🛑 Zaxby’s Allergen Guide — Complete Menu Allergen Breakdown & Safe Eating Tips (2025)
Managing food allergies at restaurants can feel overwhelming, especially when cross-contact risks are high. 😬🔥 Fortunately, this Zaxby’s Allergen Guide provides a clear breakdown of potential allergens—including gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish—to help you navigate the menu safely. 🥗🍗
Additionally, you’ll discover Zaxby’s allergen-friendly options and smart tips for ordering with confidence.
Let’s begin your safe-eating journey ⬇️
⭐ Introduction to Zaxby’s Allergen Information
Zaxby’s offers a wide variety of chicken meals, Zalads®, wings, sides, and sauces, but many items contain major food allergens such as wheat, dairy, eggs, and soy. Because of this, checking allergen details before ordering is extremely important.
In this full Zaxby’s allergen guide, you will learn:
✔ Zaxby’s allergen menu details
✔ Zaxby’s allergy information
✔ Zaxby’s allergens by category
✔ Zaxby’s food safety warnings
✔ Zaxby’s low-allergen menu choices
✔ How to order safely if you have food allergies
Whether you’re gluten-sensitive, soy-intolerant, lactose-intolerant, or nut-allergic, this guide will help you make informed decisions. 💛
🧾 Understanding Zaxby’s Allergen Menu
Zaxby’s provides an official allergen guide that clearly lists eight major allergens:
Wheat / Gluten
Dairy
Eggs
Soy
Peanuts
Tree nuts
Fish
Shellfish
Even with a guide, cross-contact can still occur because ingredients may touch during preparation. Moreover, shared fryers, shared utensils, and shared sauce containers can increase risk.
⚠️ Important Allergens Notes:
Fried items share a fryer → not gluten-free
Several sauces include soy, eggs, or dairy
Breaded chicken contains wheat, milk, and eggs
Local stores may vary, so always confirm
🧬 Major Allergens Found in Zaxby’s Menu
🌾 1. Gluten & Wheat Allergens
Gluten appears in most of Zaxby’s fried items because the breading typically contains wheat. Furthermore, shared fryers make even “non-breaded” items unsafe for gluten-sensitive guests.
High-risk items include:
Chicken Fingerz® (Fried)
Boneless Wings
Texas Toast
Sandwich buns
Fried Zalad® toppings
Onion Rings
Some menu sauces may also contain hidden gluten due to additives or thickeners.
✔ Gluten-Friendly Options
Grilled Chicken 🟢
Side Salad (without croutons)
Select sauces (verify at location)
🧀 2. Dairy Allergens
Dairy is very common across Zaxby’s menu. It appears in cheese, sauces, dressings, and breading. Additionally, many signature sauces contain milk-based ingredients.
Contains dairy:
Texas Toast
Fried chicken breading
Ranch dressing
Zax Sauce
Milkshakes
✔ Dairy-Free Options
Grilled Chicken
Vinaigrette dressings
Several wing sauces
🥚 3. Egg Allergens
Eggs show up in more items than people realize. They are used in breading, spreads, dressings, and mayo-based sauces. Consequently, fried menu items should be avoided if you have an egg allergy.
Contains egg:
Chicken breading
Mayo-based sauces
Some salad dressings
Sandwich spreads
✔ Egg-Free Options
Grilled chicken without sauce
Vinaigrette-style dressings
Plain salads
🌱 4. Soy Allergens
Soy is another widespread allergen at Zaxby’s. It is frequently used in marinades, fry oils, and many creamy or spicy sauces.
Common sources of soy:
Frying oil
Chicken marinade
Sauces
Toast butter spread
✔ Soy-Free Items (varies by location)
Fresh vegetables
Some vinaigrettes
Water-based sauces
🥜 5. Peanut & Tree Nut Allergens
The good news is that Zaxby’s does not cook with peanut oil, which lowers peanut exposure risk. 🎉 However, certain desserts or packaged items may contain nuts, so reading labels is still essential.
