Diets Gluten-Free Are Hamburgers Always Gluten Free? Homemade, Restaurant, and Fast Food Gluten-Free Hamburger Choices By Jane Anderson Jane Anderson Facebook Twitter Jane Anderson is a medical journalist and an expert in celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and the gluten-free diet. Learn about our editorial process Updated on July 26, 2020 Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Adah Chung Fact checked by Adah Chung LinkedIn Adah is an occupational therapist, working in the area of pediatrics with elementary students with special needs in the schools. Her work as an occupational therapist includes: home health, acute care, chronic care, seating and positioning, outpatient rehab, and skilled nursing rehab. Learn about our editorial process Print Verywell / Alexandra Shytsman You can have confidence that homemade hamburgers you prepare from scratch with plain ground beef are gluten-free. Pure beef that you buy in a package from the store is safe to consume if you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Burgers that you make out of that 100% ground beef also will be gluten-free, assuming you don't add gluten-containing ingredients or subject patties to gluten cross-contamination. Gluten in Supermarket Burgers Pre-formed, uncooked hamburger patties that you buy in the store may contain gluten. Some (though not all) of these patties contain gluten-containing grains, including wheat, as fillers. As with all packaged food products, it is important to read the label carefully when you're looking to avoid gluten. Food manufacturers may not claim that burgers are "100% beef" if fillers are added to the product. They are also required to disclose any fillers in the ingredients list, so the gluten should be fairly obvious. When in doubt, you can call the manufacturer's toll-free number and ask. Also, keep in mind that hamburgers prepared by a friend or relative may not be safe. It is especially hard to know what's really in them when someone else has prepared the meal. Even if your friend or family member prepared burgers with 100% beef, there still remains the risk of cross-contamination. Gluten-Free Hamburger Buns Gluten-Free Restaurant Burgers Restaurants are not required to disclose ingredients in their meals. This is where you can run into the most trouble with gluten in hamburger meat. Many restaurants serve pre-formed burger patties that include filler ingredients like wheat. Others make their own burgers in-house, but use bread crumbs to stretch the meat and improve the texture of the burger. It is also possible for sauces to be added to the meat for additional flavor, and these can be especially tricky. For example, not all soy sauce brands are gluten-free (and Worcestershire sauce may contain soy sauce). You won't know exactly what is in your restaurant hamburger unless you ask. Be sure to question someone knowledgeable about the recipes at that particular restaurant. Generally, that's either the chef or the manager, not the server. Gluten-Free Fast Food Burgers Many fast food restaurants serve hamburgers that don't include gluten grains as an ingredient. In fact, some people with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity say they have good luck ordering bun-less burgers at fast-food chains. The best options for gluten-free burgers include: Arby's Boston Market Chick-fil-A (also offers gluten-free buns and gluten-free french fries) Five Guys (offers gluten-free fries) In-N-Out Burger (offers gluten-free fries) Shake Shack (offers gluten-free buns) Sonic Drive-In (offers gluten-free fries) Wendy's Burger King and McDonald's may be popular, but they are among the worst choices for gluten-free fast food. They have extremely limited options and the risks for gluten cross-contamination are high. When ordering fast food, beware of the potential for cross-contamination. Make sure workers change gloves before serving you and that your hamburger never goes near the gluten-y buns. A Word From Verywell You shouldn't have too much trouble finding a gluten-free hamburger. Always be careful about reading labels on pre-made patties and talking to the chef at any restaurant. Gluten-Free Ketchup Brands By Jane Anderson Jane Anderson is a medical journalist and an expert in celiac disease, gluten sensitivity, and the gluten-free diet. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit