Dairy Queen, the popular American fast-food chain famous for its ice cream and restaurants. It is interesting to discover that they have various gluten-free options for dietary-restricted people. Although known for their Blizzard desserts that combine mix-ins like candies, cookies, and fruit, not every frozen dessert is gluten-free. Dairy Queen gluten-free foods are like vanilla soft-serve cones in cups, some sundaes, and some shakes. Unlike their hot dogs, chicken strips, fries, and burgers that usually have gluten, most desserts are safe to indulge in. Established in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois, by Alex McCullough and his father, John Fremont McCullough, Dairy Queen has developed into a giant retailer of frozen desserts with stores in more than 25 nations. When I stopped by last summer, employees at my local DQ were friendly and answered my frequently asked questions regarding available choices – they even shared tips on ordering their iconic treats safely without cones. Their menu guide well labels which cakes and other foods you should avoid if you’re on a strict gluten-free diet.
Dairy Queen does have gluten-free choices available at Dairy Queen; I’ve discovered there is plenty to select from, though largely in the desserts section instead of savoury meal products. As normal bread and buns do contain gluten, most of the regular menu sandwiches are off-limits unless you request them without the bun. The actual stars for gluten-free avoiders are the frozen desserts – the majority of Dairy Queen’s traditional ice cream flavors happen to be naturally gluten-free, such as their simple vanilla soft serve in cups. On my most recent visit, I learned their menu stickers, which suggested that desserts were a safe choice, made it so much simpler to indulge in something sweet without fear. When ordering specialty frozen treats, be careful with any mix-ins containing cookie pieces or other gluten-containing ingredients.
Getting gluten-free breakfast from Dairy Queen breakfast menu is challenging, but I’ve found some ways to make their breakfast without the gluten. You can ask for these things separately:
The last month on the road, I requested the staff to cook my eggs and bacon without bread products, and they were more than willing to oblige by bringing them out in a bowl. Always specify your gluten sensitivity when you order so your food can be handled correctly
Working around the food offerings at Dairy Queen when you have to stay away from gluten may be tricky, but I’ve discovered a few viable options from Dairy Queen Gluten-free menu. You can have a GrillBurger patty without a bun or a Hamburger patty without a bun – both are usually safe options when presented on a plate or in a container. The Hot Dog frank without bun is another alternative, although I always make sure they’re using gluten-free franks. The Grilled Chicken patty without bun is a lighter protein option. Be very careful with the French Fries – although potatoes are gluten-free by nature, they’re typically fried in the same oil as breaded foods, which presents high cross-contamination risk.
Dairy Queen Gluten-free menu offers numerous gluten-free drinks that I’ve safely enjoyed over years of navigating a gluten-free diet. The refreshing Arctic Rush slush comes in all flavors and contains no gluten ingredients perfect for cooling down on hot days. For coffee lovers, the Moo Latté frozen blended coffee drinks in vanilla, caramel, and mocha varieties are typically gluten-free, though I always ask staff to clean the blender thoroughly before preparation. Their classic shakes in chocolate, caramel, hot fudge, marshmallow, and strawberry flavors are generally safe choices – during my last visit, the server confirmed they don’t add any cookie pieces or malt powder that might contain gluten. For simpler options, their fountain soda selections are reliably gluten-free.
Dairy Queen Gluten-free menu have their Blizzard Treats merit a closer look. I discovered that the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Butterfinger, Heath, Banana Split, Hawaiian, and Tropical Blizzards should be safe to consume for the gluten-avoider, yet always verify most current ingredients because formulations do alter. On my most recent visit, I asked staff to confirm that these flavors do not have cookie pieces or other apparent sources of gluten in them, but cross-contamination is still a risk since they make all their Blizzards with the same equipment.
In addition to Blizzards, Dairy Queen also has numerous other gluten-free foods such as Chocolate Soft Serve, Vanilla Soft Serve, Peanut Buster Parfait, Starkiss Bars of every variety, and Sundaes of Chocolate, Caramel, Hot Fudge, Marshmallow, and Strawberry. Their frozen ones such as DQ Fudge Bar, DQ Vanilla Orange Bar, Dilly Bars of every variety, and the Buster Bar Treat are usually safe as well.
Blizzard Treats
Treats
Sundaes
For those who like savory foods, Dairy Queen’s dressings, sauces, and dips have numerous gluten-free choices: BBQ Dipping Sauce Cup, House Made Hidden Valley Ranch Dipping Sauce Cup, Marzetti Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing, Marzetti Blue Cheese Dressing, Marzetti Creamy Caesar Dressing, Marzetti Dijon Honey Mustard, Marzetti Fat-Free California French Style Dressing, Marzetti Honey French Dressing, Marzetti Light Italian Dressing, and Marzetti Light Ranch.