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Complete Carrabba’s Gluten-Free Menu Guide For 2025

If you love Italian food but need to skip gluten, our Carrabba’s gluten-free guide unveils which of their pastas, appetizers, salads, or proteins are safe.

Italian cuisine and celiac disease or severe gluten intolerance typically don’t go well together, especially given how wheat-heavy and highly glutenous Italian foods normally are. 🍝🍕🥗

As such, dining out to help satiate the craving for Italian comfort food can be tricky if you’re a celiac like me, and there’s no better cautionary tale for this story than Carrabba’s Italian Grill.

Carrabba’s is a cult classic among American-Italian restaurant chains, with a huge menu that offers you everything from tasty pastas and fried appetizers to grilled proteins and more. 🧀

Whether it’s seafood, soups, salads, steaks, chicken, or sides that you’re after, Carrabba’s has them all, though sadly, most of their menu is brimming with wheat-based, glutenous dishes.

There are some exceptions, including a few soups and salads, specialties, seafood, steaks, not to mention a handful of sides, and some pastas can be modified to omit wheat noodles, too.

With that in mind, with so much cross-contamination and glutenous items all around you, our Carrabba’s gluten-free menu guide is here to walk you through which items are safe to order!

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Disclaimer

With that said, and perhaps unsurprisingly, do approach with an abundance of caution, given that Carrabba’s does not operate a certified, dedicated gluten-free kitchen space. 👉🚫🌾

This means that their kitchens rely on shared prep areas, cookware, utensils, ovens, as well as fryers, further increasing the chance that you’ll be dealing with potential cross-contamination.

Therefore, even if you order a menu item that doesn’t technically contain any wheat in any of its recipes or ingredients, it may still pick up trace gluten exposure during the cooking process.

To add to that, Carrabba’s doesn’t test its menu items to meet the FDA’s super strict <20 ppm threshold for a specific food or drink to be classified and labeled certified “gluten-free”, too.

Given the likelihood of cross-contamination, it’d be a good idea to treat even the most wheat-free items at Carrabba’s more like “gluten-friendly” or “gluten-sensitive”, not “gluten-free”.

In fact, here’s what Carrabba’s has to disclose about cross-contamination in their kitchens on the official allergen guide, and sending a warning to diners that cross-contact may happen:

Deep fried items are fried in a shared fryer so there is high risk of cross contact. We do not recommend that guests with allergies order fried foods. Though efforts are made to minimize risk, a risk for allergen cross contact exists; during normal cooking operations food may come into contact with allergen containing ingredients.

It’d also help to inform your server that you have celiac disease or gluten intolerance, and ask for extra precautions such as using fresh gloves, clean utensils, and a wiped-down prep area.

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Carrabba’s Allergen Policy (Gluten-Free)

On the bright side, at least Carrabba’s makes it super easy for you to filter out their menu for all the items that you can safely order, and it starts by heading to the Carrabba’s website. 🌐

Once you’re on the Carrabba’s Italian Grill homepage, scroll all the way down till you find the “Nutrition” button, and clicking or tapping on this opens up Carrabba’s Nutritional Info page.

Here, you will find a link to two separate PDF files (which will open in a new tab), and both of them will come in quite handy, but for different uses altogether:

• Nutritional Menu – The first link on the left opens up Carrabba’s Nutritional Menu in PDF form, and here’s where you’ll find a detailed breakdown of the nutritional data in every single menu item. This includes a breakdown of a specific item’s calories, cholesterol, total fat, carbs, fiber, sugar, protein, sodium, and loads more. This isn’t particularly handy right now if you’re trying to decide what you can safely order, but it might be useful if you’re conscious about your diet.
• Allergen Information – Meanwhile, that second link on the right opens up Carrabba’s Allergen Information in PDF form, where you’ll find a detailed breakdown of all the major allergens (of which there are 9, as classified by the FDA) that would be included in every single menu item. This PDF file will be a lifesaver if you’re trying to avoid anything that you would be allergic to, or are completely intolerant to, such as eggs, fish, milk, sesame, nuts, shellfish, or lots more.

On that front, if you’re a celiac like me or if you have a severe gluten intolerance, all you need to do is pay attention to the “Wheat” column in the allergen guide, and see if there’s a “Y”. 🌾

In this PDF file, a “Y” denotes that this specific allergen is present, so to make it simple, all you have to do is avoid ordering anything on Carrabba’s menu that’s marked as containing wheat.

