Updated January 2023! Zaxby’s is a Southern-style chicken fast food chain in the United States. We are happy to report that their dairy-free options are plentiful, and even include some gluten-friendly selections. We’ve outlined the sandwiches, wings, sides, and even sauces that you can choose from, along with how to custom order. Plus, we have options noted for those who avoid eggs, gluten, and /or soy, and for vegan guests.
Zaxby’s Dairy-Free Menu Guide with Allergen Notes & Vegan Options
Be aware of special order requirements in parentheses () next to the menu items, and see the Heads Up notes to help fill in the blanks.
Fryer Note: Zaxby’s foods are fried in a blend of highly refined soybean oil. All fried items may be cooked in shared fryers with items containing milk. Always verify at your location if potential cross contamination in fryers is a concern.
Butter Note: It is not corporate policy to use dairy butter for cooking at Zaxby’s. And we’ve been told their “butter,” or margarine, is dairy free. The “butter” used on their Texas toast is also dairy-free margarine. But individual locations can take liberties on ingredient sourcing. Always verify the processes and ingredients at your location before ordering.
Other Allergen & Dietary Notes: All items listed below are made without egg, gluten, nuts, peanut, and “allergenic” soy, unless otherwise noted. Zaxby’s does not consider highly refined soybean oil to be a top allergen, per the FDA. For vegan options, see the Vegan Menu Guide at the bottom of this post.
Sandwiches
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich (no ranch) (contains egg, gluten, soy)
- Grilled Chicken Sandwich Meal (no ranch) (contains egg, gluten, soy)
Heads Up! The fried chicken filets at Zaxby’s do contain milk. Zaxby’s no longer offers a BLT Sandwich, but you can custom order one on Texas Toast or a Potato Bun.
Salads
- Asian Zensation Zalad with Grilled Chicken (contains gluten – inquire about other top allergens)
- The House Zalad with Grilled Chicken (no cheese) (contains gluten, soy)
- The Cobb Zalad with Grilled Chicken (no cheese) (contains egg, gluten, soy)
Dairy-Free Salad Dressings: Honey Mustard (contains egg), Lite Vinaigrette
Heads Up! As expected, the Ranch and Blue Cheese Dressings at Zaxby’s contain milk. We did confirm that the fried onions are made without milk and egg, but they may be cooked in shared fryers.
Other Chicken
- Boneless Wings (no sauce or sauce options below) (contains gluten)
- Boneless Wings Meal with Dairy-Free Sauces (contains gluten)
- Traditional Wings (no sauce or sauce options below)
- Traditional Wings Meal with Dairy-Free Sauces
Heads Up! The Chicken Fingers at Zaxby’s do contain milk. If concerned about shared fryers, inquire at your location. Also, be sure to clarify “no ranch” with your order, or request a dairy-free dipping sauce, as outlined below.
Wing Sauces
- BBQ
- HHM / Hot Honey Mustard (contains egg)
- Nuclear
- Sweet & Spicy (contains gluten, soy)
- Teriyaki (contains gluten, soy)
- Tongue Torch
- Wimpy
Heads Up! The Buffalo Garlic Blaze Sauce at Zaxby’s does contain milk.
Dipping Sauces
- BBQ
- Honey Mustard (contains egg)
- Spicy Zax Sauce (contains egg)
- Sweet & Spicy (contains gluten, soy)
- Tongue Torch
- Zax Sauce (contains egg)
Heads Up! All Wing Sauces at Zaxby’s are also available as Dipping Sauces. The Marinara and Ranch Dipping Sauces at Zaxby’s contain milk.
Sides
- Cole Slaw (contains egg)
- Crinkle Fries
- Egg Rolls (contains gluten – inquire about other top allergens)
- Fried Pickles (no ranch sauce) (contains egg, gluten)
- Texas Toast (contains gluten, soy)
Heads Up! According to the Zaxby’s information, the Garlic Spread used on the Texas Toast is made without milk – it is a dairy-free garlic margarine. Shared fryers might be used to cook the Fries. Check with your location.
Desserts
Heads Up! At last check, Zaxby’s did not have any desserts.
