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The Ultimate Cheddars Gluten-Free Menu Guide For 2025

Are you looking for comfy casual dining soups, salads, steaks, sides, or proteins, but aren’t sure what’s safe? Our Cheddars gluten-free guide is here to help!

On the face of it, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen sounds like the ideal casual dining restaurant for those of you craving homey, hearty comfort food, and in very generous portions, too! 🥩🍗

Steaks, chicken, casseroles, burgers, seafood, and loads more in between, I’d probably spend my entire life just dining from their menus… If it wasn’t for the abundance of hidden gluten.

For celiacs and folks with strict gluten intolerance, Cheddar’s comfort foods hide wheat and gluten in batters, breaded toppings, thickeners, and sauces, ready to strike at any moment.

With that said, while a huge chunk of their menu is a no-go for celiacs, there are a surprising number of gluten-sensitive items, or those that can be modified to be made safe. 👉🚫🌾

Whether it’s their dedicated gluten-sensitive menu, skipping any breaded rolls, or passing on the gravy, you can also pick naturally wheat-free dishes like grilled proteins or plain veggies.

As such, it’s not completely hopeless if you’re a celiac, as our Cheddar’s gluten-free guide will uncover a decent variety of gluten-sensitive items here to net you a satisfying meal. 🍖🥔

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Disclaimer

Nonetheless, it’s worth bearing in mind that Cheddar’s doesn’t operate dedicated gluten-free kitchens, so there’s still a risk of cross-contamination that you have to be worried about. ⚠️

Basically, this means that their grills, fryers, tongs, ladles, and other prep surfaces or cooking stations are shared across many dishes, so gluten exposure via cross-contact could happen.

In other words, even if a particular menu item doesn’t technically contain wheat in the recipe or ingredients, it might still pick up stray gluten from other wheat items prepped nearby.

To make things worse for strict celiacs, none of Cheddar’s menus, recipes, or ingredients have been tested to meet the FDA’s strict <20 ppm threshold for food or drinks to be “gluten-free”.

This is why Cheddar’s itself treats even their most celiac-safe dishes as “gluten-friendly”, or “gluten-sensitive”, rather than being certified “gluten-free”, so approach with caution. 🥪

In fact, here’s what Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen has to say in the official nutrition and allergen guide, when it comes to cross-contamination risks, especially if you’re highly sensitive:

Because all of our dishes are prepared-to-order, our normal kitchen operations may involve shared cooking and preparation areas. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that any menu item can be completely free of allergens. Items cooked on our grill or in our fryer present a special risk for cross-contamination.

If you want to be extra safe, make sure you let your server know that you have celiac disease and strict dietary needs, and ask them to take extra precautions when preparing your meal.

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Cheddar’s Allergen Policy (Gluten-Free)

On the bright side, at least Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen makes it super easy for you to filter out its gigantic menu to figure out what’s safe for you to order, particularly as a celiac. 🌾😷

First up, all you need to do is head over to the official Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen website, and then scroll all the way down, and finally, click or tap on that link that says “Nutritional Info”.

This should open up the Cheddar’s Nutrition & Allergen page, where you’ll find 2 handy links, which should open up in a new tab as a PDF file that’ll give you all the info you really need:

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Nutrition Guide:

• This isn’t especially helpful for celiacs, or if you’re allergic to anything, though it may come in clutch if you’re highly conscious about your dietary intake and what you should avoid eating.
• This PDF file contains an in-depth and detailed nutritional breakdown of every single item on the Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen menu, from appetizers to main courses and even the desserts.
• That’ll include a breakdown of how many calories, total fats, cholesterol, sugars, fiber, carbs, sodium, protein, and more, are within every single item on the Cheddar’s menu, bar none.
• I could see this being very useful if you’re trying to limit your daily calorie intake, for example, or if you’re trying to avoid specific menu items here that have too much cholesterol and fat.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Allergen Guide:

• Now, this is what you should be looking for, in particular if you’re sensitive or are sensitive to any specific allergen. For celiacs, we have to avoid items with wheat, barley, rye, and gluten.
• The Cheddar’s allergen guide will give you a detailed breakdown of all those major allergens that are classified by the FDA, and whether a specific item on their gargantuan menu has them.
• For celiacs or folks with severe gluten intolerance or sensitivity, it’s important for you to find and avoid all the menu items in this PDF file that contain “Wheat” and “Gluten” allergens.
• Make sure you pay close attention to all the items that have an ✖️ on the Wheat and Gluten columns, or any other allergens that you might be allergic to, like nuts, dairy, eggs, or fish.
• If you’re especially sensitive to gluten, you should also bear in mind items that have an ✖️ in the column marked as “Fried In Soybean Oil”, as they may bear some cross-contamination risks.

Of course, the easiest thing you can do when you’re dining out as a celiac at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is to only order from their dedicated gluten-sensitive (or “gluten-friendly”) menu. ✅

Not only are these dishes naturally wheat-free, but they have also been modified to remove any wheat-containing items, and extra precautions are taken during prep, such as using clean fryer oil.

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Gluten-Sensitive Salads, Burgers, Entrees & Sides

We may as well start off with the one part of the Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen menu that I could pretty confidently order from as a celiac, as all of these items here are gluten-sensitive. 🥗

It’s worth noting that most of the items in Cheddar’s gluten-sensitive menu are basically their regular menu items, but with special modifications to make them safer for celiacs. 🍖🔥🥩

For example, these include special salads that omit croutons and pastas, sides without wheat-based gravies, as well as burgers served without wheat buns, and loads more, too! 🍝

✅ Grilled Chicken Pecan Salad
✅ Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
✅ Salmon Caesar Pasta Salad
✅ Salmon Strawberry Salad
✅ Key West Chicken and Shrimp
✅ Dijon Chicken & Mushrooms
✅ Lemon Pepper Chicken
✅ Baja Chicken
✅ Bacon Cheeseburger
✅ Smokehouse Burger
✅ Classic Burger
✅ Classic Cheeseburger
✅ Fire Grilled Sirloin
✅ 14 oz. Ribeye
✅ Baby Back Ribs
✅ Ribs & Shrimp
✅ Top Sirloin Steak
✅ Top Sirloin Steak & Shrimp
✅ Top Sirloin Steak & Ribs
✅ Texas T-Bone
✅ Skirt Steak Churrasco
✅ Half Rack of Ribs & Grilled Shrimp
✅ Grilled Salmon
✅ Grilled White Fish
✅ Grilled Mahi Mahi
✅ Lemon Pepper White Fish
✅ Idaho Mashed Potatoes
✅ Southern Green Beans
✅ Buttered Off-the-Cob Corn
✅ Sweet Baby Carrots
✅ Seasoned Rice
✅ Freshly Made Coleslaw
✅ Fresh Steamed Broccoli
✅ Cheese & Bacon Mashed Potato
✅ Loaded Baked Potato
✅ Red Beans & Rice
✅ Black Beans & Rice
✅ House Salad

Just to make sure these are actually safe, let’s check out what each of these is made of:

Grilled Chicken Pecan Salad: Grilled chicken over mixed greens with candied pecans, dried cranberries, and vinaigrette. There are no breading or wheat ingredients in the base recipe, but to be extra safe, request dressing and prep in a clean bowl to avoid any cross-contact.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad: Romaine, chicken, and Caesar dressing are safe, and the gluten-sensitive version of this dish is served without pasta and croutons to make it safe. Confirm that the dressing contains no wheat-based emulsifiers and ask for separate prep, once again.