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Lunch Specials

For lunch, Carrabba’s offers a variety of hearty meals to keep you running through the rest of the day, such as tasty sandwiches, pastas, or a lightweight soup and salad combo. 🍔🔥🥪

❌ Caprese Sandwich Combo
❌ Bruschette Chicken Sandwich Combo
❌ Chicken Parmesan Sandwich Combo
❌ Italian Sandwich Combo
❌ Meatball Sandwich Combo
❌ Steak Marsala Sandwich Combo
❌ Lunch Trio Meatballs & Ricotta
❌ Lunch Trio Mozzarella Marinara
❌ Lunch Trio Fettuccine Alfredo
❌ Lunch Trio Four-Cheese & Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
❌ Lunch Trio Shrimp Scampi
⚠️ Soup & Salad

For context, let’s check out what makes these lunch specials so hazardous to fellow celiacs:

Caprese Sandwich Combo: A sandwich built with fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, and typically served on a toasted roll. The sandwich roll contains wheat, and any toasted bread or shared sandwich prep areas increase cross-contact risk, so this combo is unsafe for celiacs.

Bruschette Chicken Sandwich Combo: Breaded or grilled chicken topped with bruschetta-style tomato mix and served on a bun. The bun and any breading make this unsafe by ingredient, and shared grills and prep lines further raise cross-contamination concerns.

Chicken Parmesan Sandwich Combo: Breaded chicken cutlet topped with marinara and melted cheese on a roll. The chicken is coated with wheat-containing breadcrumbs, and the bread roll contains wheat; therefore, this sandwich is unsafe for gluten-free diets.

Italian Sandwich Combo: Classic Italian-style sandwich with cured meats, cheese, veggies, and a wheat roll. The roll and many deli-style preparations rely on shared slicers and surfaces, so this item contains gluten, and it’s not safe, even if you could remove the bread.

Meatball Sandwich Combo: Meatballs in tomato sauce served on a roll. Meatball binders commonly include breadcrumbs, and the roll is made from wheat flour, so this sandwich is unsafe for celiacs and for folks with severe gluten intolerance.

Steak Marsala Sandwich Combo: Sliced steak finished in a Marsala-style sauce and served on bread. The sandwich bread contains wheat, and the sauce may include flour thickeners, so avoid this if you need to be gluten-free.

Lunch Trio Meatballs & Ricotta: A trio plate that includes meatballs served with ricotta, typically alongside bread or pasta. The meatballs contain breadcrumbs and the trio often uses wheat-based accompaniments, which makes this unsafe for strict gluten avoidance.

Lunch Trio Mozzarella Marinara: Fried or baked mozzarella served with marinara and usually paired with bread or other wheat sides. The mozzarella is breaded, and the sides are wheat-based, with gluten aplenty for this dish.

Lunch Trio Fettuccine Alfredo: A small portion of fettuccine Alfredo paired with other items. The fettuccine is wheat pasta, so this trio contains gluten and is not safe for celiacs, without any options to replace the default wheat pasta with a gluten-free pasta.

Lunch Trio Four-Cheese & Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms: Stuffed mushroom appetizer plus two other trio items. The stuffing often contains breadcrumbs, and the trio format includes wheat-containing sides, so this plate is unsafe for gluten-free diners.

Lunch Trio Shrimp Scampi: Shrimp scampi served with wheat pasta or breadcrumbs as part of the trio. Because the dish is commonly served over wheat pasta and may include wheat-containing garnishes, it’s not safe by default.

Soup & Salad: Some of Carrabba’s soups and side salads are wheat-free, while others are not. Your safe options include their Tomato Basil Soup, the Side House Salad, and the Side Italian Salad, all of which don’t contain wheat ingredients. On the other hand, you should avoid Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup, Sausage & Lentil Soup, Minestrone Soup, and the Side Caesar Salad, since those contain wheat components. When ordering any salad, remember to also request dressing on the side, ask for no croutons, and ask the kitchen to toss or plate the salad separately to reduce cross-contact.

As you can see, pretty much Carrabba’s entire lunch menu is off-limits to celiacs, with just one exception, and even then, not all of their soups and salads are wheat- and gluten-free. 🥗🍝

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Appetizers, Soups & Salads

To start off your meal with a bang, Carrabba’s has an awesome variety of grilled, breaded, or fried appetizers, as well as a selection of lightweight but tasty soups and salads. 🥗🍲🥣

❌ Classics Combination
❌ Shrimp Scampi
❌ Calamari
❌ Mozzarella Marinara
❌ Zucchini Fritté
❌ Tuscan Breadstick Tower
❌ Meatballs & Ricotta
❌ Four-Cheese & Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms
✅ Tomato Caprese with Fresh Burrata
✅ Johnny Rocco Salad
✅ House Salad
✅ Italian Salad
✅ Side Italian Salad
⚠️ Caesar Salad
⚠️ Side Caesar Salad
✅ Side House Salad
⚠️ Soup of the Day

Just to make sure we didn’t miss anything, let’s see what each of these dishes is made of:

Classics Combination: A sampler plate that usually pairs fried and breaded starters together, for example, their fried calamari and mozzarella, with dipping sauces and bread. Because it contains multiple wheat-based components, and because frying and plating share surfaces, this combination is not safe for people avoiding gluten.

Shrimp Scampi: Sautéed shrimp finished in garlic, butter, lemon, and usually served over wheat pasta or with breadcrumb garnish. The typical presentation relies on wheat ingredients, so this dish contains gluten and should be avoided on a strict gluten-free diet.

