Complete Guide to Vegan and Vegetarian Options at Wendy’s

Discovering there are so few Wendy's vegan options can be a pretty disappointing. But, never fear, we'll help you navigate the Wendy's menu and make the most of what’s available!
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Wendys restaurant building in Sacramento
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Finding Wendy’s vegan options can feel like searching for a hidden gem. While their menu isn’t overflowing with plant-based choices, there are a few (very few) items that can be tailored to fit a vegan diet. It might not be the most exciting fast-food stop, but with a little creativity and a few customizations, you can still enjoy a satisfying meal.

Let us walk you through Wendy’s vegan-friendly menu items and how to order them to meet your needs. From fresh salads to simple sides, there are a handful of options worth considering. We’ll also share tips to help you navigate the menu with confidence, even if the vegan selection leaves a bit to be desired.

Above all, be prepared. It’s probably not the best idea to go to Wendy’s after a long day at work or when you’re so stressed, you can hardly make healthy decisions. Stick with this vegan fast food guide and you’ll be good to go! Let’s dive in and make the most of your visit to Wendy’s!

how to order vegetarian at wendys vegan guide

Quick Guide to Ordering Vegan at Wendy’s

When you walk into a Wendy’s restaurant, it’s safe to say that you may be overwhelmed by what’s being offered. Stick to this plan and we’re positive you’ll make the best plant-based purchases. Here’s what we suggest:

  • Say Yes To the Salad – Choose a salad without meat, cheese, or croutons and enjoy with a vegan-friendly dressing, salsa, or avocado as a topping.
  • Pick Potatoes – Pick a plain potato or a potato with chives and ask for no butter, cheese, or sour cream.
  • Make a Burger-less Veggie Burger – Make your own veggie “burger” (see below), which is a bun filled with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and add avocado and/or seasoned potatoes or fries to it. Make a DIY Wrap the same way, substituting a flour tortilla for a bun.
  • Add a Healthy Snack – Go for the apple bites (and bring along a nut or seed butter packet)

NOTE: If you are worried about cross-contamination with any animal-based foods, you might want to skip the fries. Unfortunately, they are cooked in the same oil as everything else (including fish and dairy).

Are Wendy’s Fries Vegan?

Yes, vegans can enjoy Wendy’s fries, but only if you are comfortable with cross-contamination. Both Wendy’s Natural Cut fries and seasoned potatoes are made without any animal products, but they are fried in the same oil as the animal-based menu items. It’s totally up to you — it doesn’t make a lick of difference to animals. No judgement here.

If you want to skip on the Wendy’s fries, you can always make your own air-fryer sweet potato fries, herby polenta fries, even protein-packed tofu fries at home!

Vegan woman holding out a small order of Wendy's french fries.

Does Wendy’s Have a Veggie Burger?

Although we’re listing this as a veggie “burger” option, it is just so sad to suggest. Order a Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe and request no meat, no mayo, and no cheese. Ask for extra veggies and avocado and you’ll get their premium bun filled with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, avocado, and raw onion.

If you really want to go all wild and wacky at Wendy’s, add a small order of fries smack dab in the middle of this burger-less-bun-blob. Not at all healthy, but it will probably satisfy your savory cravings, especially if you douse it with plenty of tangy ketchup and zesty mustard.

Modified vegan veggie burger at Wendy's that's just a bun, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and avocado.

Vegan Wendy’s Options

Here’s the complete list of everything vegan at Wendy’s. Scroll through the different categories to quickly find what options are available.

Breakfast

While we would not recommend choosing Wendy’s to build your breakfast, here are a few menu items that might appeal to you. Keep in mind that breakfast is served from 6:30-10:30 am, so some items may not be available after that time.

  • Apple Bites
  • Mixed Berry Fruit Cup (ask for availability)
  • Apple or Orange Juice
  • Seasoned Homestyle Potatoes

Salads

Saved by the salad! This option is hardly worth the price with so many ingredients taken out, but at least you can add some extra veggies to your day. Keep in mind that all of the nuts contain milk (for some strange reason), so remember to ask for no nuts. Which selection would you choose?

  • Apple Pecan Chicken Salad – Ask for no chicken, blue cheese, or pecans (they contain milk). What’s left is romaine, spring mix, dried cranberries, sliced apples, and pomegranate vinaigrette.
  • Side Salad – Order without cheese or croutons and add a vegan-friendly dressing. (Salsa or pomegranate vinaigrette are two choices.)
  • Southwest Avocado Salad – Opt for no cheese, chicken, or bacon. Ask for salsa as a dressing. You’ll have a bowl of mixed romaine and spring greens, avocado, and tomato.
  • Taco Salad – Request no cheese, chili, or sour cream. You’ll be left with romaine, tomatoes, onions, salsa, and tortilla chips. Add an order of avocado to top your taco salad.
Wendys salad ordered vegan with just lettuce and avocado and pomegranate dressing.

Vegan Sides

  • Natural Cut Fries
  • Baked Potato (plain or chives with no butter, sour cream, or cheese)
  • Salsa
  • Seasoned Potatoes
  • Tortilla Chips (ask the server)
Plain baked potato with chives ordered vegan at Wendy's fast food restaurant.