🐟 6. Fish & Shellfish Allergens
Although Zaxby’s doesn’t offer many fish-based menu items, equipment is sometimes shared, which may cause cross-contact. Therefore, highly allergic guests should proceed with caution.
🍗 Allergen Breakdown by Popular Menu Categories
🍗 Chicken Fingerz®
Chicken Plates & Meals
Menu Item | Milk | Egg | Wheat | Soy | Peanut | Tree Nut | Fish | Shellfish | Sesame | MSG | Gluten |
Chicken Finger Plate (4,5,6) | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Buffalo Chicken Finger Plate (4,5,6) | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Boneless Wings & Things | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Buffalo Boneless Wings & Things | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Traditional Wings & Things | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Buffalo Traditional Wings & Things | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Boneless Wings Meal (5) | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Traditional Wings Meal (5) | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Big Zax Snak Meal | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Buffalo Big Zax Snak Meal | * | * | * | * | * | * |
Chicken Protein (No Sides)
Menu Item | Milk | Egg | Wheat | Soy | Peanut | Tree Nut | Fish | Shellfish | Sesame | MSG | Gluten |
Chicken Finger (No Sauce) | * | * | * | * | * | ||||||
Chicken Finger with any Sauce | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Boneless Wings (No Sauce) | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Boneless Wings with any Sauce | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Traditional Wings (No Sauce) | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Traditional Wings with any Sauce | * | * | * | * | * | * |
🍗 Chicken Fingerz® (Fried & Grilled)
❌ Fried Fingerz® Allergens:
Wheat
Gluten
Egg
Dairy
Soy
✔ Grilled Fingerz® (Best Allergen-Friendly Choice)
Because grilled chicken contains no breading, it has a much lower chance of triggering allergy issues. Additionally, it avoids shared fryer risk.
🍗 Wings (Traditional & Boneless)
Traditional Wings
Traditional wings contain fewer allergens than boneless wings because they’re not breaded. However, the sauces applied to them may include dairy, soy, or egg.
Boneless Wings
Allergens include:
Wheat
Egg
Dairy
Glute
Sauce Allergen Notes:
Many wing sauces may contain:
Soy
Dairy
Eggs
Gluten (depending on thickener used)
Sauce Allergens May Include:
Dairy
Soy
Egg
Gluten
🍔 Zaxby’s Sandwiches
Menu Item | Milk | Egg | Wheat | Soy | Peanut | Tree Nut | Fish | Shellfish | Sesame | MSG | Gluten |
Kickin’ Chicken Sandwich Only | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Grilled Chicken Sandwich Only | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Nibblerz™ Only | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Signature Sandwich (Zax Sauce) | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Signature Sandwich (Spicy Zax Sauce) | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Add Cheese (1 Slice) | ∙* | * | |||||||||
Add Bacon (2 Slices) | ∙ |
Zaxby’s sandwiches often contain multiple allergens due to buns, sauces, and cheese. As a result, guests with food allergies should customize their order carefully.
Contains:
Gluten
Dairy
Soy
Egg
✔ Allergen-Friendly Sandwich Swap
👉 Choose grilled chicken without the bun or sauce.
🥗 Zalads® (Salads)
Menu Item | Milk | Egg | Wheat | Soy | Peanut | Tree Nut | Fish | Shellfish | Sesame | MSG | Gluten |
The Grilled House Zalad | * | * | * | * | |||||||
The Fried House Zalad | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
The Garden House Zalad | * | * | * | * | |||||||
The Grilled Cobb Zalad | * | * | * | * | * | ||||||
The Fried Cobb Zalad | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
The Garden Cobb Zalad | * | * | * | * | * | ||||||
The Grilled Asian Zensation Zalad | * | * | * | * | * | ||||||
The Fried Asian Zensation Zalad | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
The Garden Asian Zensation Zalad | * | * | * | ∙* | * | ||||||
The Grilled Blue Zalad | * | * | * | * | |||||||
The Fried Blue Zalad | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
The Garden Blue Zalad | * | * | * | * |
Zalads® are popular, but several ingredients include allergens. Fortunately, swapping toppings can make them safer.