Salmon Caesar Pasta Salad: Grilled salmon with Romaine and Caesar, which is served without wheat-based penne pasta and croutons to make it gluten-sensitive. As always, verify with the staff that the dressing is wheat-free and request clean utensils and a separate mixing bowl.

Salmon Strawberry Salad: Grilled salmon, mixed greens, fresh strawberries, almonds, and light vinaigrette. There are no wheat ingredients in the recipe, though ask for dressing on the side and ensure that the salmon is grilled without any bourbon or wheat-based glaze, just to be safe.

Key West Chicken and Shrimp: Grilled chicken and shrimp with tropical fruit and greens, and this gluten-sensitive version of the dish omits the bourbon-glaze to remove wheat thickeners. Confirm both proteins are grilled plain and request separate prep to minimize cross-contact.

Dijon Chicken & Mushrooms: Sliced grilled chicken sautéed with mushrooms in a Dijon-based pan jus. There’s no breadcrumb coating, but just to be safe, verify that the sauce uses no flour thickeners and ask for it on the side if you’re concerned about trace gluten or cross-contact.

Lemon Pepper Chicken: Wood-grilled chicken breast seasoned with lemon and cracked pepper. Best of all, there’s no breading or wheat ingredients in the recipe, and it’s quite safe as-is, but ask for plain preparation without glazes or sauces to reduce potential cross-contamination risks.

Baja Chicken: Grilled chicken topped with pico, avocado, and a light chipotle or citrus dressing. It’s prepared without any batter, but confirm the dressing is wheat-free and ask for separate assembly and prep stations to avoid cross-contamination with other fried items in the kitchen.

Bacon Cheeseburger: Beef patty topped with bacon and cheese, and unlike Cheddar’s regular burgers, this is served without a bun to be gluten-sensitive. Ask that it be assembled on a clean surface and that toppings and condiments are confirmed wheat-free to minimize cross-contact.

Smokehouse Burger: Burger with smoky toppings and sauce, and this gluten-sensitive version of Cheddar’s regular burger is served without the bun. Confirm the smokehouse sauce contains no wheat thickeners or soy-based ingredients with gluten and ask for clean prep and utensils.

Classic Burger: Grilled beef patty with standard toppings, which is also served without the bun to remove the singular wheat component. As per usual, ensure that any sauces are checked for wheat, and request separate prep space to reduce cross-contact on shared grills or counters.

Classic Cheeseburger: Beef patty with melted cheese, where this gluten-sensitive version of a regular Cheddar’s burger is served without the bun to make it safe. Verify that the cheese and condiments are free of wheat-derived stabilizers and ask staff to assemble using fresh gloves.

Fire Grilled Sirloin: Center-cut sirloin seasoned and grilled with no breading or flour thickeners. It’s either served plain or with a gluten-free side, and if you want to be extra sure, confirm any finishing sauces are properly wheat-free and request separate prep in case of cross-contact.

14 oz. Ribeye: Hand-cut ribeye seasoned simply and flame-grilled. There are no wheat ingredients in the recipe, and to make it super safe, choose a naturally gluten-free side and ask the kitchen to avoid flour-thickened sauces or pan gravies, as well.

Baby Back Ribs: Slow-cooked ribs finished with a dry rub or barbecue glaze. Many rubs are wheat-free, but once again, confirm that the glaze is not thickened with flour or soy sauce containing wheat, or ask for no glaze if you’re unsure.

Ribs & Shrimp: Half rack or portion of ribs with grilled shrimp. The shrimp are grilled without batter, but double-check that the rib glaze is wheat-free and request plain grilled shrimp and separate plating to reduce cross-contact risk.

Top Sirloin Steak: Lean sirloin seasoned and grilled with no breading or flour thickeners. This dish is naturally gluten-sensitive, but confirm that any compound butter and sauce do not contain any hidden wheat before serving.

Top Sirloin Steak & Shrimp: Sirloin paired with skewered grilled shrimp. Both the proteins are prepared without wheat by recipe, but just to make sure, request no saucing, or maybe ask for sauce on the side and a clean plate for service.

Top Sirloin Steak & Ribs: Sirloin with a portion of ribs, and both these proteins can be gluten-sensitive if the rib glaze is wheat-free. Confirm the saucing just to make sure, and request separate prep to avoid contamination from battered items.

Texas T-Bone: Large T-bone steak seasoned and grilled, with no breading or flour thickeners. It’s served as a straightforward steak option, but ask that no wheat-based sauce or marinade be used and double-check that it gets a clean prep.

Skirt Steak Churrasco: Marinated skirt steak grilled and sliced, served with chimichurri. The chimichurri is typically wheat-free, but if you’re still unsure, confirm that the marinade has no soy or wheat additions, and request plain grilling if needed.

Half Rack of Ribs & Grilled Shrimp: Half rack with grilled shrimp skewers, and the shrimp is grilled plain, and the ribs are served with dry rub or glaze. Verify that the rib glaze is wheat-free or request dry rub only, and ask for separate plating to avoid cross-contact.

Grilled Salmon: Grilled salmon fillet seasoned and seared. The gluten-sensitive version of this dish is served without the bourbon-glaze to avoid wheat-thickened glazes, or if you’re unsure, request plain grilled preparation and confirm that any finishing sauce is gluten-free.

Grilled White Fish: Seasonal white fish grilled simply with lemon and herbs. There’s no batter or wheat components by recipe, thus making this a solid gluten-sensitive choice, and you can also request plain grilling and separate prep if you’re especially concerned about cross-contact.