Calamari: Lightly battered, deep-fried squid rings often served with marinara and lemon. The batter contains wheat flour, and the items are fried in shared oil, which creates a high cross-contact risk, so this appetizer is not safe, either.

Mozzarella Marinara: Breaded mozzarella sticks, deep-fried and served with marinara sauce. The breading is made from wheat flour, and the shared fryers increase contamination risk, so this dish is unsafe for celiacs and for folks with severe gluten intolerance.

Zucchini Fritté: Zucchini slices coated in a wheat-based batter and deep-fried until crisp. But, because the batter contains wheat and the fryers are shared with other battered items, this dish is not safe for strict gluten avoidance.

Tuscan Breadstick Tower: An assortment of breadsticks or toasted bread served as a tower, often with herb butter or dipping sauce. The bread itself is wheat-based, and so this appetizer is not suitable for gluten-free diets and celiacs alike.

Meatballs & Ricotta: House meatballs are typically bound with breadcrumbs and served with ricotta and sauce. Meatball recipes commonly include breadcrumbs, which makes this dish contain gluten, so avoid it if you must be gluten-free.

Four-Cheese & Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms: Mushroom caps filled with a cheese and sausage mixture that often includes breadcrumbs as a binder. Because the stuffing usually contains wheat-derived breadcrumbs, this appetizer is not safe for celiacs.

Tomato Caprese with Fresh Burrata: Sliced tomatoes paired with fresh burrata, basil, olive oil, and balsamic. By recipe, this plate does not contain wheat, making it a naturally gluten-free choice, but request separate plating and no shared utensils to reduce cross-contact risk.

Caesar Salad: Romaine lettuce tossed with Caesar dressing and croutons. The default Caesar contains wheat via croutons, and some dressings can include stabilizers with gluten. If you order it without croutons and double-check that the dressing is wheat-free, it can be a safe gluten-free option.

Johnny Rocco Salad: A composed salad with mixed greens, roasted peppers, olives, tomatoes, and a protein such as shrimp or steak, depending on the house recipe. Carrabba’s marks this salad as gluten-free by recipe and ingredient, but ask for dressing on the side and separate tossing to minimize cross-contact.

House Salad: Mixed greens with tomatoes, red onions, and a simple dressing. This salad is also listed as gluten-free by the recipe. Still, confirm that it’s not been paired with any croutons and ask staff to assemble it away from wheat-based prep areas to reduce contamination.

Italian Salad: Chopped greens with Italian-style toppings and dressing. Per the allergen guide, the Italian Salad does not contain wheat ingredients by default, making it safe by recipe. As always, ask for the dressing on the side and separate assembly if you are highly sensitive.

Side Caesar Salad: The small Caesar side contains croutons by default and is flagged for wheat, but it can be made gluten-free if it’s been served without croutons and if the dressing contains no hidden wheat ingredients.

Side Italian Salad: A small portion of the aforementioned Italian Salad. The side version here is listed as gluten-free by recipe and ingredient, so it’s a really good low-risk choice if you request no croutons and separate prep to help minimize cross-contamination.

Side House Salad: A smaller portion of the earlier House Salad that’s marked as gluten-free by recipe and ingredient. Request dressing on the side and confirm separate plating to keep cross-contact risks low.

Soup of the Day: Carrabba’s soups vary, so be careful when ordering. The Tomato Basil Soup doesn’t contain wheat and is the safer soup choice. However, you should avoid Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup, Minestrone, and Sausage & Lentil Soup, because those are flagged for wheat allergens. Always ask the server which soup is being served that day and request a confirmed wheat-free option.

At least you have a few more options here compared to Carrabba’s lunch menu, with a pretty sizeable selection of gluten-free salads and a soup, even if everything else here is not. 🍤🍅

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Trios & Pasta

For entrées, Carrabba’s has their very unique ‘Trios’ bundles, in addition to the all-time classic Italian comfort food, pasta, which also includes lasagna, ravioli, and spaghetti, too! 🍝🧀🍅

❌ The Johnny Trio
❌ Carrabba’s Italian Classics Trio
✅ Chicken Trio
❌ Filet & Shrimp Toscana
❌ Lasagne
❌ Shrimp and Scallop Linguine alla Vodka
❌ Mezzaluna
⚠️ Fettuccine Weesie
⚠️ Linguine Positano
❌ Rigatoni Martino
⚠️ Spaghetti
❌ Fettuccine Carrabba
❌ Lobster Ravioli
⚠️ Linguine Pescatore

For comparison, let’s break these dishes apart and check out how each dish here is made:

The Johnny Trio: A plated trio of classic Carrabba’s favorites, usually featuring combinations of pastas and small entrées. Because it combines multiple wheat-based pastas or breaded items, the dish contains gluten, and it’s not safe for strict gluten-free diets.