Allergens commonly found in Zalads®:
Cheese (dairy)
Croutons (gluten)
Fried chicken (gluten, egg, dairy)
Dressings (soy, dairy, egg)
✔ Healthy Allergen-Friendly Salad Swaps
Choose grilled chicken
Remove croutons
Use vinaigrette dressings
🌶️ Zaxby’s Sauces & Dressings
Menu Item | Milk | Egg | Wheat | Soy | Peanut | Tree Nut | Fish | Shellfish | Sesame | MSG | Gluten |
Ranch Sauce | * | *∙ | * | ||||||||
Honey Mustard | * | ||||||||||
Zax Sauce® | * | ||||||||||
Spicy Zax Sauce® | * | ∙ | |||||||||
Hot Honey Mustard | * | ||||||||||
Teriyaki | * | * | * | ||||||||
Dressings (1oz) | |||||||||||
Blue Cheese | * | * | |||||||||
Ranch | * | * | * | ||||||||
Honey Mustard | * | ||||||||||
Citrus Vinaigrette | * | * | ∙ | * | * | ||||||
Lite Vinaigrette |
Sauces are one of the most common sources of allergens. Many signature flavors include dairy, soy, and eggs, so checking labels is important.
High-Allergen Sauces:
Zax Sauce
Ranch
Honey Mustard
Spicy Zax Sauce
Lower-Allergen Sauces (Check ingredients):
Hot Sauce
Wimpy
Buffalo
Vinaigrette
Lite Ranch
🍟 Sides (Fries, Toast, Coleslaw)
Menu Item | Milk | Egg | Wheat | Soy | Peanut | Tree Nut | Fish | Shellfish | Sesame | MSG | Gluten |
Chicken Bacon Ranch Loaded Fries | * | * | * | * | * | ||||||
Fried White Cheddar Bites | * | * | * | ||||||||
1/2 Order Fried White Cheddar Bites | * | * | ∙ | * | |||||||
Texas Toast (1 slice/Basket) | * | * | * | ||||||||
Fried Pickles | * | * | |||||||||
Cole Slaw – side | * | ||||||||||
Asian Slaw – side | * | * | ∙ | * | * | ||||||
Veggie Eggroll – 1 Eggroll | * | * | * | * | * | ||||||
Crinkle Fries (Reg/Large) | * | ||||||||||
Tater Chips – Basket | * | * | * |
🍟 Crinkle Fries
Although fries may seem safe, they are cooked in shared fryers, which introduces gluten and wheat contamination.
🍞 Texas Toast
Texas Toast contains:
Gluten
Dairy
Soy
🥗 Side Salad
This is the best allergen-friendly choice if you remove the croutons.
👦 Kids Meals Allergen Breakdown
Menu Item | Milk | Egg | Wheat | Soy | Peanut | Tree Nut | Fish | Shellfish | Sesame | MSG | Gluten |
Chicken Fingerz with Zax Sauce | * | * | * | * | * | ||||||
Grilled Cheese Sandwich Only | * | * | * | * | |||||||
Kid’s Crinkle Fries | * | ||||||||||
Goldfish Giant Grahams, Vanilla | * | * | |||||||||
Rice Krispie Treat | * | * | * |
Kids meals often contain allergens because fried chicken and Texas Toast are included. However, modifying the meal can make it safer.