Grilled Mahi Mahi: Mahi grilled with citrus and herbs, served without any breading. There are no wheat ingredients in the recipe, but confirm that no soy-based marinades with wheat are used and ask for plain preparation for extra safety.

Lemon Pepper White Fish: White fish seasoned with lemon-pepper and grilled. There is no flour coating or wheat batter, making it safe as long as it’s been grilled plain and not finished in a wheat-thickened sauce. Or, you could ask for sauce on the side.

Idaho Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes served without gravy to be gluten-sensitive. Just in case, double-check that you’ve asked for “no gravy”, since the standard gravy might be thickened with wheat flour. Additionally, you could also verify with the staff that any dairy and seasoning contain no hidden wheat.

Southern Green Beans: Steamed or braised green beans seasoned Southern style without any breading. There are no wheat ingredients in the recipe, but ask for separate prep to avoid ladles used for wheat-thickened sides that add unwanted cross-contamination.

Buttered Off-the-Cob Corn: Fresh corn kernels tossed with butter. It’s naturally gluten-free by recipe, and it’s also pretty safe for celiacs, though request fresh utensils and separate bowls to avoid cross-contact from the crackers or coatings.

Sweet Baby Carrots: Glazed or steamed baby carrots with no batter. There are no wheat ingredients in a standard prep, and it’s safe as a side if it’s been prepared separately from breaded or floured items.

Seasoned Rice: Fluffy seasoned rice prepared without wheat thickeners. It’s a naturally gluten-free starch, but if you’re unsure, request a clean scoop and separate prep to minimize risks of cross-contamination from other sauced pans.

Freshly Made Coleslaw: Shredded cabbage and carrot slaw in a creamy or vinaigrette dressing. It’s typically wheat-free by recipe, but confirm the dressing contains no wheat-based stabilizers and ask for a clean mixing bowl.

Fresh Steamed Broccoli: Steamed broccoli florets with no batter or sauces. It’s naturally gluten-free and low risk, but if you want to be extra safe, request that they’re steamed fresh, and not tossed in a shared sauté pan with wheat ingredients.

Cheese & Bacon Mashed Potato: Mashed potatoes blended with cheese and bacon, which may be served with gravy or a wheat-thickened topping, with the regular version. But, this gluten-sensitive version omits the gravy, and just in case, confirm that the cheese and bacon have no added wheat-based fillers to keep it gluten-sensitive.

Loaded Baked Potato: A baked potato topped with cheese, bacon, sour cream, and all of its base ingredients are wheat-free by recipe. You should also confirm that any chili or additional mix-ins and toppings contain no wheat, and request separate prep to further reduce cross-contact.

Red Beans & Rice: Hearty beans simmered with spices served over rice. There’s no wheat in the standard preparation, but verify that the seasoning and any sausage add-ons don’t come with wheat-based fillers, and ask for clean utensils to ensure minimal cross-contamination, too.

Black Beans & Rice: Slow-simmered black beans served with seasoned rice. It’s also naturally gluten-free by recipe and a pretty safe side for celiacs, though double-check that the seasoning packets or chorizo are wheat-free if you choose to have them included.

House Salad: Mixed greens, tomato, cucumber, carrots, and a choice of dressing. Just to make doubly sure, you should order it with no croutons and ask that the salad also be tossed in a separate bowl, with a confirmed gluten-free dressing to minimize cross-contact.

If you’re a celiac or someone with a severe gluten intolerance or sensitivity, the safest bet here is to simply order from Cheddar’s gluten-sensitive menu and not bother with the rest. 🍔🥔

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Appetizers, Salads & Soups

On the other hand, if you’re after a good starter to your meal or a healthy, lightweight side to accompany your entrees, Cheddar’s appetizers, salads, or soups offer a nice selection. 🥗🥣

They run the gamut from shareable fried favorites to hearty bowls and fresh salads. However, most of them rely on batter, breading, or wheat-thickened sauces, making them unsafe. 🍲

❌ Homemade Onion Rings
❌ Buffalo Beer-Battered Shrimp
⚠️ Chips & Homemade Queso
❌ Honey Butter Croissants
❌ Cheddar’s Trio Sampler
⚠️ Cheddar’s Queso Fries
❌ Santa Fe Spinach Dip
❌ Wisconsin Cheese Bites
❌ Coconut Shrimp
❌ Crispy Chicken Tender Salad
⚠️ Grilled Chicken Pecan Salad
❌ Caesar Pasta Salad – Chicken
❌ Caesar Pasta Salad – Salmon
❌ Side House Salad
❌ Side Caesar Salad
⚠️ Salmon Strawberry Salad
❌ Baked Potato Soup

Just to make sure we’ve got it right on what’s safe and what to avoid, let’s take a closer look:

Homemade Onion Rings: Thick-cut onions dipped in beer-and-wheat batter and deep-fried. The coating is wheat-based, and it’s then cooked in shared fryer oil, so this is unsafe for celiacs and not salvageable by simple swaps or special modifications, either.

Buffalo Beer-Battered Shrimp: Jumbo shrimp coated in beer batter and fried, and they’re then tossed in buffalo glaze. The beer batter here contains wheat flour, and shared fryer oil increases cross-contact risks further, so avoid this completely if you need strict gluten avoidance.

Chips & Homemade Queso: House tortilla chips served with warm queso. The chips are usually corn-based, but the queso might be prepared on shared equipment and ladled from pots used for wheat-thickened sauces, and the chips are typically fried in shared fryer oil, thus creating a moderate cross-contact risk.

Honey Butter Croissants: Flaky, buttery croissant rolls made from enriched wheat flour and then baked on shared trays. This dish contains gluten, and the shared bakeware raises cross-contamination risks even further, so it’s not safe for celiacs.

Cheddar’s Trio Sampler: Assortment of fried items (onion rings, cheese bites, shrimp) and some accompanying dipping sauces. There are multiple battered components here that feature wheat, and they also share fryers, making the entire sampler unsafe for gluten-sensitive diners.

Cheddar’s Queso Fries: Fries topped with melted queso. The fries themselves might be wheat-free, but the queso and the entire assembly are handled near battered foods and shared ladles, not to mention the fries themselves being fried with shared fryer oil, so you will have to worry about some moderate cross-contact risk.

Santa Fe Spinach Dip: Creamy spinach dip often finished with a crunchy breadcrumb or tortilla topper and then served with chips. The topping and any roux or thickeners may contain wheat, making it unsafe for celiacs by default.

Wisconsin Cheese Bites: Breaded cheese rounds coated in panko or flour and deep-fried. The breading contains wheat, and the shared fryers compound contamination risk, so avoid this appetizer entirely if you’re a celiac like me.

