Sonic Drive-In is a fun and unique experience, especially if you’ve never been to a drive-in before. Drive-in restaurants can bring you back to the thirties through the sixties when they were most popular. Sonic is the most popular drive-in chain across the country.
Sonic doesn’t offer many gluten-free menu items. There aren’t any salads on the menu, which are normally a gluten-free dieter’s go-to. Sonic does have gluten-free sides like fries, gluten-free desserts, and several condiments and sauces. You can request menu items be made without the bread/tortilla, but this isn’t always convenient and not all restaurants will honor those types of requests.
If you want to browse through the (somewhat limited) gluten-free menu items Sonic has to offer, read on for a complete guide!
Contents
- Tips & Tricks for Ordering Gluten-Free at Sonic
- Non-Gluten-Free Items to Avoid at Sonic
- Gluten-Free Options at Sonic
- Cheese
- Condiments
- Condiment Packets
- Drinks
- 1. 1% Milk
- 2. Barq’s Root Beer
- 3. BIG RED
- 4. Canada Dry Ginger Ale
- 5. Coca-Cola
- 6. Cold Brew Iced Coffee
- 7. Diet Coke
- 8. Diet Dr. Pepper
- 9. Dr. Pepper
- 10. Fanta Orange
- 11. Fresh Brewed Sweet Tea
- 12. Fresh Brewed Unsweet Tea
- 13. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Hot Coffee
- 14. Hi-C Fruit Punch
- 15. Hot Chocolate
- 16. Lemonade
- 17. Mello Yello
- 18. Minute Maid Apple Juice Box
- 19. Minute Maid Orange Juice
- 20. Powerade
- 21. Sprite
- 22. Sprite Zero
- 23. Sun Drop
- Flavor Add-Ins and Syrups
- Fried Foods
- Frozen & Ice Cream Items
- Grill Items
- Other
- Sandwich Toppings
- Dessert Toppings & Add-Ins
- Menu Items Requiring Substitutions
- Find a Sonic Near You
- Similar Restaurants to Sonic
- Related Questions
Tips & Tricks for Ordering Gluten-Free at Sonic
- There aren’t any substantial gluten-free entrees at Sonic. Most of Sonic’s main menu includes sandwiches, burritos, and fried food like chicken strips and corn dogs which aren’t gluten-free. While it’s not always the most convenient, you can ask that the fillings of these entrees be brought without the bread/tortilla and in a bowl instead.
- Make a gluten-free bowl by bringing cooked rice, gluten-free pasta, etc. in a bowl with you when you go to Sonic. Order the menu item you want without the gluten-containing items and put it in the bowl. There are several toppings you can choose from to top the bowl such as cheese, sauces, and sandwich toppings like vegetables.
- Sonic doesn’t have any salads on its menu which is discouraging as a gluten-free dieter. If you want to plan and bring your own salad base, Sonic has plenty of toppings like grilled chicken, steak, vegetables, and sauces/condiments to add.
- Create your own breakfast bowl by ordering scrambled eggs, bacon, cheese, salsa, and other ingredients. Not all restaurants will honor special requests, but it doesn’t hurt to ask!
- Sonic carries frozen desserts like milkshakes and slushies which are mostly gluten-free. The main type of milkshake to avoid at Sonic is the Oreo cookie shake – the majority of other candy mix-ins like M&M’s, Butterfinger, and other ice cream toppings are gluten-free.
- Bring a gluten-free wrap to put the toppings from Sonic’s sandwiches and wraps in. Breakfast wrap ingredients like eggs and bacon are fairly easy to transfer into a gluten-free wrap, though it’s not the most convenient or mess-free alternative when you’re in your car.
Non-Gluten-Free Items to Avoid at Sonic
- All sandwiches made on wheat bread, buns, wraps, etc.
- Veggie patty which contains gluten
- Most fried/breaded foods like crispy chicken, corn dogs, etc.
- Milkshakes with gluten-containing ingredients like cookies
- Chili
Gluten-Free Options at Sonic
Sonic doesn’t provide the ingredients for its menu items. Ingredients are only shown for branded items with accessible nutrition information.