✔ Best Kids Allergen-Friendly Option
Grilled Chicken
Applesauce (when available)
Water
🥤 Drinks & Shakes
Menu Item | Milk | Egg | Wheat | Soy | Peanut | Tree Nut | Fish | Shellfish | Sesame | MSG | Gluten |
Milk / Chocolate Milk | * | ||||||||||
Apple Juice | |||||||||||
All Other Drinks (Tea, Soda, Lemonade, etc.) |
Milkshakes contain:
Dairy
Soy
Zero-allergen drinks:
Water
Unsweet tea
Zero-sugar sodas
Zaxbys Treats
Menu Item | Milk | Egg | Wheat | Soy | Peanut | Tree Nut | Fish | Shellfish | Sesame | MSG | Gluten | |
Chocolate Chip Cookie | * | * | * | * | * | |||||||
Fried Cheesecake Bites | * | * | * | |||||||||
1/2 Order Fried Cheesecake Bites | * | * | * | |||||||||
All Handcrafted Milkshakes | * |
Zaxbys Catering
Menu Item | Milk | Egg | Wheat | Soy | Peanut | Tree Nut | Fish | Shellfish | Sesame | MSG | Gluten |
All Zalad Platters (House, Cobb, Asian) | [See Zalads] | [See Zalads] | [See Zalads] | [See Zalads] | [See Zalads] | [See Zalads] | [See Zalads] | ||||
Zaxby’s Signature Sandwich Platter | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
2 Nibbler Sandwiches | * | * | * | * | * | * | |||||
Grilled Chicken Sandwich Platter | * | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Texas Toast Platter (Half Piece) | * | * | * | ||||||||
Tater Chips Platter | * | ||||||||||
Cole Slaw (Small/Large) | * | ||||||||||
1 Nibbler (No Sauce) | * | * | * | * | * | * |
Bottled Sauce
Menu Item | Milk | Egg | Wheat | Soy | Peanut | Tree Nut | Fish | Shellfish | Sesame | MSG | Gluten |
Zax Sauce® (Entire Container) | * | * | * | * | * |
⚠️ Cross-Contamination at Zaxby’s
Cross-contamination is a major concern for allergy-sensitive guests. Because Zaxby’s uses shared cooking areas, fryers, and utensils, allergen-free meals cannot be guaranteed.
Risks increase when:
Fryers are shared
Prep surfaces aren’t isolated
Sauce containers are reused
Gloves are not changed
For this reason, always notify staff about severe allergies before ordering.
🛒 How to Order Safely at Zaxby’s with Food Allergies
To reduce allergen risk:
✔ Request grilled chicken only
✔ Avoid all fried items
✔ Ask for simple vinaigrettes
✔ Remove croutons from salads
✔ Choose water or tea
✔ Request clean gloves and a fresh prep area
🟢 Zaxby’s Allergen-Safe Options (Best Choices)
✔ Gluten-Friendly
Grilled chicken
Side salad (no croutons)
Certain sauces (check ingredients)
✔ Dairy-Free
Grilled chicken
Vinaigrette dressing
Buffalo-style sauces
✔ Egg-Free
Plain grilled chicken
Most vinaigrettes
✔ Soy-Free (limited; depends on location)
Fresh produce
Some plain grilled items
✔ Nut-Free
Most menu items are nut-free, but always verify before ordering.
🟡 Final Thoughts
Zaxby’s offers delicious chicken meals, but individuals with food allergies must take extra precautions. By choosing grilled options, avoiding shared-fryer items, and understanding the Zaxby’s allergen menu, you can enjoy a safer dining experience. 🥗💛
Moreover, reviewing ingredients and asking staff for help will always give you the best protection.
Zaxby’s Allergen FAQs❓
Q: Does Zaxby’s have a gluten-free menu?
A: Yes, Grilled chicken, fries, and salads (no croutons) are gluten-free.
Q: Are Zaxby’s dairy-free sauces available?
A: Yes, Try Buffalo or Teriyaki sauce. Avoid Zax Sauce (has dairy).
Q: Are Zaxby’s fries nut-free?
A: Yes, but fryers may share oil with gluten items. Ask staff.
Q: Can I get the allergen PDF online?
A: Yes, Visit Zaxby’s website or ask for it in-store.
Q: What is the safest thing to order with a milk allergy?
A: Options are limited. Traditional Wings (plain or with a non-dairy sauce like Nuclear), Cole Slaw, and drinks are potential choices. You must avoid all breaded items, cheese, most sauces, and desserts. Always double-check with staff.