Coconut Shrimp: Shrimp breaded in a coconut-and-wheat batter and fried. The batter contains wheat flour, and the shared frying oil ensures really high cross-contact risks, so it’s not safe for strict gluten-free diets.

Crispy Chicken Tender Salad: Salad topped with hand-breaded chicken tenders. The tenders are wheat-coated and fried, which contaminates the whole salad via the protein and shared prep tools, so this dish is unsafe unless the tenders are omitted and separate prep is used.

Grilled Chicken Pecan Salad: Grilled chicken, candied pecans, mixed greens, and vinaigrette. No breading or wheat ingredients are used, but to be safe, request that you get dressing on the side and ask for separate mixing to minimize cross-contamination for added safety.

Caesar Pasta Salad – Chicken: Pasta salad built with penne and Caesar dressing plus croutons. This dish contains wheat pasta and croutons by default, so it’s unsafe for gluten-free diners unless served without the pasta and croutons, and with a verified dressing.

Caesar Pasta Salad – Salmon: Same as above, but with salmon, though the wheat penne and croutons make this unsafe unless specifically modified, which doesn’t seem to be an option, and the dressing should also be verified for any wheat-based emulsifiers.

Side House Salad: Small mixed greens with standard toppings and dressing, and it’s typically served with croutons and dressings that may include wheat-based stabilizers, so this side is flagged as unsafe unless modified and prepped separately.

Side Caesar Salad: Romaine and Caesar dressing are usually served with croutons and a dressing that may contain wheat-based emulsifiers. By default, it’s not safe for celiacs unless all those croutons are removed and separate prep is guaranteed.

Salmon Strawberry Salad: Grilled salmon over mixed greens with strawberries, almonds, and light vinaigrette. There are no wheat ingredients in the recipe, but request dressing on the side and double-check that the salmon is grilled plain to prevent any cross-contamination.

Baked Potato Soup: Creamy potato soup is often thickened with a flour-based roux. Because the soup uses wheat-thickening agents and shared ladles, it’s unsafe for strict gluten-free diets or folks with celiac disease, as well as severe gluten intolerance and sensitivity.

It’s pretty obvious that once you stray away from Cheddar’s dedicated gluten-sensitive menu, your variety of options dwindle quickly, not to mention the cross-contamination risks. 🍟🧀

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Weekday Lunch & Comfort Food

If you’re able to make it to Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen’s weekday lunch specials, or if you want some comfort food to fill your belly on the way home, there’s a lot to choose from! 🥪🍝🥧

Whether it’s saucy pastas or hearty chops and fried sides, the grilled options and veggie plate are safe, while the others are built with hazardous bread, batter, or wheat-thickened sauces.

❌ Veggie Philly
❌ Classic Cheeseburger
❌ Classic Chicken Sandwich
❌ Fish and Chips
⚠️ Cajun Chicken Bowl
❌ Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
❌ Philly Cheesesteak
✅ Grilled White Fish
⚠️ Baja Chicken
⚠️ Skirt Steak Churrasco
❌ Spasagna
❌ New Orleans Pasta
✅ Vegetable Plate
❌ Country Fried Chicken
❌ Country Fried Steak
❌ Homestyle Meatloaf
❌ Grilled Pork Chops

For comparison, let’s check out what each of these comfort foods is made of in more detail:

Veggie Philly: Sautéed peppers, onions, mushrooms, and provolone tucked into a long hoagie roll. The roll itself is wheat-based, and the assembly station sees other breads, so this is unsafe for anyone trying to avoid gluten.

Classic Cheeseburger: Ground beef patty with cheese and standard toppings on a wheat bun. Requesting a “no bun” option does remove the bread, but the shared grill and prep areas create a significant cross-contact risk for celiacs.

Classic Chicken Sandwich: Breaded or grilled chicken served on a wheat bun with mayo and toppings. The bun contains wheat, and the breaded option includes wheat in the coating, so this delicious sandwich is pretty unsafe unless it’s been heavily modified somehow.

Fish and Chips: Beer-battered fish and deep-fried chips. The fish batter contains wheat, and the shared fryer oil contains severe cross-contamination, making this a clear no-go for celiacs and strict gluten-free diners.

Cajun Chicken Bowl: Spiced grilled chicken over rice with vegetables and a Cajun-style sauce. The recipe might be wheat-free, but there’s moderate cross-contact risk from shared woks, sauces, and prep areas, so request separate prep and sauce verification.

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie: Chicken and vegetables in a creamy filling topped with a buttery pie crust. Both the crust and any roux-thickened filling contain wheat, so this dish is unsafe for celiacs and for folks with severe gluten intolerance or sensitivity.

Philly Cheesesteak: Thinly sliced steak, onions, and melted cheese served on a hoagie roll. The roll and any potential sandwich sauces contain wheat, and the shared prep surfaces increase cross-contamination risks even further, so avoid this one, as well.

Grilled White Fish: Simple white fish seasoned and grilled without batter. Prepared without wheat-based sauces or coatings, this is a naturally gluten-sensitive choice when you ask for no glaze and separate prep, and it stands as one of the safer options here.

Baja Chicken: Grilled chicken topped with salsa, avocado, and sometimes a citrus marinade. The protein is often wheat-free by recipe, but cross-contact with marinades or shared prep warrants asking for separate handling, just to be on the safe side.

Skirt Steak Churrasco: Marinated flank-style steak with chimichurri. While the steak can be grilled plain, some marinades or finishing sauces use wheat-based thickeners, so ask for no marinade or a confirmed gluten-free version to reduce risk.

Spasagna: Oven-baked lasagna-like dish that layers pasta with sauce and cheese. The pasta and sauce contain wheat, making this off-limits for anyone on a strict gluten-free diet.

New Orleans Pasta: Creamy Cajun-style pasta with chicken or shrimp and penne noodles. Penne is wheat-based, and creamy sauces often use flour-thickeners, so this is unsafe for celiacs.

Vegetable Plate: A selection of steamed or grilled vegetables and simple sides. When prepared without gravy or batter and made on separate utensils, this is a safe, gluten-sensitive option for celiac diners.

Country Fried Chicken: Chicken cutlets hand-dipped in seasoned wheat flour batter, fried, and served with gravy. Both the coating and the gravy contain wheat, and shared fryers add further cross-contact risks, making this unsafe for celiacs.

Country Fried Steak: Tenderized steak breaded in wheat flour and fried, and it’s typically served with flour-thickened gravy. The batter and the gravy make this unsuitable for gluten-free diets.

