If it weren’t for potatoes, we’d be hungrier folks. Whereas scrumptious in any kind, fries maintain a particular place in our hearts; they’re carb-y, salty, deep-fried, and have saved us from having to accept salads at many fast-food eating places. However, sadly, not all fries are vegan. We’re right here to let you know which of them are.
Are French fries vegan?
All fries ought to be vegan, proper? In spite of everything, they’re simply fried, salted potatoes. Whereas many fries are free from animal components, typically they include dairy or could also be fried in lard.
Jay Gajjar
Generally, the fries you order from a fast-food restaurant are cooked in the identical oil that’s used to fry meat and different animal merchandise. Some vegans keep away from ordering meals that could be cross-contaminated, however others are okay with this so long as the fries themselves don’t include meat or dairy components. It’s a alternative that’s finally as much as the person.
Which fast-food French fries aren’t vegan?
Whereas most fries are vegan, there are just a few that truly include animal components:
McDonald’s: These fries are cooked in oil with “pure beef flavoring,” which doesn’t include any precise meat, nevertheless it does include dairy.
Checkers: Their fries are coated in milk powder and fried in animal lard, so that they’re unambiguously not vegan.
Popeye’s: Identical to the vast majority of Popeye’s menu, the fries usually are not vegan. On this case, they’re fried in beef tallow.
This isn’t a definitive record of which fries include animal merchandise. Ask your server concerning the components when you’re visiting a smaller chain or a neighborhood fast-food institution.
13 vegan fast-food French fries so as to add to your order
We dug by way of the highest fast-food chains within the US to uncover which of them have vegan fries. In no explicit order, listed here are 13 fast-food fries which are free from animal-derived components.
Burger King
1 Burger King
In contrast to its competitor McDonald’s, Burger King has vegan fries.
Served piping scorching and salted, you gained’t need to eat them alone because the Inconceivable Whopper has been on Burger King’s menu because the summer time of 2019.
Aside from a burger and fries, you’ll discover just a few different vegan choices at Burger King that may make sure you don’t need to endure starvation pangs.
KFC
2 KFC
It might be identified for fried hen, however KFC will get credit score for placing vegan fries on the menu.
The Secret Recipe Fries are seasoned with a “secret mix of herbs and spices,” in response to the web site. However what that actually means is that they’re tossed with onion, carrot, tomato powder, and a bit of little bit of MSG. Past fries, the chain’s vegan choices are somewhat sparse. Until you’re in a pinch, go elsewhere for sustenance; however when you’re in search of a fast chew in between meals, try our vegan information to KFC for the low down on vegan-friendly choices.
Within the meantime, we’ll even be ready for Past Fried Rooster to return in a roundabout way, form, or kind.
Wendy’s
3 Wendy’s
We might not know if Wendy’s black bean burger will ever make its debut, however we do know one factor: the fries are vegan.
Wendy’s fries differ from different fast-food fries in that they go away the pores and skin on. We’re about it.
There are just a few different plant-based choices on Wendy’s menu that may allow you to spherical out your meal. For those who want extra to your meal, you can get a baked potato and have a starch-filled meal of each fried and baked spuds. And there will not be a veggie burger, however the Premium Bun is vegan.
Taco Bell
4 Taco Bell
Sure, Taco Bell has fries! The Nacho Fries are identified to come back and go, so give them a attempt the subsequent time you see them on the menu. Historically, vegans have needed to omit the dairy cheese to make this menu merchandise plant-based, however in October 2023, the chain launched Vegan Nacho Fries—full with dairy-free queso—nationwide. For much more oomph, gussy up your fries with pico de gallo and guacamole.
On the time of writing, Taco Bell has since eliminated the Vegan Nacho Fries and dairy Nacho Fries from its menu, however make sure to hold a watch out for his or her return. The chain has but to verify if the dairy-free queso will make a comeback, however we’re protecting our fingers crossed. Within the meantime, discover ways to order vegan at Taco Bell with our trusty information.
5 Guys
5 5 Guys
At 5 Guys, there are two kinds of vegan fries to select from. There’s the common choice, which is deep-fried in peanut oil earlier than being salted. Then, there are the Cajun-style fries that are additionally fried in oil after which seasoned with onion powder, garlic powder, salt, paprika, oregano, white pepper, and purple pepper powder. As for different vegan choices, 5 Guys is a kind of fast-food chains the place you’ll need to make do with simply fries.
In-N-Out Burger
6 In-N-Out Burger
Though it’s solely situated in California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho and Texas, In-N-Out Burger has earned a reputation for itself within the fast-food world. For those who ever end up close to one, sadly, you gained’t be capable of get a burger, however the fries are vegan since they’re solely fried in sunflower oil.
Arby’s
7 Arby’s
This meat-centric institution has a shocking variety of vegan choices, together with fries! Each the crinkle-cut fries and the curly fries—a uncommon white whale on fast-food menus—are free from animal-based components. Plus, relying in your location, you would possibly discover a third, regional choice: the thick-cut homestyle fries.
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8 Sonic Drive-In
The common fries at Sonic are vegan and primed for dipping into ketchup. However when you’re looking for potatoes in one other kind, you then’ll be glad to know that the tater tots are additionally made with simply plant-based components.
Dairy Queen
9 Dairy Queen
No animal fats right here—Dairy Queen’s fries and hash browns are each vegan. You gained’t discover many different animal-free choices right here, however surprisingly, Dairy Queen has a non-dairy model of its Dilly Bar, so you may take pleasure in a salty-and-sweet mixture of French fries and ice cream.
Jack within the Field
10 Jack within the Field
Prepare, as a result of Jack within the Field has a whopping three fries to select from. The French fries, seasoned curly fries, and the potato wedges don’t include beef tallow or every other sort of animal-based components, for that matter. Plus, the hash browns are vegan, too.
Whataburger
11 Whataburger
Fries are one of many few issues on the Whataburger menu which are truly vegan. You may pair your spuds with a cheese-less backyard salad and a few apple slices, however not a lot else.
Hardee’s
12 Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s
Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s each share extremely related menus—each chains occurred to be owned by the identical guardian firm, which has chosen to market them in virtually the identical manner. Each have natural-cut fries however whereas Carl’s Jr. has waffle fries, Hardee’s has curly fries. All of them are vegan, however sadly, solely Carl’s Jr. sells the Past Burger to assist spherical out your meal.
It’s not at all times enjoyable consuming simply fries, however we recognize how fries have been there to satiate our starvation in determined instances.
Shake Shack
13Shake Shack
In 2023, Shake Shack’s menu additions made the fast-casual chain barely extra vegan pleasant. The corporate unveiled two dairy-free dessert choices (a rarity amongst mainstream chains): a non-dairy chocolate shake and non-dairy chocolate custard, each made in collaboration with NotCo, a Chilean food-tech firm. For a sweet-and-salty combo, go for the plain crinkle minimize fries—that are vegan as is—and a non-dairy shake. For those who’re in search of a bit of extra sustenance, with just a few modifications, Shake Shack’s vegetarian burgers could be ordered vegan. For extra on the way to order vegan, verify our information to Shake Shack right here.
For extra vegan fast-food guides, learn:
Kat Smith is a Queens, NY-based freelance author and editor who loves cooking and discovering native vegan hidden gems.