Cheese
1. American Cheese
2. Cheddar Cheese (Shredded)
3. Cheddar Cheese Sauce
4. White American Cheese (Shredded)
5. Zesty Cheese Sauce
Condiments
1. Buffalo Sauce
2. Hickory BBQ
3. Honey BBQ Sauce
4. Ketchup
5. Mayonnaise
6. Mustard
7. Ranch Dressing
Condiment Packets
1. BBQ Sauce
2. Coffee Creamer
3. Cream Cheese Frosting
4. Grape Jelly
5. Honey Mustard
6. Ketchup
7. Lemon Juice
8. Light Mayonnaise
9. Marinara
10. Mustard
11. Ranch
12. Salsa de SONIC
13. Signature Cheese Sauce
14. Signature Sauce
15. Strawberry Jam
16. Sweet and Sour Sauce
17. Sweet Relish
18. Syrup
Drinks
1. 1% Milk
2. Barq’s Root Beer
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Caramel Color
- Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)
- Citric Acid
- Caffeine
- Artificial and Natural Flavors
- Acacia
3. BIG RED
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Caffeine
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Red 40
- Caramel Color
4. Canada Dry Ginger Ale
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Less Than 2% Of: Ginger Extract, Natural Flavors, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Caramel Color
5. Coca-Cola
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Caramel Color
- Phosphoric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Caffeine
6. Cold Brew Iced Coffee
7. Diet Coke
- Carbonated Water
- Caramel Color
- Aspartame
- Phosphoric Acid
- Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)
- Natural Flavors
- Citric Acid, Caffeine
8. Diet Dr. Pepper
- Carbonated Water
- Caramel Color
- Phosphoric Acid
- Aspartame
- Sodium Citrate
- Sodium Benzoate (Preservative)
- Caffeine
- Acesulfame Potassium
- Sucralose
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Dimethylpolysiloxane
9. Dr. Pepper
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Caramel Color
- Phosphoric Acid
- Natural And Artificial Flavors
- Sodium Benzoate (Preservative)
10. Fanta Orange
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)
- Natural Flavors
- Modified Food Starch
- Sodium Polyphosphates
- Glycerol Ester Of Rosin
- Yellow 6
- Red 40
11. Fresh Brewed Sweet Tea
12. Fresh Brewed Unsweet Tea
13. Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Hot Coffee
14. Hi-C Fruit Punch
- Pure Filtered Water
- Orange Juice From Concentrate
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Pineapple Juice From Concentrate
- Less Than 0.5% Of: Natural And Artificial Flavors, Citric Acid (Provides Tartness), Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Sucralose, Acesulfame Potassium
15. Hot Chocolate
16. Lemonade
17. Mello Yello
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Orange Juice from Concentrate
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Benzoate and EDTA (To Protect Taste)
- Potassium Citrate
- Caffeine
- Yellow 5
- Carob Bean Gum
18. Minute Maid Apple Juice Box
- Pure Filtered Water
- Concentrated Apple Juice
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
19. Minute Maid Orange Juice
- Pure Filtered Water
- Premium Concentrate Orange Juice
- Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid)
20. Powerade
- (Ingredients vary slightly among flavors)
- Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Less Than 0.5% Of: Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Salt And Magnesium Chloride And Calcium Chloride And Mono-Potassium Phosphate (Electrolyte Sources), Modified Food Starch, Glycerol Ester Of Rosin, Calcium Disodium Edta (To Protect Color), Medium Chain Triglycerides, Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin), Red 40, Ascorbic Acid (To Protect Taste)
21. Sprite
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Natural Flavors
- Sodium Citrate
- Sodium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)
22. Sprite Zero
- Carbonated Water
- Citric Acid
- Potassium Citrate
- Natural Flavors
- Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)
- Aspartame
- Acesulfame Potassium
23. Sun Drop
- Carbonated Water
- High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Citric Acid
- Sodium Benzoate (Preservative)
- Caffeine
- Natural Flavors
- Acacia Gum
- Yellow 5
- Ester Gum
- Brominated Vegetable Oil
Flavor Add-Ins and Syrups
1. Blackberry Sugar-Free Syrup
2. Blue Coconut Syrup
3. Blue Raspberry Syrup
4. Cheesecake Syrup
5. Cherry Syrup
6. Diet Cherry Sugar-Free Syrup
7. French Vanilla Syrup
8. Grape Syrup