Carrabba’s Italian Classics Trio: A sampler composed of several Italian classics served together. Since most of the classic components include wheat pastas, breading, or rolls, this trio contains gluten and should be avoided by celiacs and by folks with severe gluten intolerance.

Chicken Trio: A plate of three chicken preparations or a trio of smaller chicken options, though this depends on the location. Carrabba’s lists this item as gluten-free by recipe and ingredient, making it one of the safer options here. Still, remember to ask that the kitchen staff prepare it separately and confirm that all sauces are wheat-free.

Filet & Shrimp Toscana: Filet mignon paired with shrimp in a Toscana-style preparation. This pairing is flagged for wheat allergens on the allergen guide, likely because of the shrimp or finishing sauces that contain wheat or are served with pasta.

Lasagne: Layered pasta baked with meat, cheeses, and sauce. The noodle layers are made from wheat pasta, so this entree contains gluten and is unsafe for anyone with celiac disease, as well as anyone with a severe gluten intolerance or sensitivity.

Shrimp and Scallop Linguine alla Vodka: Shellfish served over linguine in a vodka cream sauce. The linguine is wheat-based, which means that the whole dish contains gluten and should be avoided on a strict gluten-free diet.

Mezzaluna: Crescent-shaped filled pasta usually stuffed with cheese and herbs and served with sauce. Because the pasta shells are made with wheat flour, this dish contains gluten and wheat in abundance, and it’s downright dangerous for celiacs.

Fettuccine Weesie: Fettuccine tossed with a garlicky butter sauce, and it’s often finished with mushrooms or shrimp, depending on the house recipe. Carrabba’s notes that this dish can be ordered with gluten-free pasta, so you can make it gluten-sensitive by requesting the gluten-free version and asking kitchen staff to take cross-contact precautions.

Linguine Positano: A linguine dish typically paired with either grilled chicken or grilled shrimp in a light sauce. You could also request gluten-free pasta for this entrée, so it can be made safe by ordering the gluten-free pasta variant, and double-check that the toppings and the sauce here contain no hidden wheat.

Rigatoni Martino: Rigatoni pasta served with a rich sauce and signature toppings. Because the rigatoni is made from wheat flour, the entire dish contains gluten, and it’s not safe for strict gluten avoidance and celiacs alike.

Spaghetti: Classic wheat spaghetti served with a variety of sauces or proteins. Carrabba’s allows spaghetti to be swapped for gluten-free spaghetti in certain sauce pairings, such as Pomodoro, Meat Sauce, or with Meatballs, so you can make it gluten-sensitive by requesting the gluten-free spaghetti and confirming that the sauce is wheat-free.

Fettuccine Carrabba: A house fettuccine preparation that uses wheat pasta with a creamy or tomato-based sauce. Because it’s built on wheat-based fettuccine, this dish contains gluten, and it should be avoided if you require strict gluten-free dining.

Lobster Ravioli: Filled ravioli pockets usually made from wheat pasta and stuffed with lobster filling. The pasta dough contains wheat, so this entrée contains gluten and is unsafe for celiacs and for folks with severe gluten intolerance or sensitivity.

Linguine Pescatore: Seafood linguine with mixed shellfish in a light tomato or oil-based sauce. Carrabba’s also mentions this could be ordered with gluten-free pasta, which makes it possible for celiacs to enjoy this dish if you request the gluten-free pasta and verify that all their seafood sauces are wheat-free.

Once again, we see an improvement from Carrabba’s, not only with a gluten-free dish, but on top of that, some of their pastas could be modified with gluten-free noodles, as well. 🚫🌾

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Chicken & More

If you’re in the mood for some poultry, Carrabba’s has a respectable selection of tasty chicken dishes, whether you prefer it grilled or deep fried, topped with eggplant and cheese! 🐔🔥

❌ Chicken Parmesan
✅ Chicken Bryan
✅ Chicken Marsala
✅ Pollo Rosa Maria
✅ Tuscan-Grilled Chicken
❌ Chicken Piccata
❌ Eggplant Parmesan

Just to make sure we didn’t miss anything, let’s break these apart and take a closer peek:

Chicken Parmesan: Breaded chicken cutlet topped with marinara and melted cheese. The chicken is coated in wheat-based breadcrumbs, and the dish is typically served over pasta or with bread, so this entrée contains gluten, and it’s not safe for celiacs.

Chicken Bryan: Grilled chicken breast finished with goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and a lemon-butter sauce. According to Carrabba’s allergen guide, this recipe doesn’t contain wheat by recipe or ingredient, making it a naturally gluten-free choice. Still, to be safe, ask for plain prep and separate plating to reduce cross-contact risk.

Chicken Marsala: Sautéed chicken with mushrooms in a Marsala wine sauce. Carrabba’s also lists this item as not containing wheat components, making it gluten-free by recipe. As always, request the sauce on the side if you want extra assurance, and ask the kitchen to avoid shared pans where breaded items are cooked.