Homestyle Meatloaf: Ground meat blended with breadcrumbs or panko and topped with a sauce that may include flour. Breadcrumb binder and the gravy typically contain wheat, so avoid this if you must be gluten-free.

Grilled Pork Chops: Pan- or grill-seared chops sometimes basted or finished with a gravy or glaze that can contain wheat. This dish contains wheat ingredients, so it should be avoided by celiacs unless the kitchen staff confirms a plain, unglazed preparation.

While there are a few safer options here among Cheddar’s comfort foods and weekday lunch specials, cross-contamination is a serious concern that you need to be mindful of. 🥩🌶️🍖

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Chicken

To start off with their entrees, Cheddar’s has a decent selection of poultry-based dishes that are not already in the other menus that we’ve covered thus far, though not all is good news. 🍗

⚠️ Dijon Chicken & Mushrooms
❌ Key West Chicken & Shrimp
❌ Chicken Tender Platter
❌ Grilled Chicken Alfredo
⚠️ Lemon Pepper Chicken

Let’s check out what’s inside each of these chicken dishes to find out what they’re made of:

Dijon Chicken & Mushrooms: Pan-seared chicken topped with a creamy Dijon-mushroom sauce that’s prepared without wheat-based thickeners by recipe. If you want to be extra safe, request separate prep and clean utensils because shared pans and ladles introduce cross-contact risk.

Key West Chicken & Shrimp: Grilled chicken and shrimp finished with a bourbon glaze, and it’s then served with sides. The glaze and some finishing sauces might contain wheat and gluten thickeners, and the surf-and-turf prep often shares equipment, so avoid this dish if you can.

Chicken Tender Platter: Hand-breaded chicken strips, deep-fried and served with dipping sauce. The breading contains wheat flour, and these are then cooked in shared fryers, making this item unsafe for celiacs and for folks with pretty severe gluten intolerance and sensitivity.

Grilled Chicken Alfredo: Grilled chicken served over penne tossed in Alfredo sauce. The pasta is wheat-based, and the sauce may be finished with flour-thickened components, so this entrée is not celiac-safe either, with no special modifications that could otherwise change this.

Lemon Pepper Chicken: Lemon-pepper seasoned chicken grilled and served with simple sides. It’s prepared without breading by recipe, but ask for separate prep and be mindful of possible cross-contamination at the sauce station to avoid trace gluten from shared stations.

Remember, while a couple of these poultry dishes technically contain no wheat ingredients by default, cross-contamination presents a major hazard that you have to be wary of. 🍤🍋🍄

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Steaks & Ribs

Or, if chicken isn’t your thing, maybe consider some of the steaks and ribs on Cheddar’s menu, in addition to some of those gluten-sensitive steaks and ribs that we looked at earlier. 🍖🥩

❌ The Hawaiian Sirloin
❌ The Texas T-Bone
⚠️ Top Sirloin Steak
⚠️ 14 oz. Ribeye Steak
⚠️ Baby Back Ribs

To compare against their gluten-sensitive counterparts, let’s take a closer peek at each one:

The Hawaiian Sirloin: Sirloin finished with a sweet glaze and pineapple, often using a soy or glaze that contains wheat. Because the finishing sauce includes glutenous ingredients, this entrée is unsafe for strict gluten-free diets and folks with severe gluten intolerance.

The Texas T-Bone: T-bone finished with a steak sauce or glaze that may include wheat-based ingredients. The cut itself can be gluten-free if ordered plain, but this particular menu version contains wheat, so avoid it if you’re trying to maintain a strict gluten-free diet.

Top Sirloin Steak: Classic grilled sirloin seasoned simply with salt and pepper. The steak itself is gluten-free by recipe, but double-check that no seasoned glazes or compound butters are used, and ask for separate prep to further minimize cross-contamination risks.

14 oz. Ribeye Steak: Hand-cut ribeye seasoned and grilled without breading. By recipe, the steak is free of wheat, yet shared grills and the finishing sauces can introduce trace gluten unless the kitchen staff takes precautions, so maybe order this with caution.

Baby Back Ribs: Slow-cooked ribs finished with barbecue sauce. The ribs themselves are meat-only, but many BBQ sauces contain malt, soy, or flour thickeners, so verify the sauce is wheat-free or request it on the side, and ask for separate prep, just in case.

Once again, as with Cheddar’s poultry menu, some of these steaks and ribs don’t contain any wheat ingredients by default, but cross-contact risks still make me wary regardless. 🍍🍛

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Seafood

Alternatively, for a mouthwatering taste of the sea, Cheddar’s seafood menu offers up a tasty palate that’s brimming with fresh fish and shrimp, but not all of them are celiac-safe. 🍤🦐

❌ Bourbon-Glazed Salmon & Shrimp
❌ Beer-Battered Fish & Shrimp Platter
❌ Grilled Shrimp Alfredo
⚠️ Grilled Salmon
❌ Cornmeal White Fish Platter
❌ Beer-Battered Shrimp Platter
❌ Coconut Shrimp Platter
⚠️ Blackened Mahi Mahi
❌ Beer-Battered Fish Platter

To see what makes most of these downright dangerous for celiacs, let’s take a closer peek:

Bourbon-Glazed Salmon & Shrimp: Salmon and shrimp glazed in a sweet bourbon sauce that could include wheat-based thickeners and marinades. Because that glaze contains gluten ingredients, this menu item is unsafe for strict gluten-free diets and celiacs.

Beer-Battered Fish & Shrimp Platter: Fish and shrimp dipped in beer batter and deep-fried. The batter contains wheat, and the shared fryer guarantees cross-contact, so this classic platter is off-limits for celiacs and folks with severe gluten intolerance, too.

Grilled Shrimp Alfredo: Shrimp served with penne pasta in Alfredo sauce. The wheat pasta and possibly flour-thickened sauce make this dish unsafe for gluten-free diners, and sadly, there’s no gluten-friendly substitute or alternative available.

Grilled Salmon: Simply seasoned salmon fillet grilled to order. The fillet is typically prepared without wheat ingredients, but confirm that no bourbon glaze or soy-based marinades have been used, and request separate prep to further minimize cross-contact.

Cornmeal White Fish Platter: White fish coated in a seasoned cornmeal mix and fried. Although cornmeal is gluten-free itself, the prep often includes wheat flour cross-contamination or even shared fryers, making this platter unsafe overall.

Beer-Battered Shrimp Platter: Jumbo shrimp dipped in beer batter and fried. The beer batter contains wheat, and these are then fried alongside other battered items, leading to pretty high cross-contamination risks, not to mention the underlying gluten itself.