Dressings and Dips That Are Vegan-Friendly

  • Avocado
  • BBQ Dipping Sauce
  • Hot Chili Sauce
  • Ketchup
  • Mustard
  • Pomegranate Vinaigrette
  • Salsa
  • Simply Dressed Vinaigrette
  • Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce
Accidentally vegan pomegranate vinaigrette salad dressing packet from Wendys.

Beverages

  • Coffee (Cold Brewed and Hot)
  • Coca-Cola Products
  • Flavored Lemonades (natural lemon, strawberry, blueberry pomegranate, pineapple mango)
  • Fruit Punch
  • Iced Tea (plain and sweetened)
  • Orange Juice
  • Water Bottle

NOT Vegan at Wendy’s Restaurant

Anything with meat or dairy is not vegan, but here are some less obvious items that are not vegan:

  • Pecans – Includes both milk by-products and honey in the ingredients. Perfectly pitiful!
  • Bakery Items – The biscuits, cookies, or croissants are not vegan-friendly. All contain eggs and dairy.
  • Chili – Contains meat. (Wouldn’t it be wonderful if they offered a bean-based chili in the future?)

Helpful Tips for Making Wendy’s Vegan Options More Satisfying

Making a meal out of Wendy’s vegan options can feel like a challenge, but it’s totally doable with a few tips. Adding extra sides or combining menu items can help make your meal more satisfying. With a little creativity, you can turn simple ingredients into something filling and tasty!

  • Travel with Toppings – Toppings can transform a snack into an actual meal. Pack a small cooler bag with nuts (like these candied walnuts or crunchy pecans), sliced avocado, travel-sized sriracha or hot sauce, favorite seasonings, nut butter (for the apple slices), and/or small containers of vegan sour cream, plant-based butter, and nutritional yeast.
  • Double Up on the Fries – Wendy’s fries are vegan-friendly and a great way to bulk up your meal. Order a large size or grab two smaller portions for extra satisfaction. They’re crispy, salty, and perfect for dipping in ketchup or hot sauce!
  • Pair Chili Seasoning with a Baked Potato – Wendy’s baked potato is a classic vegan option, but it can be a little plain. Sprinkle it with their chili packet (or bring your own chili seasoning) for a spicy flavor boost. You can also request extra toppings like chives and salsa for added texture.
  • Combine the Veggies – Mix and match veggies from other menu items, like lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles. Use them to top your baked potato or salad for a more filling and flavorful meal. Don’t be afraid to get creative with what’s available! If you’re really organized, remember to bring along some homemade pickled vegetables in a small container.
  • Turn Side Items Into a Meal – Order multiple sides, like a baked potato, fries, and apple slices, to make a satisfying meal. It’s a simple way to enjoy variety while sticking to vegan-friendly choices. Think of it as creating your own combo plate!

FAQs

Are the Buns Vegan at Wendy’s?

Yes, the Premium buns at this burger joint do not contain any dairy or eggs. Bunderful!

Are Wendy’s fries vegan?

Yes, Wendy’s fries are vegan! They have no animal products. Just note that they are fried in the same oil as Wendy’s other food, which makes it a no-go for some vegans. But this is completely up to personal preference.

Is Wendy’s Frosty vegan?

We wish that we could say yes to this. We think it would be a pretty easy swap to make with a dairy-free milk and ice cream, but it seems that Wendy’s isn’t ready yet. For now, Frosty beverages are frightfully full of dairy.

Is Wendy’s Fresh Oatmeal Bar vegan?

You’d think that this would be a healthy, plant-based breakfast option, but it has both eggs and honey as ingredients. Sadly, it’s a no-go.

Helpful Hints When Ordering Vegan at Wendy’s

  • Browse the Wendy’s menu before ordering.
  • If ordering Wendy’s online or through a delivery service, make sure you clearly specify any substitutions you would like. It might be a better idea to go to the Wendy’s restaurant directly to order if you want several substitutions.
  • Check out their Nutritional Information page to make sure that you are purchasing a vegan-friendly item. The menu items offered at Wendy’s don’t seem to change very often, but you may want to double check before you visit.
  • Be careful when new and exciting seasonal products at Wendy’s. Double-check the allergens and ingredients to make sure the item is vegan before purchasing.

Creating a Kinder and More Accessible Wendy’s Vegan Experience 

Wendy’s, you need to get with it. Wake up and get a whiff of the vegan-friendly burgers on the menu at other restaurants! Since there are many mainstream burger chains catching the train to Veganville, you could totally take the lead with your very own vegan burger and bust out on top. It’s time to leave the bun-only-burger behind! In the meantime (while we wait for Wendy’s to wise up), we can always write to, call, or contact the managers of any location to make our requests.

Have you found any other Wendy’s options to be veganizable? Did you find something amazing that we missed? Let us know by tagging #worldofvegan and sharing your favorite vegan-at-wendys creations with all of us!

A hand holding up a Wendys paper bag in front of the Wendys restaurant.

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At the time of this article, the menu items mentioned above are vegan. Since restaurants constantly update their menus and add or take away items, please keep this in mind when ordering your food. There may be new items that are vegan at Wendy’s and not listed or items listed here as vegan, which are no longer vegan. Take care to double-check.

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