Pollo Rosa Maria: Stuffed chicken breast finished with a lemon butter sauce and prosciutto. This entrée is listed as gluten-free on Carrabba’s allergen guide, so it’s a safe choice by recipe. To be extra careful, you could also ask staff to confirm that no breadcrumb stuffing or wheat-based finishing sauces are used.

Tuscan-Grilled Chicken: Simple grilled chicken seasoned and served with vegetable sides. Per their allergen guide, this dish doesn’t contain wheat ingredients, making it a reliable gluten-free choice. Once again, to be extra safe, request separate prep and that no glazes have been added to further minimize cross-contact.

Chicken Piccata: Chicken lightly dusted and sautéed with lemon, capers, and butter. This dish typically involves a flour dusting or shared pans used for breaded items, so the dish is flagged as containing wheat, and it’s not safe for strict gluten-free diners.

Eggplant Parmesan: Breaded and baked eggplant layered with marinara and cheese. The breadcrumb coating contains wheat, and this dish is often baked alongside other wheat items, so it contains gluten and should be avoided by celiacs.

Of all the different menus that Carrabba’s offers, their chicken menu is a solid choice if you’re gluten intolerant or are a celiac, with quite a few gluten-free chicken dishes to pick from. 🍗

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Steaks & Chops

Alternatively, if you want to bite into some juicy meats, Carrabba’s steaks and chops pair the traditional Italian flair that they’re known for, but with a more casual, delectable twist. 🍖

✅ Tuscan-Grilled Sirloin 7 oz
✅ Tuscan-Grilled Sirloin 10 oz
✅ Tuscan-Grilled Filet 9 oz
✅ Tuscan-Grilled Ribeye 16 oz
✅ Tuscan-Grilled Pork Chop – One Chop
✅ Tuscan-Grilled Pork Chop – Two Chops

Just so we’re absolutely sure that these steaks and chops are safe, let’s take a closer look:

Tuscan-Grilled Sirloin 7 oz: A simply seasoned 7-ounce sirloin grilled over an open flame and finished with a light brush of herb butter. According to Carrabba’s allergen guide, the dish does not contain wheat by ingredient, so it’s a solid gluten-sensitive choice. Still, ask for the butter or any sauces on the side to reduce the risk from shared utensils.

Tuscan-Grilled Sirloin 10 oz: The larger 10-ounce version of the grilled sirloin is seasoned and grilled to order. By recipe, it contains no wheat, making it safe by recipe and ingredient. When ordering, once again, request separate plating and no cross-use of tongs from breaded items to further minimize cross-contact risks.

Tuscan-Grilled Filet 9 oz: A tender 9-ounce filet mignon seasoned and grilled, typically served with simple sides. Carrabba’s notes this dish as not containing wheat ingredients, making it a dependable gluten-sensitive entrée. Ask that any finishing sauces be served on the side, and confirm that the kitchen will avoid shared pans with breaded items.

Tuscan-Grilled Ribeye 16 oz: A hearty 16-ounce ribeye grilled and seasoned simply. The allergen guide also shows no wheat components in this preparation, so it’s safe by recipe. To be extra careful, request minimal saucing, fresh gloves for plating, and separate utensils to avoid cross-contact.

Tuscan-Grilled Pork Chop – One Chop: A single bone-in pork chop which is grilled with Tuscan seasonings. This chop is listed on the allergen guide as wheat-free by recipe and ingredient, and it’s a good choice for gluten-sensitive diners. Ask the server to confirm that any glazes or compound butters do not contain hidden wheat.

Tuscan-Grilled Pork Chop – Two Chops: Two grilled pork chops prepared the same way as the single chop. The dish contains no wheat by recipe and ingredients, according to Carrabba’s allergen guide. For added safety, request no shared cutting boards with breaded items, and make sure the sauces or butters are served on the side.

Perhaps the best thing about Carrabba’s steaks and chops isn’t just their flavor, but also the fact that this entire menu section is gluten-free, with wheat-free and celiac-safe meats! 🥩

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Seafood

Or, if you want a taste of the sea, Carrabba’s seafood menu isn’t as large as the rest of their menu, but it still offers up a nice variety of fried and grilled classic Italian comfort food. 🍤

✅ Salmon Capperi
✅ Simply Grilled Salmon
⚠️ Lemon Butter Pesto Branzino
⚠️ Simply Grilled Branzino
❌ Spiedino di Mare

To learn more about what each of these dishes is made of, let’s break each of them down:

Salmon Capperi: Oven-roasted salmon finished with capers, lemon, and a light butter sauce, served with seasonal vegetables. Carrabba’s allergen guide lists this dish as gluten-free by recipe and ingredient, so it’s a safe choice. Still, ask that any finishing butter or pan sauces be confirmed to be wheat-free, and that the kitchen use clean utensils when plating.