9. Mango Sugar-Free Syrup
10. Peach Sugar-Free Syrup
11. Raspberry Sugar-Free Syrup
Fried Foods
1. French Fries
2. Tots
Frozen & Ice Cream Items
1. Vanilla Ice Cream
2. Lemonade Slush
3. Limeade Slush
Grill Items
1. 6″ Halal Hot Dog
2. 6″ Hot Dog (All Beef)
3. 12″ Hot Dog (Pork and Beef)
4. Bacon
5. Breakfast Sausage Crumbles
6. Breakfast Sausage Patty
7. Egg
8. Grilled Chicken Breast
9. Grilled Onions
10. Halal Hamburger Patty
11. Ham
12. Hamburger Patty
13. Sirloin Steak
Other
1. Fritos Corn Chips
- Corn
- Corn Oil
- Salt
2. Slaw
3. Tree Top Apple Sauce
- Apples
- Water
- Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)
Sandwich Toppings
1. Sauerkraut
2. Sport Peppers
3. Sweet Pickle Relish
4. Tomato
Dessert Toppings & Add-Ins
1. Butterfinger Pieces
- Corn Syrup
- Sugar
- Peanuts
- Vegetable Oil (Palm Kernel and Palm Oil)
- Peanut Flour
- Nonfat Milk
- Less than 2% of Cocoa, Milk, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Annatto Color
2. Caramel Topping
3. Chocolate Fudge Topping
4. Fresh Banana
5. Lemon
6. Lime
7. M&M’s Minis Chocolate Candies
- Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Cocoa Butter, Lactose, Milk Fat, Soy, Lecithin, Salt, Artificial and Natural Flavors)
- Sugar
- Less than 2% – Coloring (Includes Blue 1 Lake, Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Red 40 Lake, Yellow 6 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Blue 2 Lake, Blue 2), Corn Syrup, Dextrin, Cornstarch, Carnauba Wax
8. Maraschino Cherries
9. Peanut Butter Topping
10. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
- Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Milk Fat, Lactose, Lecithin, PGPR)
- Peanuts
- Sugar
- Dextrose
- Salt
- TBHQ
- Citric Acid
11. Snickers Bars
- Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Lactose, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Artificial Flavor)
- Peanuts
- Corn Syrup
- Sugar
- Palm Oil
- Skim Milk
- Lactose
- Salt
- Egg Whites
- Artificial Flavor
12. Strawberry Topping
13. Whipped Topping
Menu Items Requiring Substitutions
Not all Sonic locations will honor special requests to make menu items gluten-free. If you do want to request substitutions, here are some examples of things you could order:
1. Patty Melt (omit Texas Toast)
- Beef Patty
- Grilled Onions
- Mayo
- Mustard
- American Cheese
- Grilled Onions
2. SONIC Cheeseburger (omit bun)
- Beef Burger Patty
- Cheese Slice
- Diced Onions
- Lettuce
- Pickles
- Tomato
- Ketchup
- Mayo
3. All-American Dog (omit bun)
- All Beef Hot Dog
- Diced Onions
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Relish
4. Classic Grilled Chicken Sandwich (omit bun)
- Grilled Chicken
- Lettuce
- Mayo
- Tomato
5. SuperSONIC Breakfast Burrito (omit tortilla)
- Sausage
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Eggs
- Diced Onions
- Jalapeno
- Tots
- Tomato
6. Sausage Breakfast Toaster (omit Texas Toast)
- Sausage
- Eggs
- Cheese Slice
Find a Sonic Near You
Click here to find a Sonic Drive-In in your area.
Similar Restaurants to Sonic
Related Questions
Does Sonic’s frying oil contain gluten?
The oil used to prepare and fry foods at Sonic doesn’t contain gluten. However, there is an allergen disclaimer on Sonic’s website stating:
Fried foods may be exposed to gluten and allergens. Fryer oil may come in contact with items containing milk, egg, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat and gluten because fried items are not always fried in designated stations. Blended/Mixed drinks and frozen desserts may come in contact with milk, egg, soy, wheat, gluten, peanuts and tree nuts. Bun oil is added in toasting or cooking hamburger buns, wheat buns, Texas toast, eggs, grilled onions and grilled peppers. All grilled items may come in contact with bun oil.
Are Sonic’s fries gluten-free?
Sonic lists their fries and tots as gluten-free. The rest of the items on the fried food menu like crispy chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, popcorn chicken, etc. are not gluten-free.
Is Sonic’s sausage gluten-free?
Sonic’s breakfast sausage crumbles and sausage patties are gluten-free. The sausage at Sonic is primarily used for breakfast wraps that contain gluten, so you’ll need to make modifications for ordering a gluten-free item including sausage. You can always order a plain sausage patty with cheese to have a low-carb, gluten-free breakfast sandwich!