Coconut Shrimp Platter: Shrimp coated in a coconut breading and deep-fried. The coating is usually mixed with wheat flour or a flour binder and fried in shared oil, so this dish is not safe for celiacs and for folks with severe gluten sensitivity or intolerance.

Blackened Mahi Mahi: Mahi rubbed with blackening spices and seared. The seasoning and the cooking method are normally wheat-free, but just to be safe, request no sauce and ask for separate prep to further reduce cross-contamination from shared pans or glazes.

Beer-Battered Fish Platter: Classic beer-battered fillets fried until crisp. The batter contains wheat, and the shared fryer oil creates unavoidable cross-contamination risks, so avoid this particular seafood dish entirely if you’re a celiac like me.

If you’re a fellow celiac or have a severe gluten intolerance or sensitivity, it’s best to stick with Cheddar’s dedicated gluten-sensitive menu, as at least then you’ll have more options! 🐟🐠

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Sandwiches & Half-Pound Burgers

If you’re hungry for a burger, sandwich, or a delectable handheld, then bad news if you are a celiac, as Cheddar’s main burger menu is filled to the brim with wheat and gluten. 🍔🥪🥙

❌ Buffalo Chicken Wrapper
❌ Monte Cristo
❌ Bacon Cheeseburger
❌ Classic Cheeseburger
❌ Smokehouse Burger
❌ Classic Burger
❌ Classic Chicken Sandwich

To understand why these burgers are a bad pick for celiacs, let’s break each of them apart:

Buffalo Chicken Wrapper: Crisp chicken tossed in buffalo sauce with lettuce and ranch wrapped in a flour tortilla. The tortilla and any breaded chicken rely on wheat flour and breading, which make this entire dish unsafe for folks with severe gluten intolerance.

Monte Cristo: Ham, turkey, and cheese sandwiched between battered bread and fried, often dusted with powdered sugar. The batter and frying process contains wheat, so make sure you avoid this entirely if you’re a celiac, too.

Bacon Cheeseburger: Half-pound beef patty topped with bacon and cheese on a wheat bun. The bun (and most of the prep areas) contain gluten, making it unsafe unless you remove the bun, though cross-contact remains a risk.

Classic Cheeseburger: Beef patty with melted cheese and standard toppings on a wheat bun. The bun contains wheat flour, and ordering this bun-less still risks trace gluten from shared grills and assembly spaces, so maybe avoid this one, as well.

Smokehouse Burger: Burger layered with smoked toppings and sauce on a wheat bun. The burger relies on using a wheat bun and smokehouse sauces or dressings that may include glutenous ingredients, making it unsafe for strict gluten-free diets.

Classic Burger: Standard half-pound beef patty with toppings on a wheat bun. The bun itself contains wheat, and shared prep surfaces further increase cross-contact risk, but remove the bun only if you accept potential trace exposure; otherwise, it’s a no-go.

Classic Chicken Sandwich: Breaded chicken breast on a wheat bun with lettuce and mayo. The chicken is breaded with wheat flour and then fried in shared fryers, making this item unsafe even if you’re able to order it without the bun.

Suffice it to say, if you’re craving a good old burger or sandwich, then it’s best to stick with Cheddar’s gluten-sensitive menu, as there are special, safer burgers there instead. 🥓🥩🍖

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Homestyle Sides

To complement your entrees, there are a dime a dozen scratch-made sides that Cheddar’s has on its menu, and best of all, most of them are also gluten-friendly and celiac-safe. 🥔🧀🥓

❌ Broccoli Cheese Casserole
❌ Idaho Mashed Potatoes
✅ Cheese & Bacon Mashed Potatoes
✅ Loaded Baked Potato
⚠️ Loaded Baked Potato w/ Bacon
⚠️ French Fries
⚠️ Homemade Queso & Bacon French Fries
✅ Southern Green Beans
✅ Buttered Off-the-Cob Corn
✅ Fresh Steamed Broccoli
✅ Sweet Baby Carrots
✅ Seasoned Rice
✅ Freshly Made Coleslaw
✅ Red Beans & Rice
⚠️ Fried Plantains
✅ Black Beans & Rice
✅ Sautéed Mushrooms

Just so we’re totally 100% sure that these are safe for celiacs, let’s take a closer peek at them:

Broccoli Cheese Casserole: Broccoli baked in cheesy sauce with a crumb topping. The casserole contains a wheat-based topping or thickener, so it’s not suitable for celiacs like me.

Idaho Mashed Potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes prepared with a flour-thickened gravy in the standard recipe. Because the gravy contains wheat, it’s unsafe for strict gluten-free diets.

Cheese & Bacon Mashed Potatoes: Mashed potatoes topped with cheese and bacon. When prepared without flour-thickened gravy, this side is free of wheat ingredients and is generally quite suitable for gluten-sensitive diners.

Loaded Baked Potato: Baked potato topped with butter, cheese, sour cream, and chives. By recipe, this is wheat-free, though just double-check the toppings, and request separate prep just in case there’s any risk of cross-contamination.

Loaded Baked Potato w/ Bacon: It’s the same as the above, but with bacon added, and while bacon itself is fine, it may be handled on shared assembly lines, thus creating potential cross-contact risks, so please order this carefully.

French Fries: Crisp-cut or seasoned fries, and while potatoes are wheat-free by recipe, they’re usually fried in shared oil with battered items. To be on the safe side, ask the staff about their fryer practices before ordering, or see if they could swap to using fresh oil.

Homemade Queso & Bacon French Fries: Cheese-and-bacon fries topped with queso. The base of the fries is wheat-free, but queso recipes sometimes use thickeners and shared fryer oil and assembly, so cross-contamination remains an ongoing concern.

Southern Green Beans: Slow-simmered green beans cooked simply with seasoning and no wheat ingredients, and it’s generally gluten-friendly, though ask staff to avoid gravy cross-contamination with other items in their kitchen.

Buttered Off-the-Cob Corn: Fresh corn brushed with butter and seasonings, prepared without wheat, thus making this a pretty safe, naturally gluten-sensitive vegetable side.

Fresh Steamed Broccoli: Steamed broccoli florets with minimal handling and without wheat ingredients, making this another reliable gluten-sensitive side that’s safe for celiacs.

Sweet Baby Carrots: Steamed or glazed baby carrots prepared without any wheat-based thickeners, but double-check if glaze ingredients are present; the entire dish is usually gluten-friendly, either way.

