Are Chick-Fil-A Fries Gluten-Free? What To Know Before You Order

Considering that there are currently only two states without Chick-fil-A restaurants, it's a safe bet that you are probably never terribly far away from your "chik'n" fix, as the chain's goofy cow mascots put it. One of CFA's defining non-poultry menu items is its waffle fries, which are golden, salty, and oh-so-delicious, even after Chick-fil-A made a change to the basic recipe that folks claimed ruined their New Year back in early 2025. The waffle fries are the ideal accompaniment to an Original Chicken Sandwich or for dipping in some Polynesian Sauce, but here's a question: are they gluten-free? Chick-fil-A does have a limited gluten-free menu, begging the question of whether its fries are safe for customers avoiding gluten.

The answer to that query is a bit tricky. Chick-fil-A formally classes its waffle fries as "gluten-friendly" rather than gluten-free. What this means is that the menu item naturally doesn't contain gluten, but, because it's not sealed and is prepared in a shared kitchen, the restaurant also can't guarantee it hasn't been cross-contaminated. Realistically, this means that waffle fries may be a great option for those who are limiting gluten consumption for whatever reason but could potentially be unsafe for those with an actual intolerance or celiac disease. Note that CFA's waffle potato chips come to the restaurant in sealed packages and therefore are a good second choice for those who need a truly gluten-free side dish for their lunch or dinner.

To look at the list of ingredients, as available on Chick-fil-A's website, its waffle fries appear pretty unassuming. They're made with real potatoes that are put through an industrial slicer to achieve that characteristic cross-hatched waffle shape, then flash-frozen to preserve their flavor as best as possible. At the restaurant, the spuds are fried in canola oil, sprinkled with sea salt, and served up piping hot. High in fat, sodium, carbs, and calories, we admit that waffle fries from Chick-fil-A are likely few folks' idea of a health food. And, yet, they also contain fiber and protein. Potatoes are naturally gluten-free, and none of the starches in which Chick-fil-A coats its fries for texture — including the pea protein that was added in the beginning of 2025 and garnered customer complaints — are glutinous.

Furthermore, almost all of Chick-fil-A's dipping sauces fall under the same "gluten-friendly" header as the fries; so, provided you don't have a dangerous allergy or intolerance, you are probably okay to dunk your fries at will and enjoy a lower-gluten option. Just remember that, because the fries have a long journey from field to drive-thru with many stages of processing at more than one facility, there's no guarantee that they haven't had contact with gluten somewhere along the way. Your personal vulnerability to gluten will dictate the level of caution you need to exercise and therefore the decision that you make with regard to consuming Chick-fil-A's fries.