Simply Grilled Salmon: A plainly seasoned salmon fillet grilled and served with simple sides. This dish is also listed as gluten-free by recipe and ingredient, making it one of the more reliable gluten-sensitive entrées here. For added caution, request no glazes and ask the server to ensure the salmon is cooked on a clean grill area or with separate tongs.

Lemon Butter Pesto Branzino: Branzino fillet topped with a lemon-butter pesto and usually served with vegetables or potatoes. By recipe, it’s flagged as not containing any wheat, but there could be a slightly higher risk of cross-contamination. If you order this, ask for the pesto on the side and request separate plating to reduce the chance of trace gluten exposure.

Simply Grilled Branzino: Whole or filleted branzino seasoned and grilled simply, often plated with lemon and herbs. This item is generally wheat-free by recipe and ingredient, but carries a slight cross-contact risk according to the allergen guide. To be safer, request plain preparation, no shared pans with breaded items, and that sauces or garnishes be served separately.

Spiedino di Mare: Skewered seafood that’s been lightly battered and fried or finished with a breadcrumb-style topping. Carrabba’s identifies this dish as containing wheat components, so it’s not safe for celiacs or those on a strict gluten-free diet. Avoid this one or ask if the kitchen can prepare a plain grilled seafood alternative.

As with most of Carrabba’s protein selection, their seafood ought to be a pretty reliable pick when you’re dining out as a celiac, though be wary of cross-contamination, as always. 🐟

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Sides

Carrabba’s sides are the perfect complement to their heavy, mouth-watering entrées, with a wide array of classic Italian sides and more modern casual dining staples, as well. 🍠🧀🥔

❌ Zucchini Stefano
✅ Garlic Mashed Potatoes
✅ Sauteed Broccoli
✅ Grilled Asparagus
❌ Fettuccine Alfredo
❌ Penne Pomodoro
⚠️ French Fries
✅ Sauteed Spinach
⚠️ Rosemary Parmesan Fries

Let’s break these sides apart and see what they’re made of, just in case we missed anything:

Zucchini Stefano: Sliced zucchini prepared with a topping or stuffing that typically includes breadcrumbs or a flour-based binder. Carrabba’s allergen guide flags this dish as containing wheat, so avoid this if you need to be strictly gluten-free.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes flavored with roasted garlic. This side is listed as gluten-free by recipe and ingredient, making it a solid, low-risk option. To be extra safe, ask for the potatoes without any gravy or sauced finish that could contain wheat.

Sauteed Broccoli: Fresh broccoli florets quickly sautéed with garlic and olive oil. The broccoli is gluten-free by recipe and ingredient, and it’s usually low risk, though request separate utensils and plating to reduce cross-contact in the kitchen.

Grilled Asparagus: Asparagus spears grilled simply and served with lemon or olive oil. This vegetable side is gluten-free by recipe and ingredient, and it’s a dependable choice if you’re gluten intolerant. Ask the server to confirm that no breadcrumb or glaze finishes are used.

Fettuccine Alfredo: Pasta tossed in a rich cream and cheese sauce. Because the pasta is wheat-based, this side contains gluten, and it’s not safe for celiacs or anyone avoiding wheat. You can’t substitute it with gluten-free pasta, either.

Penne Pomodoro: Penne pasta in a tomato-based sauce. The penne is made from wheat, so this side contains gluten and should be avoided if you require a gluten-free meal, or if you’re highly sensitive to gluten or are a celiac.

French Fries: Classic cut fries served hot. These are generally wheat-free by ingredient and recipe, though there’s a slight risk of cross-contamination from shared fryers and shared fryer oil, too. If you are highly sensitive, ask whether the fries are cooked in dedicated oil or request another side.

Sauteed Spinach: Wilted spinach sautéed with garlic and olive oil. This is gluten-free by recipe and ingredient, and it’s typically a celiac-safe vegetable side. Still, request separate prep if you are worried about cross-contact with breaded or battered items.

Rosemary Parmesan Fries: Fries tossed with rosemary and grated Parmesan. Once again, the fries themselves are usually made from potatoes, which are wheat-free, but there’s a slight cross-contact risk for this dish from them using shared fryers and shared fryer oil, so double-check with the kitchen staff before ordering.

While there are a couple of glutenous, wheat-filled sides, at least you have a good variety of gluten-free sides to choose from, though be wary of cross-contamination with the fries. 🍟

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Kids Menu

For the young’uns wanting to dine out at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, they offer a kids menu, too, which includes just child-sized portions of some of the entrées that we looked at earlier. 🍝🍤

❌ Penne “Mac & Cheese”
❌ Spaghetti and Meatball
❌ Cheese Ravioli & Tomato Sauce
❌ Chicken Fingers
⚠️ Grilled Chicken Breast
⚠️ Kids Grilled Shrimp

For context, let’s break apart these dishes in detail, and let’s see what they’re made of:

Penne “Mac & Cheese”: Cozy kid-friendly macaroni and cheese made with penne pasta and a creamy cheese sauce. Because the pasta is wheat-based, this dish contains gluten and is not safe for children who must avoid wheat.

Spaghetti and Meatball: Classic spaghetti served with a meatball and marinara. The spaghetti is made from wheat flour, and meatballs often include breadcrumbs, so this dish comes with gluten aplenty and should be avoided by children with celiac disease.

Cheese Ravioli & Tomato Sauce: Cheese-stuffed ravioli in tomato sauce. The ravioli pasta shells are made from wheat, which means this item contains gluten, and it’s thus unsafe for kids who require a gluten-free diet.

Chicken Fingers: Breaded, deep-fried strips of chicken served with a dipping sauce. All that breading contains wheat, and the use of shared fryers further increases cross-contact risk, so skip this if you’re a celiac.

Grilled Chicken Breast: Simple grilled chicken served with kid-friendly sides. By ingredient and recipe, this dish is wheat-free, but there might be a slight risk of cross-contamination. If you order this, make sure you ask for plain seasoning, no marinades with hidden thickeners, and separate prep and utensils, just in case.

Kids Grilled Shrimp: Grilled shrimp skewers or a small portion of shrimp for kids. The shrimp themselves are gluten-free by ingredient and recipe, yet there’s a slight cross-contamination risk. To be extra safe, request plain grilling and separate handling to further minimize cross-contamination risks and trace gluten exposure.

Alas, much of Carrabba’s kids’ menu is off-limits to celiacs and for anyone here with a severe gluten intolerance, and the two wheat-free dishes carry some cross-contact risks, too. 🍗

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Dessert

Meanwhile, to end your visit to Carrabba’s with a super sweet finisher, their dessert menu is filled with savory treats, but like most restaurants, approach pastries with caution. 🍰🎂

❌ Sogno Di Cioccolata “Chocolate Dream”
❌ Cannoli Cake for Two
❌ Strawberry Cheesecake
❌ Tiramisu
✅ John Cole

Just so we’re absolutely sure we didn’t miss anything, let’s look at them with more detail:

Sogno Di Cioccolata “Chocolate Dream”: A layered chocolate fudge brownie dessert with some chocolate mousse and whipped cream. The brownie base contains wheat flour, so this dessert is not safe for a gluten-free diet.

Cannoli Cake for Two: A towering layer cake inspired by classic cannoli, with ricotta cream and pistachios. The cake layers are wheat-based, making this dessert unsafe for anyone avoiding gluten and for celiacs alike.

Strawberry Cheesecake: A New York-style cheesecake topped with strawberries and glaze. While the cheesecake filling itself is gluten-free, the crust is made with wheat, so the entire dessert contains gluten and should be avoided.

Tiramisu: Traditional Italian tiramisu with espresso-soaked ladyfingers and mascarpone cream. The ladyfingers are made from wheat flour, which means that this dessert contains gluten and is unsafe for celiacs or if you’re gluten intolerant.

John Cole: Vanilla ice cream topped with caramel sauce and roasted cinnamon rum pecans. This dessert doesn’t contain wheat or gluten ingredients, making it safe by ingredient and recipe. Still, always check that no cookies or wafers are added as garnish, and request fresh scoops to reduce cross-contact risk.

Unsurprisingly, most of these desserts rely on wheat pastries and breading, making them off-limits to celiacs, and there’s only a single dessert here that’s technically wheat-free. 🍧🍨

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Beverage

Even for strict celiacs, you could always guarantee that simple beverages are usually safe for anyone avoiding gluten at most places, whether it’s a simple cola or a cup of coffee. 🧃☕️

✅ Coca-Cola
✅ Diet Coke
✅ Sprite
✅ Iced Tea
✅ Minute Maid Country Style Lemonade
✅ Flavored Tea
✅ Flavored Lemonade
✅ San Pellegrino
✅ Acqua Panna

Just to make extra sure these are safe, let’s take a closer look at each beverage:

Coca-Cola: Classic Coca-Cola is gluten-free, and it’s a pretty safe option for those avoiding wheat and gluten, especially if it retains the sealed factory packaging when being served.

Diet Coke: Diet Coke is also gluten-free, offering a sugar-free soda choice without gluten concerns, and once again, the sealed factory packaging adds another layer of security.

Sprite: A lemon-lime soda that is gluten-free by recipe, making it safe for celiac and gluten-sensitive diners, though be wary of potential cross-contamination at the drinks station.

Iced Tea: Plain brewed tea served over ice, which is naturally gluten-free and safe, but as always, it’s not a bad idea to ask the staff to wipe down the dispenser, just to be safe.

Minute Maid Country Style Lemonade: A sweet and tangy lemonade that is gluten-free and wheat-free, though trace gluten exposure might be worth keeping an eye out for.

Flavored Tea: Typically fruit- or herb-flavored versions of the aforementioned iced tea. These are gluten-free by ingredient and recipe, but always check what flavors are available, too.

Flavored Lemonade: Fruit-flavored versions of their standard lemonade. These are also gluten-free and wheat-free by recipe and ingredient, and they’re mostly quite safe to enjoy.