Seasoned Rice: Fluffy seasoned rice made without wheat thickeners. Rice is naturally gluten-free, but verify that no soy-based marinades have been used or cross-contact during service.

Freshly Made Coleslaw: Cabbage salad tossed in a creamy dressing without wheat ingredients by default, but ask that it be prepared away from battered items to reduce cross-contact.

Red Beans & Rice: Hearty beans with rice seasoned in a gluten-free base by recipe. Confirm no gravy or flour-thickened sauces have been added, but this dish is typically quite safe.

Fried Plantains: Plantains are fried until golden. The fruit itself is gluten-free, but frying in shared oil used for breaded items introduces cross-contact risk, so ask about fryer oil to make sure.

Black Beans & Rice: Black beans simmered and served over rice, and this rather simple combo is typically prepared without wheat, making it a solid gluten-sensitive side, as well.

Sautéed Mushrooms: Mushrooms sautéed in butter or oil with garlic and herbs. There are no wheat ingredients in the recipe, but confirm that no soy-based glazes were used.

There appear to be only a couple of exceptions among Cheddar’s made-from-scratch sides in their menu, and it’s nice to see that most of their sides are relatively celiac-safe. 🍚🌽🍟🥕

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Kids’ Meals

For the young’uns dining out at Cheddar’s, their kids’ menu is filled with comforting classics, but sadly, most of them rely on wheat-based breads, batters, or pastry components. 🍔🍟

❌ Chicken Tenders
❌ Junior Burger
⚠️ Grilled Chicken
❌ Grilled Cheese
❌ Grilled Chicken Alfredo
❌ Fried Shrimp
❌ Penne Pasta Alfredo
❌ Penne Pasta With Marinara
❌ Penne Pasta & Butter
❌ Penne Pasta Alfredo With Chicken
⚠️ BBQ Chicken
❌ Coconut Shrimp

Just in case we’ve missed something, let’s take a closer look at what each one is made of:

Chicken Tenders: Breaded white-meat chicken strips coated in wheat-based flour and deep-fried, typically in shared fryer oil, and the breading and cross-contact make these unsafe for anyone avoiding gluten.

Junior Burger: Small beef patty served on a wheat bun with standard toppings. The bun here contains wheat, and shared assembly surfaces increase cross-contact risk, rendering it unsafe for strict gluten-free diets.

Grilled Chicken: Marinated grilled chicken breast prepared without breading. Recipe-wise, it’s wheat-free, but high cross-contamination risks exist from shared grills and prep areas, so try asking for separate prep and fresh gloves to minimize trace gluten exposure.

Grilled Cheese: Slices of American cheese melted between toasted wheat bread on a shared grill. The bread contains gluten, and shared toasting surfaces further increase contamination risk, so avoid this if you have celiac disease.

Grilled Chicken Alfredo: Penne pasta tossed in a creamy Alfredo sauce with grilled chicken. The pasta and sauce contain wheat-based ingredients, and shared pots and pans mean this dish is unsafe for gluten-free diners, as well.

Fried Shrimp: Shrimp coated in a seasoned wheat batter and deep-fried. Both the batter and the shared fryer oil create direct gluten exposure, making this item unsuitable for celiacs and gluten-intolerant diners.

Penne Pasta Alfredo: Traditional penne pasta in a cheesy cream sauce. The pasta is wheat-based, and the sauce may use flour thickeners, so this dish is not safe for anyone on a strict gluten-free diet or if you’re a celiac.

Penne Pasta With Marinara: Penne pasta served with tomato marinara. The wheat pasta makes this dish unsafe for celiacs, even though the tomato sauce itself may be wheat-free when you break down the base recipe.

Penne Pasta & Butter: Plain penne tossed with butter. Despite its simplicity, the pasta is made from wheat flour and is therefore not safe for gluten-free diners, and with no wheat-free pasta substitute available as of writing.

Penne Pasta Alfredo With Chicken: Penne pasta with Alfredo sauce and chicken. The wheat pasta and possible sauce thickeners contain gluten, so this dish is off-limits for strict gluten diners and celiacs like me.

BBQ Chicken: Chicken glazed in barbecue sauce and served as a kid-friendly option. The chicken itself can be wheat-free, but the sauces or shared prep surfaces might introduce cross-contact, and it might be worth requesting ingredient confirmation and a separate prep, too.

Coconut Shrimp: Shrimp dredged in a wheat-containing coconut batter and deep-fried. The batter and the shared fryer create a high gluten risk, so avoid this if you require strict gluten-free meals and need to keep that diet in mind.

I think it’s fair to say that if your kid(s) are dining out at Cheddar’s, it’s far safer to order from the gluten-sensitive menu, and there are still tons of delicious, kid-sized options there. 🍝🍤

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Desserts

To end your visit to Cheddar’s with a sweet finish, there are a few desserts that you might be tempted to order, but refrain if you’re a celiac, as not a single one here is safe. 🥧🍰🍫🍪

❌ Fried Apple Pie
❌ Carrot Cake
❌ Classic Cheesecake
❌ Cheddar’s Legendary Monster Cookie
❌ Hot Fudge Cake Sundae

Let’s take a closer look to see if there’s any salvation here among Cheddar’s desserts:

Fried Apple Pie: Baked or fried pastry filled with apples and sugar, and the crust is made from enriched wheat flour and is often fried in shared oil, making this dessert unsafe for celiacs.

Carrot Cake: Classic layered carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. The cake layers contain wheat flour, and the dessert is baked in shared ovens, so it’s not suitable for gluten-free diets.

Classic Cheesecake: Creamy cheesecake served with a graham-cracker or cookie crust made from wheat flour. The crust contains gluten, rendering the dessert unsafe for celiacs unless a crustless option exists, which doesn’t right now.

Cheddar’s Legendary Monster Cookie: Large bakery-style cookie loaded with mix-ins and baked from wheat flour. The cookie contains gluten, and it’s unsafe for anyone on a strict gluten-free diet, or if you’re a celiac like me.

Hot Fudge Cake Sundae: Warm chocolate cake with hot fudge and ice cream. The cake uses wheat flour, and the sauce or brownie pieces may add further gluten, so avoid this dessert if you’re highly intolerant to gluten.

