Though Wendy's is mainly a burger franchise, the restaurant does offer a few items on the item that you can order. The Salad menu offers leafy green mixes but most of them have meat like chicken and bacon, so they're not really designed for vegetarians. However, customers can make variations to the items, such as removing the meats and doubling down on the vegetables instead. Customers can also make their very own veggie burger by asking to remove the beef patty and replacing it with fries or potatoes.
In this section, I'll talk about the veggie options you can find at Wendy's, plus a few tips on how you can turn a regular menu item into a DIY veggie option for your preferences.
Wendy's Veggie Options
You might find it challenging to order something at Wendy's if you're a vegan or vegetarian since they don't offer anything on the menu for this preference. Even the salad menu consists of items that have chicken or bacon and makes use of sauces with dairy. But that doesn't mean you can't order anything at Wendy's.
Here are 7 different items on Wendy's menu that you can have for your vegetarian needs:
1. Baked Potatoes
Wendy's offers different toppings for the baked potato menu, such as cheese, cheese, bacon, and chili and cheese. They also have a plain baked potato that doesn't have any dairy or meats, so this is a great choice for vegetarians. At 270 calories, it has 7 grams of protein and 61g of total carbohydrate.
2. Natural-Cut Fries
You can also order the Large Fries on the Sides menu. This is made of purely natural-cut potatoes with the skin on. They're a crowd favorite for their crispiness and freshness, offering 470 calories, 63g of carbohydrates, and 7g of protein.
3. Apple or Fruit Slices
Wendy's offers apple or fruit slices as a side or as a snack. It has 35 calories and 8g of carbohydrates and is made of fresh fruit, never frozen or canned. The cup of fruit slices is a mix of red and green apples, but depending on the location, other fruits may be served. Some locations have oranges, strawberries, or blueberries, depending on if they're in season and if there's availability in the local market.
4. Apple Pecan Salad without the Meat
The Apple Pecan Salad contains grilled chicken breast but you can ask the staff not to add it to your order. This salad contains Romaine lettuce, Wendy's spring mix of 9 different leafy greens, crispy red and green apples, dried cranberries, roasted pecans, crumbled blue cheese, and filled chicken breast. Have the staff remove the cheese, chicken, and pecans (since they have honey). The dressing is Marzetti Simply Dressed Pomegranate Vinaigrette, which is vegan.
5. Taco Salad without the Chili
You can also order the Taco Salad without the chili. This salad consists of Wendy's signature lettuce blend, shredded cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, tortilla chips, sour cream, salsa, and chili. The famous Wendy's chili contains ground beef, so simply ask the staff to remove it from your order. You can also ask to have the cheese and sour cream removed and instead, ask for vegan oil (which Wendy's uses for their fries), or the Marzetti Simply Dressed Pomegranate Vinaigrette for the Apple Pecan Salad.
6. DIY Veggie Burger
Order the Dave's Single but ask the staff to remove the American cheese and beef patty. You can order potato fries and ask the staff to double down on the vegetables, which include romaine lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onions. Remove the mayo as well since it contains eggs. Place the fries in the toasted bun together with the double serving of veggies, add ketchup and mustard, and you'll have a DIY veggie burger from Wendy's.
7. DIY Tortilla Wrap
Order the Grilled Chicken Wrap and ask to have the chicken and cheese removed. Ask to double down on the lettuce instead, and don't use the creamy ranch sauce that comes with it. Instead, ask for the Pomegranate Vinaigrette. Order Large Fries and place them inside the tortilla wrap together with the double serving of lettuce, add some mustard and ketchup and you'll have a DIY veggie tortilla wrap.
Commonly Asked Questions
Wendy's offers a few items on the menu that may seem safe for vegans to eat but they contain milk, eggs, or honey. Here are the most commonly asked questions about the menu in terms of whether to not they're vegan or vegetarian:
Is the French Toast Vegetarian?
Yes, it is. Even though it is not vegan, since it contains milk and eggs in its ingredients.
Is the Fresh Baked Oatmeal Bar Vegetarian?
The ingredients listed for the Fresh Baked Oatmeal Bar are whole oats, tart cranberries, and sweet blueberries. However, it does contain margarine and honey, while traces of milk and eggs may also exist.
Is the Veggie Stack Available in the US?
No, the Veggie Stack is not available in the US but is served in the UK. It is a vegetarian offering in Wendy's UK that consists of a vegetarian patty, vegetarian Emmental cheese, and veggie toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, and garlic mayonnaise.
Allergens
All of the food at Wendy's are prepared and handled in one area of the kitchen. There is no designated area for the veggie options, and this means cross-contamination is very likely. Traces of milk, wheat, eggs, soy, sesame, and other ingredients may occur in the food being served, no matter how careful the staff is. Because they don't have a designated vegetarian menu, customers are encouraged to practice judgment when ordering at Wendy's.
Wendy's doesn't have a vegetarian or vegan menu but a few options can be ordered that don't contain any meat or any ingredients from animal produce. Though it can be a bit challenging, I hope that this guide will help those who want to dine at Wendy's that may have a vegetarian diet.
Disclaimer: Our blog is not affiliated or associated with the Wendy's menu or the Wendy's brand. While we strive to provide accurate information and prices, they may not always be up to date or reflective of current prices. Additionally, all images used on our blog are taken from the Wendy's official website, and we give full credit to the Wendy's brand for their use.