San Pellegrino: Sparkling mineral water from Italy, which is naturally gluten-free and safe, and it’s especially a bonus if it comes with the factory-sealed packaging, for added safety.

Acqua Panna: Still natural mineral water, which is also naturally gluten-free and safe, and it retains the factory sealed packaging to further minimize any risk of cross-contamination.

As always, cross-contamination remains a concern, so be wary of hidden gluten that hides in shared nozzles, dispensers, and drinks stations, but otherwise, these are quite safe. 🍵🥤

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To Sum Up

In a way, Carrabba’s somewhat bucks the trend that I have seen for many Italian restaurants, in particular when it comes to catering to celiacs and folks who are severely gluten intolerant.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that they’re completely safe, as a huge chunk of their menus is off-limits if you can’t eat wheat and gluten, and it starts from the very top of the menu. 🍝

Their appetizers are mostly unsafe for celiacs, as are their lunch specials, trio bundles, most of their pasta dishes, some of their proteins, much of their kids’ menu, and most of their desserts.

Yet, celiacs could still enjoy a pretty decent selection of gluten-sensitive and even gluten-free dishes, including most of Carrabba’s soups, salads, poultry, steaks, and chops, as well. 🍲🥣

Additionally, some of their seafood dishes are safe, as are most of their sides, and even some wheat-based, glutenous pastas could be swapped out for safe, gluten-free noodles, too! 🥗

Naturally, cross-contamination remains an ongoing concern, but if you’re a celiac and you’re craving Italian comfort foods, Carrabba’s is among the safest places you could go to. 🍕🥙

In the meantime, if you want recommendations on other restaurants with plenty of gluten-free items, make sure to stay tuned to us here at Great Without Gluten for even more celiac-friendly and gluten-free eating out guides! ✍📝

And, while you’re here, you might also want to check out my other eating out guides and some tasty gluten‑free recipes!

If you’re craving other fast-food or casual dining chains and gourmet meals, do check out my other celiac-friendly, gluten-free dining out guides to PF Chang’s, First Watch, Potbelly, Red Lobster, Yard House, LongHorn, Pei Wei, Wendy’s, Cheddar’s, Bob Evans, BJ’s, Maggiano’s, and more! 🍔🍟🍗

Stay safe and gluten‑aware, my celiac friends! 💖🥗

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Frequently Asked Questions

While working on this Carrabba’s gluten-free guide, I came across some interesting questions floating around social media and some community forums, so I thought I’d answer them here:

Does Carrabba’s have a gluten-free menu?

Carrabba’s doesn’t have a separate, certified gluten-free menu, but their allergen guide clearly lists which items do not contain wheat or gluten, and some of the dishes on their website carry a gluten-free label.

Many of their entrées, sides, and salads can be enjoyed gluten-free, but be wary of cross-contamination, as is evident with some of their pasta dishes, where you can opt for gluten-free noodles, as Carrabba’s kitchens aren’t dedicated gluten-free environments.

Are Carrabba’s gluten-free pasta options safe for celiacs?

Carrabba’s does offer gluten-free pasta made from corn and rice flour. However, it’s prepared in a shared kitchen with regular wheat-based pasta, so there’s a risk of cross-contamination.

If you have celiac disease or are highly gluten intolerant, it’s best to let your server know and see if you could ask them to take extra precautions, especially if you’re ordering pasta dishes that come with wheat noodles by default, which could be swapped out for gluten-free noodles.

What are the safest gluten-free options at Carrabba’s?

Some of the safest, gluten-free, and celiac-safe options you have at Carrabba’s include some of their plain grilled chicken, steak, salmon, pork chops, sautéed spinach, garlic mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, and a few others throughout Carrabba’s menu that carry a gluten-free label.

These items are gluten-free and wheat-free by ingredient and recipe, but they might still carry cross-contamination risks and trace gluten, so be extra careful when you’re ordering.

Are Carrabba’s French fries gluten-free?

Carrabba’s French fries and rosemary parmesan fries don’t contain gluten ingredients, but they are cooked in shared fryers (with shared fryer oil) that might’ve been used to fry breaded items.

This means that there is a risk of cross-contamination, so folks with celiac disease should avoid them, but those with milder gluten sensitivity may still order them based on tolerance. Or, you could also ask if the kitchen staff is willing to switch over to fresh, clean fryer oil instead.

Does Carrabba’s have any certified gluten-free items?

At this time, Carrabba’s doesn’t certify any of their menu items to be 100% gluten-free, and this includes some of their dishes that carry a gluten-free label on the menu.

Even those dishes that don’t contain any gluten or wheat ingredients are prepared in shared kitchens, thus carrying a risk of potential cross-contamination. For celiacs, it’s safest to stick with simply grilled proteins and fresh vegetables, while also clearly communicating your dietary needs to your server.

Photo Credit

The Bushranger, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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