So, that’s a pretty clear-cut conclusion: if you’re a celiac, maybe consider getting desserts not from the Cheddar’s menu, but instead, find a safe refuge elsewhere with less gluten. 🥕🧀🍎

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Beverages

Whether you’re looking to satiate yourself with brewed iced teas to made-to-order lemonades and classic fountain sodas, Cheddar’s beverage lineup is pretty safe for celiacs. 🧃🍋🧊🥤

✅ Fresh-Brewed Iced Teas (Classic / Peach / Raspberry / Strawberry / Mango)
✅ Hand-Crafted Lemonades (Classic / Raspberry / Strawberry)
✅ Coca-Cola
✅ Coke Zero Sugar
✅ Diet Coke
✅ Dr Pepper
✅ Diet Dr Pepper
✅ Barq’s Root Beer
✅ Fanta Orange
✅ Sprite
✅ Gallon Iced Tea (Peach / Raspberry / Strawberry / Mango)
✅ Gallon Lemonade (Raspberry / Strawberry)

Just to make sure that you’re getting a celiac-safe and gluten-free drink, let’s take a peek:

Fresh-Brewed Iced Teas (Classic / Peach / Raspberry / Strawberry / Mango): House-brewed black tea served over ice, offered in several fruit-flavored varieties. The tea and fruit syrups contain no wheat ingredients, making these naturally gluten-free by recipe.

Hand-Crafted Lemonades (Classic / Raspberry / Strawberry): Fresh-made lemonades using lemon, sugar, water, and fruit purees where applicable. No wheat ingredients are used, so they’re gluten-free by ingredient and are great for celiac diners.

Coca-Cola / Coke Zero Sugar / Diet Coke / Dr Pepper / Diet Dr Pepper / Barq’s Root Beer / Fanta Orange / Sprite: Fountain sodas and some standard soft-drink formulas that contain no wheat ingredients. These are gluten-free by recipe, but ask staff to wipe that nozzle before pouring to further minimize any cross-contamination risk.

Gallon Iced Tea (Peach / Raspberry / Strawberry / Mango): Party-size pitchers of the flavored iced teas above. Prepared in large batches without wheat ingredients, and it’s definitely good for groups, though confirm that the pitcher or spigot is cleaned between batches, to be safe.

Gallon Lemonade (Raspberry / Strawberry): Large pitchers of flavored lemonade made from lemon base and fruit puree. They are gluten-free by ingredient, but ask for a clean dispenser, and maybe even a fresh pour to minimize any chance of cross-contact.

Like most restaurants, the drinks section at Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen is mostly gluten-free, though there’s the ever-present danger of cross-contamination to be a bit wary of. 🍓🍑🥭

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To Sum Up

While the majority of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen’s menu is off-limits to celiacs, aside from their sides menu, at least they have a dedicated gluten-sensitive menu to make things easy. 🚫🌾

If you’re planning to dine out at Cheddar’s as a celiac, let’s make this simple: skip their salads, soups, appetizers, weekday lunch specials, comfort foods, sandwiches, and the burgers. 🍔

Equally, their kids’ menu, as well as their main entrees, including chicken, steaks, ribs, and the seafood selection, should also be avoided if you’re highly intolerant or are sensitive to gluten.

Most of these menu sections are filled to the brim with wheat and gluten, though Cheddar’s is not out for the count just yet, given the vast variety of dishes in their gluten-sensitive menu.

Whether you’re drooling over gluten-sensitive burgers, salads, proteins, potatoes, rice, or a lot more besides, including fish, shrimp, steak, ribs, and chicken, you’re not lacking in options!

Sure, cross-contact risks remain a concern, but it’d definitely be cool to see more restaurants follow Cheddar’s footsteps in catering more toward celiacs with a gluten-sensitive menu. 👍

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 Culver’s, Chili’s, PF Chang’s, First Watch, Potbelly, Red Lobster, Yard House, LongHorn, Pei Wei, Wendy’s, Bob Evans, BJ’s, Maggiano’s, Carrabba’s, and more! 🍔🍟🍗

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

While I was preparing this Cheddar’s gluten-free guide, I came across a few interesting queries on social media and some community forums, so here’s my attempt at answering them:

What’s on Cheddar’s gluten-free list, and which menu items are safe?

Cheddar’s offers a pretty sizeable set of gluten-sensitive items with a dedicated menu, and this includes steaks, chicken, grilled fish, burgers, baked potatoes, steamed veggies, rice sides, and even salads. Most of their gluten-sensitive items could be found in the regular Cheddar’s menu, but they’ve since been specially modified to omit wheat-containing components.

Otherwise, in the rest of the massive Cheddar’s menu elsewhere, you won’t find many gluten-free options, as most of these dishes rely on wheat-based items, such as breading, batter, or thickened sauces.

Can I modify Cheddar’s dishes to be gluten-free?

Yes! Many menu items can be made gluten-friendly, especially if you order them straight from the official Cheddar’s gluten-sensitive menu, with fairly simple swaps and omissions. They will include modifications such as ordering burgers with no bun, omitting breadcrumb crusts, which feature in some of their dishes, or ordering salads without croutons or crispy toppings.

There’s also the option for you to choose plain grilled proteins with steamed sides. Regardless of what you pick, however, remember to take extra precautions against cross-contamination risks.

Does Cheddar’s have a dedicated gluten-free kitchen?

Like most full-service restaurant chains, Cheddar’s doesn’t operate a fully separate, dedicated gluten-free kitchen space, and as such, it relies on shared equipment and utensils that might introduce trace gluten cross-contamination, even with menu items that don’t technically have any wheat or gluten components in the recipe or ingredients.

It’s why Cheddar’s chose to label even their safest menu items as gluten-sensitive or gluten-friendly, instead of fully gluten-free. So, make sure you order carefully and alert the Cheddar’s staff about your dietary needs.

Are Cheddar’s sides, soups, and dressings gluten-free?

Some sides (baked potato, steamed broccoli, green beans, and plain rice) are naturally gluten-free, while others (mac & cheese, onion rings, and breaded items) contain wheat. Their soups and dressings vary, as some of them use flour thickeners or wheat-containing ingredients.

You should always verify which particular sides, soups, or dressings you want to order against Cheddar’s official allergen guide, or ask your server which options are marked gluten-free. But if you want to be extra safe, just stick to ordering from Cheddar’s gluten-sensitive menu.

How should I order at Cheddar’s to minimize cross-contamination risk?

Be explicit and specific, and tell your server that you have celiac disease, while also asking the staff to write it on the ticket. You could also request fresh gloves, clean utensils, and separate prep bowls, in addition to asking for items to be cooked last or on a clean flat top, in addition to omitting obvious wheat carriers, such as croutons, breadcrumbs, and fried breaded items.

For those who are highly sensitive to gluten, or if you’re a celiac, consider ordering only from their dedicated gluten-sensitive menu, but even then, be wary of cross-contamination.

Photo Credit

http://cheddars.com/, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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