Zaxby’s Vegan Menu Guide
- Garden House Zalad (no chicken, no cheese) (contains gluten, soy)
- Lite Vinaigrette
- Texas Toast
- Crinkle Fries
- BBQ Sauce
- Nuclear Sauce
- Sweet & Spicy Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Tongue Torch Sauce
- Wimpy Sauce
This Post is for Informational Purposes Only
Menus, ingredients, kitchen procedures, management, food sourcing, and restaurant protocols are subject to change at any time. Always read the menu and discuss your dietary needs with the staff before ordering. Make sure they can accommodate your situation. This post is for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as advice.
There is always a risk for potential cross-contamination of allergens in any commercial kitchen. If cross-contamination is an issue for you, always speak with the manager to ensure that your meal can be safely prepared. Listings here do not guarantee that a restaurant is safe enough for your individual needs. Only you can make that decision.
Each location of a chain restaurant has different management and staff, and some might have different owners. This means differences in processes, ingredients used, menu options, and food sourcing can occur. Always verify the safety of your order for your needs at your current location.
Where to Find Zaxby’s
Zaxby’s has close to 1000 locations, with a heavy concentration in the Southeastern U.S. See the website below for addresses, hours, and online ordering.
Website: www.zaxbys.com
Average Reader Review
Rate Your Dairy-Free Experience with this Restaurant
What Others Are Saying ...
Allergens- dairy
Thank you for having items and being thorough with your allergen announcements. We are grateful. My son and I have anaphylaxis reactions to dairy. Thank you so much!
Need to ask no butter on grilled chicken sandwich
I’m an experienced Zaxby-er being from the state it originated in, and as I visited the godairyfree site tonight. Noticed the grilled chicken sandwich was listed as dairy free. I just asked at the counter if it has butter on it and she said “yes, do you want it without butter?”
I said yes, and she repeated that to me in the order at the end. Overall great experience!…but youneed to add that here on Godairyfree. Thanks!!
Response from Go Dairy Free
The grilled chicken sandwich is supposed to be dairy free, and it is not corporate policy to use butter to cook it. Unfortunately, depending on the management, some locations might take liberties on many things, including using butter to cook certain items. I’m glad that you checked, and we’ll add a note that someone has encountered this issue with at least one location. Thank you!
Very informative
This new dairy free diet I have to follow can be difficult at times and zaxbys made this experience very easy for me to find something df and delicious. Thank you!
For More Dairy-Free Guidance, Get Go Dairy Free!
10 Comments
I recently experienced an allergic reaction to dairy after eating a grilled chicken sandwich at Zaxby’s. I quite clearly told the server I was allergic to milk products, and I watched as she told the cook not to butter the bread. However, cross contamination must have occured during preparation ( possibly butter was on the grill) because within a few minutes, I was having a fully-blown attack. The pain, nausea, sweating, and chillls lasted several hours even though I took Lactaid within minutes of ingesting the sandwich. Be forewarned ; just because you order your food a certain way doesn’t mean you’re safe. I have now crossed Zaxby’s off my list. Even two days later, I still am not feeling well.
That’s a real bummer Carolyn. Have you been checked for conditions like EoE (milk allergy trigger perhaps?) by a GI doctor? That sounds like a much bigger reaction than lactose intolerance.
There is a big difference between lactose intolerance and a milk allergy. A milk allergy can have a fatal reaction. I am surprised you used the terms lactose intolerance in reply to Carolyn’s comment about a dairy allergy.
She mentioned taking Lactaid, which one takes for lactose intolerance, no? So, unless I’m missing something, would it not be reasonable to infer lactose intolerance versus an actual dairy allergy?
I assumed since she took Lactaid that she is actually dealing with lactose intolerance. If diagnosed with a milk allergy, a physician would not recommend Lactaid.
I am very sensitive to lactose and I don’t have an issue when I eat the breaded chicken fingers….
Thankyou for doing this! I visit your website often to find out information.
Thanks Stephen, I’m happy that I can help!
if dairy is in the chicken fingers then its in the zensation salad
See the link right to their allergen info in this post Janna. They have the Zensation salad listed as containing no dairy.