Are In-N-Out Buns Vegan? A Nutritional Diet Deep Dive

November 9, 2025 •

4 min read

Based on official ingredient lists, In-N-Out's buns are free of dairy and eggs. This confirms the answer to the crucial question, "Are In-N-Out buns vegan?" and provides a foundation for creating a suitable plant-based fast-food meal with careful modification.

Quick Summary

In-N-Out buns are vegan, but ordering a complete plant-based meal requires customization, including omitting the non-vegan spread and cheese. Other options like fries are suitable.

Key Points

The Bun Is Vegan: In-N-Out's buns are made without dairy or eggs, making them suitable for a vegan diet.
Omit Non-Vegan Spreads: The signature In-N-Out spread is egg-based and not vegan; you must request no spread.
Fries are Safe: Standard fries are cooked in 100% sunflower oil in a dedicated fryer, making them a safe vegan option.
Customize Your "Veggie Burger": Order a "Veggie Burger" without cheese or spread, opting for extra vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, and fresh onions.
Limited Protein Source: A customized vegan meal at In-N-Out provides very little protein, so consider balancing your nutrition with other plant-based protein sources.
Be Mindful of Cross-Contamination: While not an ingredient, the grilled onions may be cooked on the same grill as meat, so ordering fresh onions is a safer choice.

The Surprising Truth About In-N-Out's Buns

When it comes to fast food and veganism, every ingredient counts. Many popular fast-food chains use buns that contain dairy or eggs to achieve a soft, rich texture. This makes it a pleasant surprise for many that In-N-Out, a purveyor of classic all-American burgers, uses a vegan-friendly bun. A closer look at the ingredients confirms that the buns are made with enriched wheat flour, water, sugar, yeast, and soybean oil, with no dairy or egg products listed. This simple, traditional sponge dough recipe means that the base of your In-N-Out order can be entirely plant-based.

What are the vegan options at In-N-Out?

Beyond the bun, a vegan meal at In-N-Out is possible but requires a few strategic customizations. Since there is no dedicated veggie patty, vegans must focus on the plant-based components available. Here's a breakdown of what to order and what to avoid:

Vegan-Friendly Options

The Bun: The bun is naturally vegan, baked with a sponge dough process that excludes dairy and eggs.
Fries: In-N-Out's fries are a safe bet for vegans. They are cooked in 100% sunflower oil in a dedicated fryer, avoiding cross-contamination from animal products.
The "Veggie Burger": This is a bun filled with the standard burger toppings: lettuce, tomato, and onion. For this to be vegan, you must request it without spread and cheese.
Condiments: Ketchup and mustard are vegan. You can ask for these instead of the signature spread.
Onions: You can request either fresh or grilled onions. To minimize risk, opt for fresh, as grilled onions may be cooked on the same surface as meat.
Beverages: Most fountain drinks, iced tea, and black coffee are vegan-friendly.

Items to Avoid

The Signature Spread: The famous In-N-Out spread contains mayonnaise, meaning it is not vegan as it is egg-based.
Cheese: The single slice of American cheese used in their burgers is, of course, dairy-based and not vegan.
Milkshakes: All milkshakes are made with real ice cream and are therefore not vegan.
Animal Style: This popular modification is not vegan, as it includes the non-vegan spread and cheese.

Creating a Vegan Meal: Step-by-Step

To enjoy a vegan-friendly meal at In-N-Out, follow these simple steps for a customized order:

Request a "Veggie Burger": This gets you started with a bun and the vegetable toppings.
Specify "No Spread, No Cheese": This is the most critical step to ensure your order is vegan.
Add Condiments: Ask for packets of ketchup and mustard on the side to replace the flavor of the spread.
Consider Extra Toppings: Load up on extra lettuce, tomatoes, and especially fresh onions for more flavor and texture.
Get Vegan Fries: Order a side of standard fries, specifying "no animal style".
Choose a Drink: Pick from the available vegan beverages, such as sodas, iced tea, or black coffee.

In-N-Out's Vegan Friendliness vs. Other Chains

While In-N-Out's buns are a highlight for vegans, its overall vegan menu accessibility is relatively limited compared to chains that have embraced dedicated plant-based patties. Here's a comparison:


Feature	In-N-Out	Burger King	Five Guys
Vegan Bun	Yes, naturally vegan.	Yes, the sesame bun is vegan.	No, buns contain milk and eggs.
Vegan Patty	No dedicated patty. Only vegetable toppings.	Yes, offers the Impossible Whopper.	No vegan patty available.
Vegan Fries	Yes, cooked in sunflower oil in a dedicated fryer.	Yes, fries are generally vegan.	Yes, fries are cooked in peanut oil.
Vegan Condiments	Ketchup, mustard, and yellow chilis.	Ketchup, mustard, and other toppings.	Ketchup, mustard, and various vegetable toppings.
Overall Vegan Menu	Very limited; customization required.	More robust due to the Impossible Whopper.	Extremely limited due to non-vegan bun.

Nutritional Considerations for an In-N-Out Vegan Meal

As a nutrition diet article, it's important to consider the nutritional profile of a customized vegan meal at In-N-Out. While the buns are vegan and the fries are cooked in plant-based oil, a "veggie burger" with just lettuce, tomato, and onion offers very little protein. This is a significant consideration, especially for individuals trying to meet their protein goals on a plant-based diet. A meal like this would be primarily carbohydrates and fats. To balance this out, it would be wise to pair this fast-food meal with other high-protein plant-based foods, such as lentils, beans, nuts, or tofu, as part of your overall diet.

Conclusion

In summary, the answer to "Are In-N-Out buns vegan?" is yes, providing a promising starting point for a vegan meal at this iconic fast-food chain. However, the journey to a fully plant-based meal involves navigating the limited menu and making careful customizations, such as omitting the non-vegan spread and cheese. While the buns and fries are safe for vegans, the lack of a dedicated plant-based patty means that the protein content of such a meal is minimal. For those seeking more substantial vegan fast-food options, other chains may offer a broader selection, but In-N-Out can still serve as a viable, albeit limited, option for a quick plant-based bite.

For more information on making fast-food work for a vegan diet, reputable vegan news and blog sites offer numerous tips and guides, such as this helpful article from Plant Based News.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, In-N-Out's buns are vegan. They are made with a simple sponge dough recipe that does not include any dairy or egg products, as confirmed by their ingredient list.

The In-N-Out spread is a mayonnaise-based sauce and is not vegan. It contains eggs and other non-vegan ingredients, so it must be omitted from a vegan order.

Yes, In-N-Out fries are vegan. They are made from fresh potatoes and are cooked in 100% sunflower oil in a dedicated fryer, which prevents cross-contamination from animal fats.

A vegan can order a "Veggie Burger" with no spread and no cheese, which consists of a vegan bun with lettuce, tomato, and onion. The fries and most beverages are also vegan.

No, In-N-Out does not offer a specific vegan protein patty. A vegan meal at In-N-Out consists of the bun and vegetable toppings, so the protein content is minimal.

The grilled onions themselves are vegan, but they are typically cooked on the same surface as the meat patties, which poses a risk of cross-contamination. For a strictly vegan order, it is safer to request fresh onions.

To order a vegan meal, ask for a "Veggie Burger" with no cheese and no spread. You can add extra vegetables and substitute ketchup and mustard for flavor. Also, specify fresh, not grilled, onions to avoid potential cross-contamination.