before placing your order. I recommend checking Chili's official site before you go.
Chili's Gluten Free FAQ
They contain no wheat, but they come out of a shared fryer. Fine if you are avoiding gluten by choice, but not worth the risk with celiac disease.
White Queso has no wheat, thank goodness. Skillet Beef Queso does. The chips they come with are the shared fryer issue.
The chips and salsa are listed as vegan with no allergens, so no wheat as an ingredient. Same shared fryer caveat.
The Original Chili has no wheat. Without cheese, it has no listed allergens, making it one of the safest orders on the menu if you are avoiding several items.
No, it contains wheat. The Loaded Baked Potato Soup is the soup to order instead.
Yes, and better than at most chains. The Oldtimer Burger without the bun and the Margarita Grilled Chicken both come back with no allergens listed. Add black beans, Mexican rice, roasted asparagus, or steamed broccoli, and use the citrus balsamic vinaigrette, which is the only dressing without egg or dairy.
Chili's does not claim it is. They say plainly that they have multiple sources of gluten in the kitchen and do not meet the FDA's under-20-ppm standard. The ingredient list is genuinely good. The kitchen is the risk, and only you can judge how much of that you are willing to take.
Gluten Free at Other Restaurants
The First Watch gluten free menu is the most accommodating chain I have looked at, and breakfast tends to be the safer meal for this. For another sit-down option with a long list of gluten free options, there is the Red Lobster gluten-free menu. And gluten free at Texas Roadhouse is worth a look if you were coming to Chili's for the steak.
Find all my Gluten Free Menus here!
Karen Kelly
Karen Kelly is a nationally syndicated food and travel writer, founder of Seasonal Cravings, and co-founder of The Roam Report. She develops approachable seasonal recipes and covers travel and lifestyle trends. Her work has appeared in numerous media outlets, including Yahoo, Taste of Home, Apple News, NBC, FOX, and other national and regional publications.
JazzyJeff42 says
All these gluten-free options are just a trend. Bet half these items ain’t even truly gluten-free. How about focusing on taste rather than jumping on the dietary restriction bandwagon?
EmpatheticEar says
It's not just a trend for some of us, JazzyJeff42. Having options like this can make dining out possible and enjoyable for those with serious health concerns.